I think the "point" of the Model X might be misinterpreted here. I see the point of it as being an answer to the argument, "an all electric car can't..." whatever you insert there. They wanted to show the world that an all electric car can fit 7 adults, tow, be very fast, look pretty good but not ostentatious or pretentious, go 300 miles, and be incredibly usable in every space situation. You say this can do everything a mini-van can do so what's the point, but you just proved Tesla's argument with that comparison. An all electric car can be everything a gasoline utilitarian mini-van can be. I think that's a pretty big deal!
+ccmaster86 I think you're getting hung up on Todd's comments about the falcon doors vs minivan doors. His point was that in the end if you stripped away the gimmicks you have a solid car that CAN be like a mini van. They even said in the end, it's a true alternative. Just FYI electric is top notch when it comes to moving big objects. That's why trains are diesel-electric, diesel generator powering electric motors. Electric motors probably have the biggest advantage over ICE when it comes to moving large objects.
As a non-biased Tesla owner I must say that even a year after delivery I find reasons to get in and driver mine. It's a brilliant driving experience - very enjoyable.
"Why didn't they just put mini van doors on this?" Idk... Maybe because it's not a minivan? Why did they put gull wing doors on the sls amg? Or suicide doors on the Rolls Royce Phantom? Or scissor doors on a lambo? Why bother using anything other than conventional doors? The falcon wing doors require less clearance to open, provide easier access to the third row, and protect you from the elements when securing a child into a car seat. You don't NEED falcon wing doors. You don't NEED a massive windshield. You don't NEED a medical grade air filtration system. You don't NEED to accelerate faster than a Porsche 911. You don't NEED to spend $150k on a luxury SUV, but when you do, it's nice to get features that you can't find on a Honda Odyssey.
+mohammad rizvi Not to metnion, where would the minivan door slide to? This car doesn't have the rear space for a track that a minivan has where the door can slide back. There's not a place for a minivan door to slide to.
The falcon wing doors don't take less clearance space than minivan doors. Minivan doors are very practical. It is a gimmick, but like you said, I agree that the model x and any tesla vehicle at this point is a status symbol. You buy this to make a statement, not fit in. Even teslas "economical" model coming out will be a status symbol. It's just the nature of electric vehicles in the auto industry at this point in time. Down the road more elec vehicles will become more natural
My current problem with tesla is that they are thriving because of legislation and business tax loopholes that allow them to produce with heavy subsidies from our tax money. Average Americans are paying for a car that as of now only the rich can afford - which to me doesn't seem right. Tesla needs to change if it wants to be around for the long haul, but that's not Musk's goal for the company - he is a visionary and his goal with tesla is to disrupt our conventions of what a car is. Additionally, this car isn't as "green" as people think. Just because it doesn't fill up at a pump doesn't mean it's not emitting greenhouse gases. Where do you think the electrical power comes from to charge it? The intensive energy required to mine and manufacture batteries, let alone the environmental destruction from mining. Additionally, in an accident, the spill of batteries are just as toxic, arguably more, than gasoline to the environment. Tesla is needed to push the auto industry further and to make us more sustainable, but it's not there yet, and there's a very long way.
Are you forgetting that traditional Automakers got bailed out by the Government? That they only exist because of our tax money, and the tax money from other Countries? Ignoring the basic principles of Capitalism. Are you ignoring all the Subsidies that go into the Fossil Fuel Industry? And yes, Electricity Production still relies heavily on Fossil Fuels, BUT a Thermopower Plant is much more efficient in the actual energy it gets out of a gallon of gas, when compared to a combustion engine car. Power plants have a fuel efficiency of somewhere around 90%, wheras an ICE has a fuel efficiency of 27% (the remaining 73% are wasted in heat). What spillage do you get from Lithium-ion Batteries? Li-ion Batteries are generally categorized as Non-Hazardous Waste. How would any of that be worse than any of the Oil Spillages we've already seen? Exxon Valdez, Deepwater Horizon. And lets not forget the Taylor Energy Wells Platform 23051, in the Gulf of Mexico, a leak which started in 2004 and still to this day has not been stopped. Sure buy into the Koch Brothers Propaganda of how bad EVs and Alternative Energy are. Oh and the Model 3 has been presented, at a price of $35'000 which is well in the budget range of many Middle-Class Families.
+Alexander Senna Exactly. Regardless of how ugly the model X is (yes, I think it's ugly), it has an odd presence that literally no other car can achieve... This is a car from Back to the Future 2. Obviously it doesn't fly, but damn is it good.
10:00 it's because if You're parked really close to other car, then when minivan doors open You can't get between Your car and car next to it because minivan doors are there. Elon showed this at X unveiling
+oreskec and don't forget that the rear of a minivan has to be twice as long as the length of the door, to allow it to slide fully open. This has a door that's pretty much standard width but a grown adult can climb into the rear seats without having to crinkle a suit. I'd like to know what sitting in the rear row would be like for a long journey though, whether it feels cramped?
+oreskec but if you can't get between a minivan and a car, why would you be able to get between this and that same car? Wouldn't it be the same? Wouldn't you still not be able to get in between the 2 cars. Not hating on the concept, it looks awesome, but your point is a little weird if you ask me.
+bart van Deursen lets say there is 20cm between two parked cars and You can fit in those 20cm. but if You open minivan door (which slide out of width of car and are next to that car) those 20cm become like 10cm because doors are 10cm thick. If doors open up and don't take up that 10cm, You can get through gap if I explained it badly, go and watch Model X unveiling for visual representation, it is somewhere around 18 minute mark ;)
So you have a choice: pay an extra $20,000 for wild doors, or ... don't park that frickin' close to stuff like a normal person and pocket the $20 grand. ??!!
You guys are making the #1 mistake all people make with Teslas and electric cars. That is you don't cross shop this car with ANY ICE car. You are buying an electric car BECAUSE it is electric. One buys an electric car to stop using gasoline. The point of an electric car is to be different. Thats why you don't contemplate buying say a Model S or a Panamera. Yes they are technically in the same size and usefulness "class" but they are totally different animals. No one who bought a Model X seriously considered buying a minivan instead.
Not sure about this review...seems to be filled with completely irrelevant, nitpicky points. "Does this thing do anything a minivan doesn't?" "No, other than the falcon doors" --- What the hell does that even mean? Does your minivan run off electricity alone? Does your minivan go 0-60 in 3 seconds? Does your minivan not look like a piece of shit? Of course it does. I could say "Does a McLaren P1 do anything a chevy cruze doesn't with your illogical theory."
+Torrey B I agree, the dude with the long hair sounds like an old man that isn't accepting of new technology at all. He should buy a fucking dodge caravan and leave Teslas to the more accepting people.
+Khelin Oh, he is accepting it. Nevertheless, he does make a valid point. Being irrelevant? To you maybe, to most probably not. The doors look interesting but all the reasons they try to feed us are just bs. If they were so concerned with space to get out, why don't the front doors have the same style? Both of them make a valid point. A lot of things on the car is just eye candy for the buyers. If you want to know what is irrelevant: 3s to 100 is irrelevant. That helps you s*** in daily traffic.
+Torrey B Not useless, just out of their "natural habitat" that is usually the open road. I saw a guy in a beautiful Ferrari in Berlin traffic a few months back and couldn't help but think that the guy in the Passat next to him is more comfortable in the situation. And driving a SUV for fun on the open road is, well, like licking an icecream through the glass. If we stay in the Tesla range (so fanboys don't get bu**hurt) the S is a better choice for that purpose, not to mention the Roadster.
Wow!! You guys are car reviewers but find acceleration unnecessary? That acceleration is what allows Tesla to sell it's high margin Models. If you want to extract premium pricing from customers, you need to have unique features. Otherwise, you will struggle with similar products from other companies sold at a low price. Price erosion, margin erosion.
Regret watching this, a lot of non-sense chatter. > If you find Ludicrous mode unnecessary, guess what, it's an 10k optional feature which few soccer moms (SUV's big user group) actually include in their order. > Model X with slider backdoors would not create the buzz and admiration it has now. Model S and X are all about creating the brand of being technological pioneer. If you want an electric car with less bells and whistles pre-order the Model 3 in couple weeks. You won't be disappointed.
To address the back door question....sliding doors is NOT SEXY plus the back area of the model x is not as generous in space as mini van for the doors to slide. I think this car is a sexy, crazy, cool, family, functional SUV that can also pull a trailer with its all-wheel drive system and go camping. If it ever drops to 70k i will buy one. I don't need ludacris mode.
I'm sorry, if I laugh out loud at your comment. But at $150k for it, NOBODY at that price range will "go camping" in it.. Unless you include full service Marriots and above in your "camping" list..... Bahahahahah
tradersato I come from a family that could afford a model X, and we typically camp in remote lean-to's in the middle state parks, we don't own an RV or camper. That might be atypical though, i really have no idea.
+Deven McKee, you sound quite atypical but there is nothing wrong with that.. I also come from a family that can afford one but I for the life of me cannot see my parents doing so and while I've camped many times even without a tent (make your own shelter).. My wife would give me a life of celibacy if I asked her to camp in a tent.. Actually it's the doing #1 & 2 in the woods that is the deal breaker. But we have rented and plan on purchasing an RV to go "camping"...
Something that seems to be neglected in this video is the fact that Tesla is not just adding yet another vehicle to an already-established market, they are trying to build their own market (ie: long-range EVs). If they released Model X without any radical standout features, it would fail. At this point, surprisingly few people are attracted to the benefits driving electric offers by itself. They still need flashy, colourful things to draw them in.
What can it do that mini van cant? Seriously? Is that a rhetorical question..? It can get you to 60mph in 3,2 secs and it does it with no sound or air pollution, it can drive by it self, it can park it self, it can summon it self, it can drive you from coast to coast for free, it can be climatized before you enter it, it can save your life with various collision avoiding systems. Not to mention overall highest safety ever, great stability with low center of gravity, not to mention the sexiness, the feel, the pleasure, and bunch of more details, that are more then worth mentioning. I am a Tesla fan, obviously, but I try to be objective. There are some things that I dislike too. But watching your video leaves the impression as if you were paid by someone to find bunch of bad things about this car and talk about them, as being some sort of professional reviewers. This car is undoubtedly the best in the world, in so many categories(safety, stability, maintenance cost, service, acceleration, pollution etc), it is pioneer in so many categories (EV with big range, autopilot, falcon wing doors, no dealership, all control on 1 touchscreen etc). Yet, if I was to only listen to what you were saying without watching and knowing anything about Tesla, I would say "fuck, I ain't buying this shit". You do not have my respect! P.S. I just realized some of my arguments are for Model X, and some for Tesla in general, but the point remains...
tnx for clearing this up for em. idk how can someone make a review without taking 30 minutes to research some info about the product. seems super ignorant to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
***** I don't blame you I was so disinterested in the newer Top Gear as soon as they brought on Chris Evans. Now with Chris Harris I might at least watch an epsiode
Its also full electric, that is a pretty huge detail? (no more slave to the pump right?) It also doesn't have a Million oil seals waiting to degrade etc etc. Its outrageously fast, Minivans have a huge stigma, Tesla doesn't, Is it not cool to be impressed by Tesla now? need to pick it apart more?
Wow this was one terrible road test... ok where do I start? Some traditional car guys have a real problem when testing electric cars. The whole point of this car is that it's ELECTRIC. Except from a small "Yes it's electric" comment you didn't mention it at all, didn't talk about the meaning of driving an electric, and just rambled on and on about the damn doors and compared it to a Toyota minivan for some reason. Would you ask the same questions testing a BMW X5 for instance? "Why would anyone buy this over a 5-series"? "What can it do that a Totyota doesn't?" "Why doesn't it have minivan doors"? Blah blah blah. You're sitting in car that doesn't use an ounce of gas. That doesn't emit greenhouse gasses and toxic chemicals. That can go 260 miles on a single charge. That you can road trip through the united states FOR FREE goddammit. That sits 7 and goes 0-60 faster than a Lamborghini. That has lower maintenance costs than a subcompact. That has by far the lowest Cd for an SUV. That is the safest in its class. That already incorporates some advanced autonomy features. That can and is being upgraded over the air after you have purchased it. And all you can talk about for is the stupid fucking doors that everyone including Tesla already admitted were a mistake and only included for coolness? Bad, bad, idiotic review completely missing the point of this car and Tesla in general.
+sparkss4 - The minivan discussion and door comparison relates directly back to the original Model X reveal where the Model X was declared as having the best door option on the market, surpassing even a minivan. Beyond that, if you watched the entire review we hope you noticed the discussion (and demonstration) of speed in comparison to the Minivan (and everything else for that matter). Plus there was lots of discussion of Autopilot here. If you're hoping for more global commentary on driving electric you might enjoy our Model S review. We discuss some of the general Tesla topics there, including updates, charging stations, and even a separate video discussion of just the interface. We are big fans of the Model S, less so of the Model X, but we definitely see the point of electric cars. However, our primary focus is and will remain vehicles that are dynamically fun to drive, no matter what their propulsion system. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
+EverydayDriver - But listen to yourself. I noticed my comment is listed at the top still - and I thank you for that! - Yet still you have not responded to my observations. Yes, I respect your expertise and experience testing all sort of car and truck...And we can agree or disagree on attributes and negs and that makes it fun ( or fun-ish depending on your point of view - I hate arguing ). You actually said: "DOES THIS CAR ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING A MINIVAN DOESN'T?" - ( wow! ) I have to say that backwards: "WOW!" ) haha. As a car guy with about 38 years experience - I have to emphasize a car that seats 6 or 7, AWD with Ludicrous Mode at the top level ( 3.3 sec to 60 - and from 0mph like "BAM!" ).The door debate does lose muster when you park both your Honda Odyssey and Model X close to a car in a parking garage or lot. The minivan slider takes up space at the side, the Falcon Wings - do not. This means you and your family can walk in and get inside, where the minivan has DOORS preventing access. Watch the Model X reveal video where they demonstrate this with an actual Honda Odyssey. Is the X just a "slightly sexier minivan"? NO. Plain and simple. It does about 250 things that Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna cannot. Even the upcoming Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid is far out of X's league. And that ( listen to Mr. Marchionne, CEO of FCA ) is likely to be a very limited run compliance car.I understand editorial opinion and Pro/Con. I know you guys mean well here. Teslas create some of the most interesting psychologicaldilemmas from car guys and gearheads.... It's the future vs. WHAT WE KNOW.... It's Cavemen vs. THE FUTURE. We don't adapt too well.We grew up with one mindset and Teslas just reach beyond that. They do so many things well...and they haul all your stuff too! Made in America makes our economy grow and our pride swell too.The "finicky" doors that you cite and Consumer Reports heralded as a concern are nearly in beta stage. Early Model X purchasers comment on this on Tesla forums and admit they expected glitches but don't care as they wanted to be first to own one. We hear from actual owners that Tesla continues quick personal service on the doors and that updates and improvements from the factory to over-the-air updates are constant. I'd feel confident that the more Xs roll out of Fremont, the better and less " got girlfriend-like" they will/have become.I welcome debate. Shoot me a response. We all love cars here.I'm older than you and should be even more jaded towards gas-burners that you are! :)Have fun guys - I appreciate your work.
+EverydayDriver - But listen to yourself. I noticed my comment is listed at the top still - and I thank you for that! - Yet still you have not responded to my observations. Yes, I respect your expertise and experience testing all sort of car and truck and we can agree or disagree on attributes and negs and that makes it fun ( or fun-ish depending on your point of view - I hate arguing ). You actually said: "DOES THIS CAR ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING A MINIVAN DOESN'T?"  - ( wow! ) I have to say that backwards: "WOW!" )  haha.  As a car guy with about 38 years experience - I have to emphasize a car that seats 6 or 7, AWD with Ludicrous Mode at the top level ( 3.3 sec to 60 - and from 0mph like "BAM!" ) does not orbit in the same universe as a $30,000-$45,000 minivan. The door debate does lose muster when you park both your Honda Odyssey and Model X close to a car in a parking garage or lot. The minivan slider takes up space at the side, the Falcon Wings - do not. This means you and your family can walk in and get inside, where the minivan has DOORS filling up that space preventing access. Watch the Model X reveal video where they demonstrate this with an actual Honda Odyssey.  Is the X just a "slightly sexier minivan"? NO. Plain and simple. It does about 250 things that Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna cannot. Even the upcoming Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid is far out of X's league. And that ( listen to Mr. Marchionne, CEO of FCA ) is likely to be a very limited run compliance car. I understand editorial opinion and Pro/Con.  I know you guys mean well here. Teslas create some of the most interesting psychological dilemmas from car guys and gearheads.... It's the new vs. WHAT WE KNOW.... It's Cavemen vs. THE FUTURE. We don't adapt too well. We grew up with one mindset and Teslas just reach beyond that. They do so many things well...and they haul all your stuff too! Made in America makes our economy grow and our pride swell too. The "finicky" doors that you cite and Consumer Reports heralded as a concern are nearly in beta stage.  Early Model X purchasers comment on this on Tesla forums and admit they expected glitches ( like Model S had ) but don't care as they wanted to be first to own one. We hear from actual owners that Tesla continues quick personal service on the doors and that updates and improvements from the factory to over-the-air updates are constant. I'd feel confident that the more Xs roll out of Fremont, the better and less "hot girlfriend-like" they will/have become. I welcome debate. Shoot me a response. We all love cars here. I'm older than you and should be even more jaded towards gas-burners that you are!  :)Have fun guys - I appreciate your work.
+J Mel I'm wondering what is gonna be their comeback to this .. if there's ever one xD These so called "car experts" can't do a proper review.. You were more spot on from behind your screen .. That says it all.
That's just stupid. From your point of view the actual movie would be called Petrol ( or gasoline ) and Furious. Electric cars are probably faster ( specially in terms of acceleration ) than most petrol cars.
Yaaaa... Comparing it to a minivan really is just embarrassing on your part. If you truly can't see why this is an absolutely revolutionary vehicle then you're very VERY much in the wrong business.
I think the tall guy was too hard on the car. Tesla has to stand out while it's building its brand. Is anyone talking about the Chevy Volt? Not compared to the Tesla.
During the Tesla launch of the Model X they compared a normal minivan door vs the falcon wing doors, and parking in a compact place, you couldn't get out of the minivan. I love the falcon wing doors and the innovation of Tesla!
+dymproductions yeah this type f cars will become the norm in the near future , look at phones , where did the buttons go ? even BlackBerry has changed its design to be at the norm(Big screens) .
Are you guys criticizing Tesla for following the Tesla business-plan? That it was to make electric cars cool by first releasing two high-end expensive cars to prove that they can be great and perfectly usable and then make a third mid-range mass-production model? Did you notice those 400.000 or so pre-orders of model 3? Don't you think that number has something to do with the "party-tricks" of ludicrous, high-tech doors and auto-pilot? The base model will not have that. But they will sell millions of it. While forcing all the auto-makers on the planet to actually start getting their game plan together. By the way - how is the ride-quality? Interior finish? Noise-levels? Range? Charge time on SC? Room for passengers and the seat-comfort in the back? Luggage-space? I guess I will have to look at an actual review to find out.
Noise level. No Engine. Quiet Silent. Can't call it a trick if you desire a quick car. You can't say they are high-end. They are just power. Its raw electricity
Why not have minivan-doors? Simple: They would have to redesign the entire car. Notice how Model X slopes down towards the rear, while the minivan is more boxy? You need the car to have that "station-wagon" look for sliding minivan-door to work. If you want to replace the falcon wing doors with something else, it would have to be regular doors, like what they have on the front or in the Model S. Minivan-doors would not work as the car is currently. And does it do anything a minivan does not? Well, yeah. It's faster (way, WAY faster), runs on electricity, has features never seen on a minivan (or any other car for that matter), it's safer in an accident, it drives better... Really, by same logic we should all be driving econoboxes, as the more expensive cars don't do anything econoboxes don't do. Does 5-series BMW do anything a Ford Fusion does not do? Well, no. They both go to point B from point A. Maybe the BMW has some features not found in the Ford (usually at extra cost though) and it drives better. But still we don't buy the cheapest car possible. Or even the most practical. Many people buy 2-door car, or cars with no space in the rear, even though they could go for something more practical. If we all bought the cheapest, car possible, with the most practicality for the buck possible, we would be driving Lada Station Wagons. But we are not, and thank god for that!
+Bannor Haruchai Snow storms, towing personal watercrafts, not to mention a lot more space and a lot more stylish than mini-vans. Mini-vans all look the same (particularly because of the sliding doors). Suv's don't. What a silly argument.
Regarding the sliding minivan doors, Elon Musk has said in a few interviews that they wanted a specific shape for the body and they found minivan doors were limiting to the design of the car because you end up with visible rails on the side of the car and can't contour the rear to a narrower shape. That's their reasoning at least, it's debatable about whether you need to have rails on the side (or a clever gap like on the Odyssey). I'm wondering if it's enforced by safety law to have a middle rail because you could in theory have only top and bottom rails for the sliding door and the contour of the body shouldn't be limited by a sliding door. In the end the falcon wing doors are a great talking point.
the Point of the car is the ELECTRICITY! Not the doors or the interior or the nice looks! THE ELECTRICITY!!!!!!!!!!! Gas is the in the past! that is there way of making a good SUV. plus a minivan is not a pc. Its just a car! However, a Tesla model X is MILITARY PC or other pcs
+PumpkinMan E The car is sold on its gagets. I would drive a H2 Hummer and a Tesla. Its a status symbol. Most people dont care about a car being electric or gasoline. But if the tesla was as boring as a prius, no one would buy it. So its more about what it has OVER THE FACT ITS BATTERY OPERATED
Omg! And auto pilot. Adaptive cruise is not even close. Teslas have AI in a hive mind that learn from each other in an extremely rapid time period. The R&D involved is why these vehicles are pricey. What the hell has ICE created, yes created, in the last decade? Cruise control that follows the slow a@@ car in front of you until you finally notice that you are doing 54 in a 70 mph zone? Whoo whoo.
+Sean Mulligan - Mini van style doors don't stick out farther than side mirrors, so there's little chance you'd ever be in a space that tight. And standing near the Falcon doors, they didn't want to open/close on any space tighter than about 12", which is more space than a Minivan door needs.
+EverydayDriver A foot on either side is indeed fine for mirrors, but you're going to need to fit your body in that gap as well, which becomes problematic when a door eats up 8 inches of that when it's open.
+tucker933 - With only a foot between cars, we suspect it would be hard for most people to get in and out of the drivers seat! At that point the front doors are incredibly difficult with that little room. Probably time to find another parking space.
My brother bought a spankin'-new Honda Odyssey and took it to show our then-pushing- 90 dad. Left to his own devices for a few minutes out in the garage, he couldn't fathom the auto-touch feature so --- HE YANKED THE SLIDING DOOR OFF IT'S FREAKIN' TRACK! This cost my brother two days with a loaner car and all the hassles associated with it. Sliding van doors aren't the "be-all-end-all" of utility you guys suggest. In fact, you might have missed the Model X demo wherein the tester parked less than 2 feet from an adjoining car in both a minivan with a slider, and an X with FWs. He showed how he could walk from behind the X and alongside the car and comfortably enter the rear of the Model X. Then they tried the same with the minivan, and he could not even slide gingerly beside both cars and into the van! Bet you didn't think of that! - Finally, what about THE GROOVE? Honda and Toyota amongst others come up with a new "sleeker - less minivan-like" design every few years. The one thing they grapple with ( and Honda just ignores, placing a huge gaping crevasse alongside it's flanks ) is the groove the door mechanism slides in. No groove and panel exists to muck up Model X's sleek, but "inflated Model S" aero shape. ----- When you're spending $80-150,000 for a luxury family vehicle, and you just need a nudge to get you over the top... Those doors are cool. They have practical attributes, but most of all ---- They're cool. Is cool bad? It's the thing that stops regular Joes in the parking lot and makes their jaws drop. Elon Musk doesn't want cars...electric cars... to be boring, plain nor "normal" in ways other than their propulsion system. He wants them to incite attention and be exciting. To him, the doors and gigantic windshield puts it over the top. In hindsight, the effort and expense was over the top also - according to Elon himself...But I also think we shall see Model X sell very well - and those doors will be a large reason many decided on the Tesla vs. it's competitors....What you call "party tricks" are mostly useful and sensible features that also are cool. They all are features that cannot be found elsewhere. Coolness sells cars, folks. Things to ponder: Clean Air Breathing One pedal driving Car opens and shuts door for you like a valet No button pushing to start - car knows you're there, and is ready to go Giant iPad and rear view available in giant form without shifting into R Lowers itself at speed or manually - increasing aero and range Remembers to raise/lower suspension without user input by memory: driveway... Car receives exciting and significant updates over-the-air without dealer visit Car goes years longer not being obsolete to the next new model 100% torque from 0 RPM Family car that can also be your "fun car" in many ways - many ways. Front trunk is very useful Aero function = appearance like no other CUV Performance that embarrasses sport coupes to sports cars Tows up to 5,000 lbs. It just works, it's not all hype Made and imagined in America by Americans Fuel at home - capable of fueling from the sun, wind or geo thermal Truly fun to drive and can haul the whole bowling team Tell the wife it's practical but smoke Corvettes from stoplights on weekends Price of fuel for lifetime of ownership baked into MSRP Spend your money on you, not on emissions checks, parts and service One word: Autopilot Summon mode parks itself and comes to you while you're not in car! Summon mode opens and closes your garage door by itself Name a competitor that does even half what Model X does. When I wrote this I even had to read each fact twice just to let each one sink in. There is a car that ACTUALLY DOES THESE THINGS! It's so well thought out - even oil-in-veins car guys have to sit up and take notice. What these capabilities do ( and the cool geeky stuff ) is add value. And value is a major consideration - even to those with $100+thou to spend on a vehicle. In fact, they are where they are probably because they aren't dummies who tow the line and buy the same-ole-same-ole.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally love the look of the Model X. I ordered my model X and will take delivery this week. I bought it because, my G500 is very difficult to get my grandchildren in and out of the car seats. The falcon wing doors have no door jam at the top. I can easily stand in the car and buckle both children into their seats. A minivan door obstructs the access to the rear seats of most mini vans. This car is a perfect carpool car. Usually a carpool car is not fun to drive. The bells and whistles in this car make it fun to drive. That and when the kids are arguing in the back; I can look back (in autopilot ) and see what is really going on back there. You are looking at this car from a single persons perspective. I can't wait to start driving it, and am so happy I am not going to another gas station. Just one gals opinion.
I don't feel like you guys were educated enough on Model X to properly exam it. Model X does everything a minivan can do but in a better way, plus the falcon wing doors are superior when it comes to close parking spots where a sliding door blocks the way in.
Opening in a tight parking spot, wider opening, high head room. Three reasons why those doors are better. I am kinda surprised how much he hates those doors. I would much prefer those doors in a minivan than the cheap crap minivan doors
I am still trying to understand all the car review pundits that think Model X's exterior lines are ugly. Model X lines a smooth, sexy, and aerodynamically sound. When you see an X driving there is nothing like it. Every Model X owner has discussed their driving experience as wonderful, enjoyable and peaceful, including the winding canyon type roads.
I think that your commentary misses the point. Ludicrous mode doesn't cost any money. The doors do, for sure. But ludicrous mode is nothing more than a software update. I think you missed the mark on that one guys.
+ELF Kids Videos It does cost extra, Tesla use an alloy for the battery connectors that they designed in Space X rather than steel, I think the extra cost is $5000.
You prolly dont care but if you are bored like me during the covid times you can stream pretty much all of the latest series on instaflixxer. Have been streaming with my brother for the last couple of months :)
The doors are simple: Its an SUV. The rear don't "have space" for minivan sliding doors. People are way more interested i paying top dollar for SUVs, than minivans. Regardless of quality, luxury and equipment. And lets not forget, it drives itself. Like, it actually does it. Pretty well. Yes, its expensive as hell. But give due to the terminilogy - amazing, revolutionary, futurustic, groundbreaking etc... all new tech has massive research and development costs, and little room for profit or income. Its gonna be freakin' expensive. But then again, so is an Audi S8 or RS6. When these new techs become more readily available, the prices come down. Its the nature of new consumer technology.
The one guy went on way too much about how he didn't like this awesome car.. we get it okay... you can't knock it so much, the price and features should be a clue that this car is in the novelty category and I absolutely love it!
Lets not forget that it is the safest SUV in the world. I agree that Tesla doesn't need all the party features because they still kill every car in speed, safety, reliability, cargo etc.. however, since Tesla does 0 marketing in movies and TV shows, those extra features not only attract lots of guys in a gadget induced era, but also create word-of-mouth marketing, which is exponentially more powerful than any other form of marketing.
Just like Apple, people expect groundbreaking innovation from Tesla. Tesla made the first cool electric sports car, and the first electric luxury car that businessmen could be taken seriously in when pulling up at the Country Club. The Model X isn't groundbreaking, but it does still follow Apple's example. Think about it this way: the "S" version of the iPhone (5S, 6S, etc) is always just a regular model with the kinks worked out and some new gimmicks to keep people happy until the all-new iPhone comes out. Tesla is doing exactly the same thing with the Model X, even if the result is innovation for the sake of innovation. The Model X would still be a good car without all the gimmicks, but if it didn't have those features, everyone would just lose interest and think Tesla was out of ideas. The gimmicks are what keep investors energized, and therefore allow Tesla to develop a new car that is actually groundbreaking: the affordable Model 3
Every review of this car the commentators always complain about the falcon doors not being necessary. That Tesla should have just put regular doors on it. Theyre trying to be innovative. So many things we take for granted on modern cars were considered crazy and unnecessary when they first came out. Yet, now we cannot live without them. It is refreshing to see a car company try something new.
they tend to not have a problem with the doors themselves, but with the fact that they put it on the model x and not the model s, which could actually benefit fron good styling.
Downvoted because of the door coments witch were painful to listen to, minivan comparison, Panamera vs Model X choice (wtf is that about), and so on. I couldn't even torture myself to listen to the end of the video. Appalling review!
You guys are missing a major point about the vehicle -in that it is the very FIRST all electric crossover SUV. SUV drivers are used to being able to see traffic and in areas of the country prone to SNOW or FLOODING need high clearance vehicles. In its highest setting - the X has a ground clearance of 11.5 inches!!! Also, especially in areas where most of the vehicles on the road are SUVs and trucks, you NEED to sit up higher so that you can actually SEE traffic around you and see OVER traffic so you know what's happening up ahead..If you are used to driving a truck or SUV and being able to see traffic up ahead and around you youre not going to buy a sedan. You don't need to get the ludicrous mode option - THAT is and OPTION and not a "PARTY TRICK" Yes, the falcon wing doors are probably not absolutely necessary but they do make exiting and entry easier and they make the car unique and futuristic! The price point is much higher and thus there will be far fewer on the road - I like that - I won't be driving a car that becomes ubiquitous and dime a dozen like the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne or some others have become.
EverydayDriver, sliding minivan doors require rails to run on and dictates a particular shape of the vehicle... a minivan shape. The other function of the Falcon Wing doors is that you don't have to duck to get in the back like in a minivan. Also note that the Model X is designed to have a higher ground clearance, fit a battery in the floor and not be too tall for aerodynamics and range, so a design like the Falcon doors make all these possible. Not a gimmick, just saying.
Let me start by saying I like Tesla & I want them to succeed. But, I had the exact same reaction to the doors when I first saw the Model X unveiled ... an expensive affectation that adds a ton of expense without really solving any problem better than existing sliding doors. And (sorry), but it is basically a minivan. It's not an SUV -- it has pretty much the same ground clearance as the Model S. You're not going to take it off road. So, it's a racing van. And, I get buying a car for the "cool factor". I own a Fisker Karma! But, all the cool factors in this car are mostly internal and connected to the giant screen. I thought this video was pretty well done. If you are a Tesla fanboy, you'll hate it. But, if you're a person who wants to know why they should or should not buy Model X over some other choices -- it was a fair review.
I disagree with them on the driving feel. I have a Model S, and I have to say that although I've driven a lot of cars, I've never driven anything I enjoy driving as much as my Model S. It's fast, smooth, tight, no roll in corners, etc etc. And road feel? Of course there is road feel! I can feel when I drive over a painted line. I can feel when the road changes from concrete to asphalt, etc. What are they talking about? It's seriously the best driving, most comfortable, most amazing car on the road, hands down.
+Colin Fox :It's seriously the best driving, most comfortable, most amazing car on the road, hands down." I think you're going a little overboard, here. It's a good car, but come on.
+Colin Fox totally agree although I never driven Tesla. From what I see when people talking about it seems that it's kid of normal human behavior because we are too attached to usual old stuff. New stuff excits us but in the end we starting to wonder why it's necessary if we can do it in old way . I know people who have money and living like normal middle class citizen yet they don't know a smartphone instead they have a old dump phone. So I personally think that you can't compare normal car and Tesla car. In so many ways it's better it's new and exciting. True battery life is still OK. Enough probably for normal usage. But in the end people will get used to, like they used to charge phones everyday... I am so happy that companies like Tesla bringing such products. Maybe it's not always necessary but in the end it will always have advantage to the old things,in some way...
Marius Tomas well, I've been driving for 33 years, and I've now had this car for almost 3. It's not new to me anymore and I still day this is hands down the best car on the road. Not the fastest, cheapest, largest, smallest, lightest or any other single metric. No, the magic of the tesla is how it does so many things so well. It's not the fastest supercar, yet you can race it against a lamborghini and it's not stupid. It goes farther per dollar than a prius. It carries stuff like a station wagon. And it looks as good as a maserati. And it pollutes like a bicycle. It has the best navigation and control system of them all, and now the most advanced auto pilot.
I love the look of the Model X, i dont understand, why some guys find it ugly (._.) And at the end of this month, when the Model 3 gets revealed, it will be exactly what you wanted from the model X for a pricetag of 30 k
+Splash I think its because the car has no grill in the front(every other car has a grill in the front)even the model s has a black patch in the front but the model X doesnt so it looks odd
thepspdaxter While that does look unusual - I actually like it. It's the rest of the car, it just looks like a rounded bar of soap, nothing special or interesting about it.
All Tesla models are state of the art driving machines. I own a Model S and I believe it makes me a safer driver. If I needed an additional automobile, I would get Tesla's suv. It is incredible!
I'm just waiting for the 2nd generation of the Model X and S. I think they'll make the most improvements on the Model X. That's just me, but only time will time.
I would take the Model X, over the Panamera... for me this is a piece of art. No noise, no pollution, spacious, no other SUV is so fast in acc., a big screen, auto drive, plus the falcon doors, why not? I like it.. I like also the Porsche 911 as a sport car, but keep in mind that you compare electric vs gas ...
I agree that the gull wing door is a gimmick. Except, I wouldn't have gone with a minivan door. I would have gone with a regular car door. Besides being unnecessarily complex, one of the main problems with the gull wing door is that it makes it difficult to carry things on the roof.
+Dan Sanger Excellent point! But Tesla considered the room within the car sufficient - and there is an optional rear suspension for bikes. I wonder where they´ll put the rest of the things for a family with - let´s say - 4 children on a one week holiday trip for skiing...
It's not a Macbook Pro by my estimation in comparison to a PC laptop. It's an Apple Watch or a Samsung Galaxy Gear Watch compared to an analog watch. It's nowhere near as elegantly pretty, or sleek, or even utilitarian as your analog watch. It has its party tricks and does things that your analog watch doesn't do like show you your text messages which is why you spent the massive amount of cash for it. But in the end result it's just a fashion accessory for rich people who's most important factor was to impress. When in reality there are better devices to use. My point is that This vehicle is an overly gadget dripping affectation. And that is all.
+hallis1 Imagine you have to make a Macbook with 42" display. Now say you made it not elegantly pretty, sleek nor utilitarian. When you have to make a thing that is made of 42" LCD your thing will be at least 42" in diameter. Now try to drive Toyota Celica - is it sleek enough? Oh it is. Now put 42" TV there. Oh you can't.. Why?
Arnis Tarassu The analogy was flawed. The Macbook Pro doesn't really offer anything other than glamour. And the PC laptop's are as capable. The Apple Watch/Samsung analogy demonstrates the disparities in capability that come along with the shiny.
Hands down, this is the best review of *any* Tesla, that I've ever seen. It cuts all the fanboy nonsense out, and actually makes valid points that are really interesting. The fanboy reviews are useless, because Tesla could put square wheels on a car, and they'd still love it, as long as it was called "Shake it up" mode. This very much relates to what the car is doing well, what it's doing less well, what's over the top and unnessacary, what the consequences could be, if those things were omitted, and so on. I think that your comparison to Apple is spot on; it's a lot of the same things going on - and really also the same background, trying to simplify something for people, who feel that it's complicated as it is. I think atleast half of the worlds premier auto brands could easily have made AutoPilot years ago - I know that Volkswagen made a Golf V (so, we're talking 10 years ago), used to test suspension setup and tires. It had the ability to learn a track and then drive reliably on the physical limits of it's current setup (that it learned itself while driving), which allowed the engineers to read the effects of tires and suspension on laptimes direction, without the human factor. That was ten years ago. In 2008, they made a VW Passat, where you could exit the car and hold a button on the remote key fob pressed, and the car would park inside a parking bay for you - and drive out of it when you came back; the vision being that more parking spaces would fit into less area. Both of these were prototypes, but again - it's a long time ago. One then has to consider, why other brands haven't introduced AutoPilot, and simply speaking, they're either more conservative, or more likely; more realistic about the limitations of AI in cars, and the danger these limitations represent to the occupants and the surroundings. I think you make an excellent point about beta software and customers being beta testers - I've seen Auto Pilot do some bad decision making, and I'm sadly certain that we will see headlines before long, in which various accidents happen because a driver relies entirely on a vehicle, that isn't mature enough to handle the situation. Personally, I would never trust it to take my hands off the wheels, as I've seen it violently jerking the wheel out of nowhere on a straight road, as well as try to steer from an empty turn lane into the back of stationary traffic in another lane.
About that the doors, once you have the technology and the knowledge to do them, they won't be a problem in future. So yeah, they delayed Tesla's Model X and yeah, they spent a lot on them, money and timewise. Still, once you have the technology, you can improve them a lot easier. So let's say you like them because they look cool, there you go, why not? Since we have them, get them. Let's say you like them because of the usabilty. there you go, we know how to make them, get them. Companies like Tesla Motors are important, they're not afraid of very hard tasks, they keep going and even, dare i say it, change the world. As far as I know, even the biggest problem about electronical things is solved with Tesla's cars. It doesn't use rare earth metals.
Long story made short, it is a Model S with a higher driving position and some head space. Additionally, they were right about the Apple analogy as Tesla made it to appear cool and sexier for better profit margins. They are also correct that this and the Model S can be sold from 35k to 50k. It will happen if they get the volume they have always wanted. For now though, let the rich people buy these expensive but cool things.
I can't stand Tesla cars, mainly because every owner I've met is entirely pretentious. Still watched though, you guys are by far my favorite car channel!
+Manseung Ha Why death to Motorheads? You know you can modify these cars as well as adjust the programming, hell maybe even code your own program to piggyback. Times maybe changing but people are adjusting.
I think the falcon doors would be most appreciated if you use the 3rd row seating a lot. Most people, me included, would practically never use them. Parents would but do kids need that extra ease to get in, they're already small. It's cool I guess that there's room for adults to get in the 3rd row and it's pretty easy to get in for those that will use that. As far as looks, I've never really seen a crossover or SUV I thought was good looking, I'd much rather have the Model S. There are tons and tons of people who buy small SUV's and crossovers even if they don't have kids. I don't understand it, but I don't need to understand it to know there's a huge market for it.
you missed commenting about how fun is this car to drive under different conditions and comment about the suspension, performance, behavior in curves, etc like other cars, the discussion around looks and doors and automated gimmicks consumed most of the time, also would like to have seen more of the interior space etc... it was fun to watch though..
Yeah. Because they seem to have simply refused to actually drive the Model X. They just wanted to demonstrate their disapproval of the very existence of Autopilot.
We're hope you noticed all the sections where the guys were driving the car. Autopilot was only used for about 20% of our time with the model X and is a small section of the driving shown here. Both guys had the chance to drive the X hard on a winding back road and during a launch to show the impressive acceleration while embarrassing a minivan.
"A minivan is a pc laptop and this is a Macbook pro" is the best comparison I've ever heard! I too view the Model X as a sexy minivan - I still want one!
i feel as though the falcon wing doors would fail to serve the purpose of blocking rain water and the only (and probably more efficient) way would be a sliding door and an extended visor.
I can't believe you just compared a Tesla to a combustion engine minivan. I recently got a chance to experience a Tesla, and afterwards any other non-electric car feels primitive. And note, I hadn't even been a fan of Teslas before. But after driving one, I'm in love.
This was the best review of a car I have ever seen! You guys gave such a great realistic conversation about what would go through a sensible drivers thought process before purchasing this vehicle. Thank you for pointing out the cool features but knowing that they are just party tricks and that the cost could and should be cut just by removing these features. Keep up the good work and I will be sure to spread the word about your channel.
+Chris Lloyd - Thank you very much. We're glad you enjoyed this review. It's a bit different structure for us, but as soon as we climbed into the X we realized it needed a discussion like this. Glad you found us and took the time to comment!
+EverydayDriver I BOUGHT a Honda S2000 and Chevy Volt because of ye. Your reviews were so excellent I was persuaded to get them (especially the Volt which is better than any other Volt review out there) .
I think you lost the fact that they needed to shatter the "electric" car image from the 80's and 90's. To do that every category has to be rethought. The doors, the speed, and the tech make every naysayer of the past image think " this is what every car should/could be". 2017 volt owner, dreaming of owning Tesla. I think Volt represent the bridge for people like me that are not sure we want jump in head first.
The door conversation, with the guy on the right talking against it is exactly the mentality Tesla thankfully made sure to separate themselves from. Tesla said, u take your by-the-book rigid, in-the-box thinking that way, and we'll make sure to go the opposite way. Thank u Tesla for thinking outside the box.
With regard to the minivan door comparison, you should have watched the video showing how much better the access is with these doors when someone parks right next to the X. When it happens to a minivan, the door slides open and fills in that narrow gap left by someone who parked too close. The falcon doors do not occupy that narrow gap when they open. Watch Musk demonstrate this to get a better sens of the usefulness of this.
Whoa! This clearly shows these hosts are NOT truly car people. How can any one say "how is this different from a mini van?" and then later mention the 700+ horse power and 2.9 0-60 time. So basically you are saying "other then truly astonishing performance - how is this different from a mini van?". Using that logic, you must apply it to every single performance car. So explain how a Porsche 911 is different from a vw Beatle - aside from better performance of course, cause clearly that means nothing. I have liked some of your vids in the past, but this review/whine fest, mini van comparison was definitely insane. How two people who claim to enjoy cars can make that argument is mind blowing to me.
He lost me when he said the Porsche Panamera looked great compared to X. Sounds like a bunch of fun guys, Top Gear (UK) ish, but I was disappointed with the overall review. The Model S changed our driving experience and flipped it upside down. We've never travelled as much as a family, seeking new roads out. We're at ~38,700 miles in less than 1.5 years with one of the first AutoPilot capable Model S vehicles. Anyway, my wife purchased and took delivery of the Model X to replace her SUV and this review just missed everything she loved about the car and why. I'm more interested in actual drivers - would have been interesting if Randy had shared why he's put on 5,000 miles in less than 2 months than these two guys who clearly did not spend much time in the X before their review. Was more of a first-hand joy ride review.
Thought your review of the Model X was insightful and more interesting than any other car you've reviewed because in many ways it's the "uncar". I've watched your review of the Lotus Elise many times (it helped me a lot in my purchase of a 2007 Elise last year), and I was struck by the stark contrast between the two. I agree with Todd that the Model X is a bit ugly, but I can appreciate how in many ways is seems like a significant evolution in personal human transportation.
"Everything I like about this car has nothing to do with driving it" 1: that's true of most luxury cars. They possess bells and whistles to catch your eye and make your experience fun. Many do have great motors and some have sport tuned suspension but let's be serious most don't drive them like that either. 2: you have talked about the driving m. Ludicrous mode and the 3.2 seconds. It almost reminds me of a Nissan GT-R review I saw a while back. The car did everything so well (no over steer, hugged turns, AWD) you couldn't make it do the fun dangerous stuff other super cars can do. The reviewer felt underwhelmed because it did everything too perfectly. That's where we are headed. Cars are fun because we get to control them and they act like an extension of us. But they're also dangerous for the same reasons. We're moving away from a lot of what is fun for what is safe. Once the technology becomes common place, there will be more electric cars mimicking muscle cars not luxury cars.
I test drove a Model X. For those of us that are older, the eaze of getting into the vehicle plus interior space is amazing. The gull wing doors allow just a smiggin amount of overhead protection from weather also. I definitely would own one.
For the falcon wing doors you don't need the long body with the rails to slide the door. Also if someone park really close to you the door doesn't come between the cars blocking the way. also they give you more space to work with. They defenetly aren't only for show.
Ummm this thing is ELECTRIC guys, who gives a rats ass about the doors!!! Like is electric!!! It doesn't need gas like it's awesome The biggest "fuck you" to every other luxury brand is the fact it doesn't depend on fuel!!!!
I love Tesla Cars. But there is one thing I have to point out: The Model S is not a sedan but a hatchback. And I agree with you: Without the ludicrous mode, the falcon (why not use the familiar term "gullwing"?) doors and the gigantic air filter it is just another SUV. But it makes a great point, anyway: In 10 years everybody will go electric. Why not start now?
What a lame review. A good reviewer always puts himself/herself in the shoes of a prospective buyer. These guys are like a couple of neighbors talking over BBQ about a car they cannot afford. Oh, get a minivan, honey.
+Mike Ivsin Their channel has a clear mandate, and that is about driving enjoyment. This car will be reviewed by a bevy of boring 'practical' reviewers like Consumer Reports, Cars.com, among many. I appreciate their perspective
+Mike Ivsin honest question, what does this car do a minivan can't do? If there were an electric mini van how would it differentiate itself, beside cool factor. I think that was the point he was getting at.
@Taureg That is for the reviewer to figure out (and have a large following like "the kid" saabkyle04). As for me, the electric car, a seven seater at that, with electrifying acceleration at that, just cannot be easily compared to nonelectric car. For me it is about the water and air pollution and also about the oil wars called terrorism. But of course, people love to retreat to their suburban tranquility and that is why I compared the review to a BBQ chat. You may ignore Trump rallies or you may think of stopping it with fists, but my thing is to do what I can do without complaining and that is to get an electric car at earliest circumstance.
As a Model S P85D owner, I've considered Model X for a family car. My wife and I are having a baby so we are researching other SUVs and even minivans. Yes I know...minivans for practicality. I'm a huge Tesla fan so I've been waiting for X to arrive. In fact we are scheduled to test drive tomorrow. After watching your review, you have confirmed my "cons": fancy gull wing doors, ludicrous mode and $100k+ price tag. As much as I am a Tesla fanboy, your minivan "pros" are hard to ignore. "You can buy four minivans!" Easy access with automatic sliding doors.
Cringey to hear your arguments about the doors. Tesla has already stated and shown the difference between a sliding door versus the falcon doors. It gives you the ability to squeeze into tiny parking spaces where there is no room to get in and out. Go watch the announcement of the X.
Your comment said that falcon doors give you the ability to squeeze into tiny parking spaces where there is no room to get in and out. They do not. Well, unless you plan to sit in your car and never get out.
+Garl Vinland You're not going to park your $130K vehicle right next to other cars that will bang you with their doors. And, sliding doors would work just fine if there's enough room for a human to stand between your car and the next one. Again -- solving a problem that doesn't exist.
