What do our experts think of the 2023 Tesla Model X? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
ICYMI, the 2023 Tesla Model X has the most outrageous doors in all of auto-dom. Known as Falcon Wings, these panels swing up and out of the way. It’s as crazy now as it was when the Model X arrived in 2016. Equally eye-popping is the 1,000+ horsepower rating of the Spaceballs-y Plaid model.
Fortunately, the awkward yoke steering mechanism is now optional for 2023, but all of this points to perhaps an overabundance of gimmicks for the Model X. You have to wonder if these goofy features will continue to attract EV buyers in the face of competition, like the Volvo EX-90, particularly as the national charging network rolls out. Let’s dive in and find out!
2023 Tesla Model X – tesla.com | Shop 2023 Tesla Model X on Carsforsale.com
Toretto-approved 10-second car
Spaceballs themes
Solid range
Gimmicky wing doors
No Apple or Android integration
Turn signal buttons
Getting long-in-the-tooth
The base 2023 Model X makes 670 horsepower, which is a lot. It translates to a 3.8-second time in the 0-60 sprint. Not bad for a 5,100-pound SUV. But the Plaid model – a nameplate nod to Spaceballs – is turned up to a whopping 1,020 hp. That’ll bring 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds and on to a 9.9-second quarter mile. Dom Toretto is smiling somewhere. To accomplish this, the base model has two battery-powered electric motors, one at either axle. Plaid trim adds a second motor to the rear end for a total of three.
AWD is standard and a single-speed transmission routes the power accordingly. Plaid models add torque vectoring control and high-performance brakes to help control all that juice. The fully independent suspension features adaptive air springs, like Jaguar’s I-Pace, that smooth out rough roads and offers nearly nine inches of ground clearance when needed. But with that giant battery pack mounted low and the instant torque response of those electric motors, you’ll want to be low and tight to truly enjoy the Model X’s abundance of power.
The base 2023 Model Tesla Model X can tow 5,000 pounds and comes with a trailer hitch. There are no packages required to hit that figure, but as with any electric vehicle, you can expect the available range to drop precipitously when there’s a 5,000-pound load being tugged.
In base form, the 2023 Model X is rated for up to 102 MPGe and up to 348 miles of driving range. Those figures drop slightly to 98 MPGe combined and 333 miles between charges for the Plaid variant. That impressive range is a hallmark of Tesla’s vehicles, which dominate this list of the longest-range electric cars. Lucid is one of the few automakers that can best these driving ranges but they are VERY expensive.
An upside to the Falcon Wing doors is how easy it becomes to access the cabin. Just watch for low ceilings. And cars parked too closely. The pillarless “coach” doors on the Kia EV9 concept arguably make access that much easier, but opening them all the way up looks equally tricky. Regardless, once you’re inside the Model X, you will find a markedly more minimalistic vibe than just about any other vehicle on the market.
The list of standard equipment is deep – climatized front seats, heated rears, HEPA air filtration, and tri-zone climate control. Black leatherette is included, while the optional white or cream two-tone scheme with walnut inlays adds a posh vibe. But beware the yoke! Tesla offers a traditional steering wheel as a no-cost option for anyone that has to turn the wheel more than 90 degrees, but you can’t have turn signal stalks – period. Which means fumbling for buttons when it’s time to change lanes.
Though Plaid models only come in 3-row, 6-passenger configuration, the base trim can be had with room for five, six, or seven. Maximum cargo capacity is 92 cubic feet behind the first row with 43 cubes behind the second row and 21 with all three rows upright. There is also a front trunk that can swallow a carry-on-sized suitcase.
A giant 17-inch central touchscreen controls virtually every vehicle system in the 2023 Model X. It can tilt left and right to aid visibility and connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth, but Tesla eschews the popular Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration route, so there will be no mirroring of apps. Additional screens include the fully-digital gauge cluster and an 8-inch display for backseat passengers that is ready to put on a 10-teraflop display of gaming. Audiophiles will love the standard 22-speaker stereo system, while everyone will appreciate the wireless charging, navigation, and Phone Key tech.
Tesla’s Autopilot bundle of advanced safety systems includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and a lane-keeping system as standard equipment. Over-The-Air updates keep these features fine-tuned and for $6,000, buyers can upgrade to Enhanced Autopilot. It brings systems like automatic parking and highway lane changes plus a parking lot Summon feature.
For $15,000, you can purchase the Full Self-Driving Capability computer that adds traffic light and stop sign control with the promise of true hands-free driving at some unknown future date. Though the 2023 model has not yet been tested, the NHTSA rated the 2022 Tesla Model X five stars overall in crash testing.
The base 2023 Model X comes with 20-inch wheels, auto-open and close front doors, heated side mirrors, and a panoramic windshield that carries into the roof. Faux leather wraps the climatized front seats, heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats, while the tri-zone climate control keeps everyone comfortable. Driver memory settings and ambient lighting are also included as is a 12-inch digital instrument panel, 17-inch infotainment display, and 8-inch rear-passenger interface. There is no Apple or Android smartphone integration, but navigation, a wireless charging pad, and a 22-speaker audio system are all included.
One of the few differences between base and Plaid models – aside from the power – is the use of carbon fiber trim in the Plaid cabin versus wood for the base model. Like that base model, the Plaid can be upgraded with a two-tone cream or white-trimmed cabin for $2,000 and the yoke steering wheel can be swapped for a round version to save $250. The optional 22-inch rims and summer tires will run you $6,000 and deliver reduced driving range, but they sure do look cool.
Tesla’s battery-based powertrain warranty is good for eight years or 150,000 miles and as the automaker notes, it is a powertrain that requires no scheduled maintenance, ever. The basic vehicle warranty runs for four years or 50,000 miles, which is on par with most luxury brands.
2023 Tesla Model X – tesla.com | Shop 2023 Tesla Model X on Carsforsale.com
I’m certainly a sucker for 1,000 horsepower, wing-shaped doors with a neato name, and a car that bakes Spaceballs references right into the model moniker. And there’s no denying the 2023 Telsa Model X is an impressive EV from a range perspective. But it’s now eight model years old and is feeling a bit dusty against an onslaught of shiny new competition like the Mercedes EQS and incoming Volvo EX-90. And cheap the Model X is not – a loaded Plaid tops $135,000. So, I would have to stick with the base model and no options, a setup that still requires an outlay of $100,000.