2016 Tesla X P90D All Wheel Drive 4-Door, Titanium Metallic

2016 Tesla X P90D All Wheel Drive 4-Door, Titanium Metallic

Model strengths:
All-electric drivetrain, potent acceleration, quiet motor, great handling for an SUV, trick doors.

Model changes:
The Model X is brand new for 2016 and is the third model to be sold by Tesla Motors. Like the Model S that preceded it, the Model X is a practical, everyday vehicle that runs exclusively on electricity. Unlike the Model S, the Model X is an all-wheel drive crossover SUV, which should do well in poor weather or in light off-roading situations. With no option for a hybrid drivetrain, owners will get the pleasure of knowing that their car produces zero air pollution on their way to and from work, or wherever the Model X might take them.

Model value:
The Model X is not a cheap car, with a base price of around $83,000. However that price is aided by federal tax credits designed to increase sales of alternative fuel vehicles, up to $7,500 in credit is available to buyers in the U.S., with some states even offer additional tax credits. For that price, owners get a luxurious and practical all-wheel drive vehicle that won't cost a penny at the fuel pump. Tesla estimates that buyers will save an average of about $7,400 over an equivalent gasoline powered vehicle, over their first five years of ownership.

Model overview:
The Model X comes in three basic trims, 75D, 90D and P90D. All three trims feature a pair of electric motors powering all four wheels. The 75D is the least powerful trim and while Tesla doesn't brag about a specific horsepower numbers, it does quote the 75D as being able to hit 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds. That's pretty fast for an SUV, but the 90D and the P90D both best it with a claimed 0-60 of 4.8 seconds for the 90D and 3.8 seconds for the P90D. Both of those figures are staggering, making even the mid-level 90D faster than just about any sports car on the road. A single speed transmission is all that's needed to transmit that power to the road, since unlike a traditional gasoline engine, electric motors make plenty of power from 0 rpm all the way up to the redline.

The two downsides for electric cars have classically been a lack of power and a laughably small range. As noted, there is no lack of power with any Model X. Range for the vehicle is a claimed 237 miles for the 75D. That should be enough to cover just about anyone's commute. The 90D has slightly more range, with a rating of 257 miles, while the more powerful P90D has a range of 250 miles. In any of these cases, the purchase of a Model X, gets owners access to Tesla's ever expanding network of "Supercharger" fast charging stations. With these stations placed conveniently across the United States, owners will be able to refuel the vehicles for free. Tesla claims that about 20 minutes at a supercharger station will charge the vehicle up about halfway.

Standard features on the Tesla Model X include most of the basic luxury SUV amenities, though several features stand out. The gullwing doors might be the most talked about feature on the Model X. The front doors open as any normal car door would, but the rear doors open up and out of the way, folding in the middle to avoid touching any adjacent cars (there are sensors in the door to keep this from happening automatically.) The advantage is a large hole in the side of the vehicle, making ingress and egress particularly easy with the door well out of the way. Another uniquely pleasing feature of the Model X is the panoramic glass roof. The windshield stretches back, curving above the driver's head before finally meeting the tops of the rear doors. There is no break in the glass before that point, meaning one piece of glass acts as both a windscreen and a moonroof. The rest of the roof has not been neglected either, with see-through glass creating the majority of the roof.

The Model X offers options that are similarly outlandish. The car has an optional "autopilot" feature that acts like an enhanced cruise control. Not only will the Model X keep pace with the other cars on the road, speeding up and slowing down with them, but it will also keep to its lane, even around gentle corners. A quick tap of the turn signal is all that's needed to change lanes while in autopilot mode. Autopilot mode also includes a self-parking system.

More traditional options on the Model X include a tow package, a 17-speaker premium sound system, an air suspension system, a premium package with things like cooled seats, as well as automatically opening front doors. A third row seat is also optional.

2016 Tesla X P90D All Wheel Drive 4-Door, Titanium Metallic