Tesla Model X Roadtest Review

Tesla loaned us a Model X for the weekend; it was quite impressive!

Tesla was very nice to loan us a model X for the weekend.  And not just any model X... it as the P100D.  The 'fast one'.   We had the car over the Memorial Day weekend, and it was awesome!

The speed is simply breathtaking.  Everyone who rode in it was quite impressed, and it equally impressive how stable the car is.  Quite a pleasure to drive.   The finish of the car is excellent, and beautiful. The large touch screen is very clear, and easy to use.  We loved almost everything about the car - but there are a few drawbacks and that is what this blog is about.

The one thing that might keep us from buying a Model X is the excessive sun and heat coming in that gigantic windshield.  The expanded view is nice but the sun really beats down on the front seat passengers.   We did try the Tesla-supplied sun shield but it was oddly designed, it seemed overly large and no configurability.  These sun issues seem really obvious, so its odd that more has not been done for this issue.  Basically, it needs an electric shade with a smooth control; can't be that hard!

Charging took longer than I expected.  Charing all night, at 110V, still left over 24 hours for a full charge.  I was aware that 110V is not enough but that is a long time to charge, for example if you are visiting a friend who does not have the Tesla charging unit in their garage.

Here is what else we noticed, in no particular order:

• The Lumbar adjustment is nice but needs more.  I need Lumbar support; almost no car provides enough support.  Tesla built a nice unit, and is nicely adjustable... so why not have  more support available?
• The controls are excellent, the user interface is well done.  The one thing missing for me was finding charging stations.  I finally found them on the GPS map - but if you hit the Charging button, and get the charging screen up, oddly there is no mention... of charging stations!
• Audio is good; but it lacks enough bass for some types of music.  Also the right (passenger) gull wing door had a vibration in the speaker - and this was a new car with only a few hundred miles on it.
• Gull Wing doors are very cool.   Their sensors however are not a complete 'envelope' around the car though - in my garage, the Gull Wing door hit something hanging.   (This can be replicated).
• The turn signal icons are too small, especially if the music is up so you cannot hear the turn signal clickers; UI needs adjustment.

Some ideas:

• Add a button under the rear view mirror for the interior Dome light.  You focused on the look and feel of the buttons on your Dome light but did not focus on how people use it.  People are used to a button being near the front and very easy to get to, to turn on the main Dome light.
• Mute the music when in Reverse; it's a safety consideration.
• Custom Charging Cord Length - on the Tesla website, sell charging cords of various or even custom length - to fit unique situations, or help keep the cord more manageable and neater.
• Custom Luggage set - that exactly filled the rear area, with no wasted space at all.  Every car manufacturer ought to do this!
• Model X Trailer + Battery - hauling yard debris etc or for going camping, to take more gear, and firewood.  This trailer could have an option for more battery, so it is a Range Extender - ideal for using on vacation.
• There should be lane departure mitigation, lane-change collision avoidance, and other safety features that are active even when Autopilot is off.  I am no expert on Autopilot but it seems to be either on in full Autopilot mode, or totally off.  I am more interested in safety features like lane departure mitigation, than full Autopilot.
• Sun Visors: There are several ways to fix this but the most elegant would be a sun blocker/screen that was hidden, at the top of the windshield, that would come down by a motor; a sliding screen, and the user chooses how far it comes down; the maximum would be to the rearview mirror.  That is easy, it could slide on side rails and have its motion controlled by the box the Rearview mirror mounts to.

Lastly, I want to talk more about Autopilot.  it' amazing, and fun, but seems only for long, uneventful drives on the freeway.  I really liked the feedback it gives, so the UI is done well.  But on our brief testing, the car got really confused by a freeway exit.  It just could not decide what to do, and was jerking back and forth - it was disconcerting and II had to take control.  The AutoPilot on long curves does not steer smoothly like a human but instead does it in steps, which feels odd.  Overall, what Tesla has done with Autopilot is certainly impressive, but it is still clearly a work in progress and if anything I am more skeptical than ever that self driving cars will work.   It will be disappointing if Tesla focuses mainly on full Autopilot - instead of putting the driving safety features first in an always-on system.

Overall I give this car an A- rating.  It would be an A except for the excessive sun issue; and it would be an A+ if there were more always-on driving safety features.