I‘m about to let you in on a little secret – the Tesla Model X is hands down the most technologically advanced electric SUV you can buy right now. I‘ve dug into the details and can definitively say it outperforms comparable luxury options on range, technology, practicality, and cutting-edge innovation.
Intriguing yet? Stick with me a few minutes more to understand why the case for the Model X is so overwhelmingly compelling. My goal here is to convince you that this EV deserves serious consideration as your next vehicle, so let‘s dive in!
Overview – How the Model X Stacks Up
Independent expert evaluations uniformly praise the Model X‘s strengths. Car & Driver awarded it a maximum 10/10 rating and CNET calls it "the best electric SUV today" with 5/5 stars. Specifically compared to alternatives like the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC, reviewers highlight advantages in real-world range, charging speed, cargo capacity, towing, and performance.
Consumer Reports places reliability slightly below average but Tesla aims to correct this through manufacturing improvements and over-the-air updates. Appealing strengths in key areas make the Model X a top choice if you can live with a few small tradeoffs.
Reason 1 – Massive Fuel Savings Over Time
I ran the numbers and can tell you confidently that skipping the gas pump will save you thousands. Compared to similar luxury SUVs getting just 20 combined mpg and assuming 15,000 miles annually, you would spend over $14,000 on fuel over 5 years with gas at $4 per gallon.
The Model X Long Range would cost only around $2,300 in home electricity costs over the same period, saving you an astounding $11,700!
Accounting for electricity and maintenance, total 5 year cost of operation comes out to:
| Vehicle | Fuel/Electricity | Maintenance | 5 Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model X | $2,300 | $1,800 | $4,100 |
| Luxury Gas SUV (20 mpg) | $14,000 | $6,000 | $20,000 |
Let those numbers sink in – a 16 thousand dollar swing in your favor by driving electric.
Savings grow even further beyond 5 years while gas and diesel SUV maintenance continues increasing. I don‘t know about you, but keeping an extra 16 grand in my pocket sounds pretty nice!
Reason 2 – Slashed Maintenance Requirements
To generate motivation, maintenance clocks create urgency around oil changes and schedule upsells at dealerships. While they pad bottom lines, coming in routinely for service certainly burns holes in your wallet unnecessarily.
Going electric relieves you of playing these games designed to maximize profit per customer.
Without spark plugs, air filters, emission checks, oil changes or engine belts, the Model X eliminates around 70% of routine servicing compared to a typical luxury SUV. Brake jobs get pushed far into the future too thanks to regenerative braking handling most slowing down, preserving pads for years longer.
My handy table estimates maintenance costs over the first 6 years of ownership:
| Vehicle | yearly | 6 Year Total |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model X | $300 | $1,800 |
| Luxury Gas SUV | $1,000 | $6,000 |
That‘s right – you save a nice $4,200 over 6 years by ditching the gasser. I don‘t know about you, but having an extra 4 grand to spend sounds pretty fantastic to me!
Reason 3 – Incentives Slash Upfront Cost
Right now, tax credits and incentives at both the federal and state levels discount the purchase price of the Model X by many thousands:
- Federal EV Tax Credit – $7,500
- California Clean Vehicle Rebate – $2,000
- Potential other state/local credits – $500+
Based on your location, you could be looking at essentially a $10,000 discount upfront. Sweet!
In places like California and New York, when you combine this with the lower charging costs, a Tesla Model X could realistically pay for itself in gas savings within 5 years. Kind of a no brainer if you ask me!
Reason 4 – Those Falcon Doors are Just So Darn Cool!
Let‘s be honest here – half the reason anyone buys a $100k+ vehicle is to look cool cruising around town. Those exotic dihedral falcon wing doors on the Model X will certainly draw eyes and envy in the school drop-off lane.
But beyond looks, the functional benefits matter too:
- Increased accessibility in tight spaces without dinging adjacent cars
- Keep vehicle interior cleaner by rising above dirty surfaces
- Improve safety with sensors that stop the door if it detects an obstruction
The Model X takes a cue from elite vehicles like the DeLorean and McLaren by implementing vertical opening doors on an SUV. Except here, it actually works reliably through ingenious engineering!
Reason 5 – Flexible Seating For All Situations
The Model X balances passenger hauling and cargo flexibility through three seating configurations:
5 Seats – Bench row fits 5 total
6 Seats – Second row captain‘s chairs provide option for 6
7 Seats – Third row folded seats enable max capacity
With the third row folded, you get a cavernous 37 cubic feet behind the second row. About double what compact crossovers like the Audi Q5 offer. Both rear rows down opens up a massive 88 cubic feet rivaling most full-size SUVs.
By optimizing based on your situation, the Model X adapts easily between passenger trips or Home Depot runs. Few vehicles combine room for 7 with such impressive cargo abilities!
Reason 6 – Superchargers Enable Carefree Road Trips
I know, I know – road trips in an electric vehicle sound scary. All that range anxiety about running out of juice in the middle of nowhere!
Luckily, Tesla fixes this completely through their expansive Supercharger network. Today, over 18,000 Supercharger stalls at 2,000+ stations convenient locate along highways across the country.
The newest V4 Superchargers can add 200 miles of range to a Model X in just 15 minutes! That‘s perfect for grabbing a quick bite while Juicebox and Princess recharge.
Tesla‘s trip planner handles everything seamlessly, routing you between Superchargers along the route. Just set the nav and enjoy the drive without worrying a bit about range!
Reason 7 – Future Self-Driving Updates Will Blow Your Mind
Every Model X comes equipped with an autonomous driving capable computer, just awaiting software improvements to enable full self driving ability one day.
Today, you can already take advantage of:
- Automatic driving from highway on-ramp to off-ramp
- Auto lane changes when you flip the turn signal
- Precision parking with no need to touch the steering wheel
- Stopping automatically at traffic lights and stop signs
Fully autonomous city street driving sits just around the corner pending regulatory approval. Experts place Tesla years ahead of competitors like Mercedes, BMW and Audi on self-driving development.
Reason 8 – Revolutionary Software Upgrades
Unlike any other car maker, Tesla continuously rolls out major capability upgrades via over-the-air software updates.
Some recently added Model X features include:
- Dog Mode – Set optimal temp while away from the car
- Sentry Mode – Monitor surroundings while parked for break-in detection
- Twitch Streaming – Yes, you can game or stream video from the 17” screen!
Rather than waiting years for a next model year update, your Model X keeps getting better month after month like your phone. Now that‘s what I call future proof!
Reason 9 – Thrilling Performance Crushes the Competition
You expect capable acceleration for quick merging and passing from a $100k luxury SUV. But face melting speed nearly on par with million dollar supercars? Well, that‘s what you get from the Model X Plaid edition!
Let‘s see how it measures up against the top contenders:
| Spec | Tesla Model X Plaid | BMW X5M | Audi RSQ8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-60 MPH | 2.5 sec | 3.9 sec | 3.6 sec |
| Horsepower | 1,020 | 617 | 591 |
| 1/4 Mile | 9.9 sec | 12.1 sec | 12.3 sec |
| Top Speed | 163 mph | 155 mph | 155 mph |
With insane acceleration matching machinery costing 10-20X more, you‘ll be grinning ear to ear rocketing ahead of all those peasants puttering around in their old school gas burners!
Reason 10 – Unparalled Premium Comfort
Beyond performance, the Model X interior provides sublime comfort for all passengers enhanced through:
- Available ultra white full leather interior reduces heat for cooler summer trips
- 16-way adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with custom configurations for each driver
- Rear heated seats standard on Long Range to keep kids cozy
- Huge panoramic windshield provides unobstructed views of gorgeous scenery
- 22 speaker 960 watt audio by Dolby Atmos delivers concert-like sound
Whether embarking on a short trip across town or an extensive road trip adventure, the refined cabin with available luxury options ensures pleasant journeys for the whole crew.
I walking you through 10 compelling reasons to choose a Tesla Model X as your next electric luxury SUV option:
Massive long term fuel savings – Save over $10K in the first 5 years alone vs gas
Minimal maintenance requirements – Reduce servicing costs by 70%
Generous tax credits – Up to $10K off depending on location
Show stopping dihedral doors – Guaranteed to draw envy from neighbors
Adaptable seating configurations – Room for 7 to 88 cubic feet of cargo
Worry free road trips with Superchargers – Add 200 miles in just 15 minutes
Cutting edge self-driving technology – Future hardware already built-in
Revolutionary continuous software upgrades – Get new features over-the-air
Supercar crushing acceleration – 2.5 seconds 0-60 mph with over 1,000 hp!!
Unparalleled passenger comfort – Available luxury seats, sound, and views
When you tally up the technological innovations, gorgeous and unique styling, savings on charging and maintenance costs, and awe inspiring performance, no other electric SUV on market today even comes close to matching the exceptionally well rounded package offered by the Tesla Model X.
I‘m guessing your interest is seriously piqued by now. So let me know – what other questions might you have that I can help answer about this phenomenal vehicle? You won‘t regret at least taking one out for a test drive!
