The Model X, released in 2016, was Tesla's first crossover SUV. It is built on the Model S platform, but is larger and heavier than its predecessor. It stands apart with iconic falcon doors, which are reminiscent of the DeLorean's "gull wings" from Back to the Future. The doors are the most notable feature of the car's exterior but have also been a source of unending headaches for owners and Tesla engineers due to their pneumatics and double-hinged operation. The Model X is appointed with luxury finishes, as well as the distinction of being the first all-electric SUV. Almost all used Model X's get at least 200 miles per charge, except for some very early models with small batteries.
There have been no major redesigns to the Model X since its initial production, but interior updates are slated for 2022 with the release of the redesigned Model S. Tesla does offer over-the-air software upgrades for all their cars.
The Model X is available with an optional towbar with capacity of up to 5000 lb and can come bundled with full self-driving capability.
The Model X has been available in ten different trim levels since its release. The later-year Performance trim is available with different wheel sizes which affect efficiency and range. All Model X trims come with dual motor all-wheel drive and select, older 90 and 100 kWh battery configurations are available as "performance" models, denoted by a "P" in the trim name. These performance trims add power but reduce range and efficiency.
The table below represents the trims in the Recurrent community.
The Tesla Model X is a battery electric vehicle, or BEV. This means that it runs exclusively on electricity, which is provided by a high voltage lithium ion battery. It has zero tailpipe emissions.
For any all-electric vehicle, range means how many miles the car can go when it’s charged to 100%. Like with an internal combustion vehicle, the real-world range may vary with driving conditions. The EPA rates electric vehicles with a single, estimated range for all of a particular make, model, year, and trim. However, there can be both short and long term changes to what the EPA predicts. Short term changes are usually caused by external factors such as driving style, terrain, or temperature, while permanent range effects are due to battery degradation and age.
Seasonal changes and driving behaviors affect the day-to-day range that EVs can achieve. For example, you may have 50 more miles of range with springtime city driving than with cold winter road trips. While all EV batteries have some dependency on external factors, the amount of on-board variability you’ll see in a car depends on battery chemistry and how the car manufacturer programs the battery management system. Read more about how temperature affects range here.
For all EVs, there is an initial drop off in range when a car is first used. This is expected and means that the battery chemistry is settling into its long-term state. After this initial drop, range estimates (and battery health) tend to fall into a steady but slow decline.
The Model X has been on the road since 2016 so we have data for the beginning of their lifetimes. Overall, the Model X holds its range quite well, with even the oldest vehicles maintaining 85-90% of their original capacity. Depending on original battery capacity, a used Model X will get over 200 miles on a full charge. The only version that doesn't hit this average used range is the 2016 60D, which falls just shy of 200 miles per charge. Long Range and Long Range Plus trims all still get at least 300 miles per charge.
The main ways to measure vehicle efficiency, or energy use per distance traveled, are MPGe and miles/kWh. You may see these values on new car stickers or on dealer listings. The Model X is based on the Model S, which is a moderately efficient EV but not built to the same standards as the Model 3. With its larger engine and heavier frame, the Model X gets between 79-105 MPGe, which puts it in the low to average range. In terms of of miles per kWh, it falls between 2.3-3.1 mi/kWh. Vehicles with Performance mode will be less efficient.
Our community of Model X drivers give the car a Charging Score of 4.54/5, meaning that most drivers are satisfied with their charging experience. Tesla recommends that owners charge at home for daily charging needs and offers an add-on purchase of a home, level-2 charger. The Model X is also part of the Tesla supercharger network with more than 10,000 US locations. Tesla superchargers can provide up to 200 miles of range in around 15 minutes, with max charge speeds of 250 kW. Model X drivers can also charge at other public charging locations, such as EVgo and Electrify America, although they may require a CCS adapter. New Teslas come standard with a J1772 adapter for use at public or non-Tesla level 2 chargers.
Teslas all have lithium ion batteries, which are power dense, high voltage battery packs. All lithium ion batteries slowly lose power and capacity with age because of a thing called battery degradation. The battery degrades based on two things:
a) the age of the battery (also known as 'calendar' aging)
b) how the battery is used, charged, and stored
There is no way to avoid calendar aging, but there are things that can cause a battery to degrade faster than expected. There are a number of things EV owners can do to slow the process but it is a longer discussion that we have covered in a research article on battery degradation.
The battery size, or battery capacity, is measured in kWh. The trim of the Model X determines its battery size: a 60D has a 60 kWh battery, a 90D has a 90 kWh battery, and so forth. Later year models, "named" trims all have 100 kWh batteries (such as Long Range, Long Range Plus, and Performance). The average EV battery hovers around 70 kWh so most Model X's have batteries that would be considered large. Given their size and performance, the extra energy is needed.
Tesla builds batteries to last. Their Model X battery warranty guarantees against degradation past 70% of battery capacity for 8 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. The warranty is transferrable if the car is sold, and used Teslas purchased directly from Tesla.com also come with an additional 1 year, 10,000 mile warranty.
Curious how long EV batteries last? Read more here!
This page shares Tesla Model X data collected from over 300 cars across the United States. Each of the 2 million miles driven helps to draw a picture of the Model X experience. We polled our community of drivers to find out what they love and what they could leave with their vehicles.
Most liked features:
"[I'm] grandfathered into free supercharging. Incredible storage for the size of the car. Best car when you have small kids in car seats. Tech layer is the perfect blend of simplicity, form, and function."
"Software updates and continued expansion of capacities."
"AP1 and auto lane change increase safety immeasurably. Summon allows me to park in my garage without scrapping the sides. (Clearance is about 6 inches in either side.) Trip mapping effectiveness by showing distance and time of charge at each Supercharger are reliable and easier to use now than they were 7 years ago. Now you set the destination and the mapping figures everything out. Before we had to calculate distances between Superchargers and keep our fingers crossed that we were right!"
Room to improve:
" wish I picked a longer range - the listed range is not accurate if you have the AC or heat on - often it's half.
"Many minor bugs - HVAC system, windows, suspension creaking noise, LTE connectivity going offline, etc."
"It's pretty buggy; software issues, doors, infotainment screen...it's always something. I've never had to take a car to a service center more than this one."
The Green Score for the Model X is great, since as an all-electric car, it has the lowest tailpipe emissions. Buying a used Tesla is another great way to lower your environmental impact - every used car purchased means one fewer new car that needs to be produced and shipped. Finally, you can really up your green game by powering your EV with renewable energy for the ultimate clean machine.
The Model X is a luxury car and is priced accordingly. Tesla also is no longer eligible for the $7,500 tax credit for new cars, but pending legislation may restore this incentives.
The average used price for a Model X is around $83,600 - not an inexpensive vehicle. The average price for 2016 or 2017 Model X's is still $73K, and the average prices rises by around $10,000 per model year after that. Like all used cars, and especially used Teslas, the used price of a Model X has risen substantially in 2021 - based on our Marketcheck data, the Model X has seen an average increase of at least $10K from April to December.
Recurrent uses cost per range mile as a way to measure the marginal increase in range that larger battery capacity or different trims may offer. The Model X has a cost per range mile between $291 - $425 across all used model years and all trim levels, meaning that even at its cheapest, it is an expensive car. The large spread in the cost per range mile is due to the wide range of prices in Model X across trim levels and years. It is easy to get a Model X with many amenities and a lot of power but not much more range than a lower trim level.
Recurrent uses data from the AFDC to determine the range of annual charging costs for a Model X. Assuming and average driving pattern of 34 miles a day, 5 days a week, 49 weeks a year with 25% highway driving, plus a few additional highway road trips, you can estimate your annual charging costs to be between $413 - $1,323 for 2017 Model X 90D. More detailed and personalized values can be calculated at the link above. For our calculations, the highest electricity price is found in Hawaii and the lowest in Louisiana.
