Overview
The 2022 Tesla Model X is a prime example of the EV automakers’ brand ethos. Quick, high-tech, and featuring a flashy gimmick in its Falcon-wing rear doors, it presents a unique-but-expensive proposition in the growing EV-crossover segment. The Model X comes standard with two electric motors making a total of 670 horsepower and all-wheel drive; a three-motor version called Plaid makes an astounding 1020 horsepower and is said to shoot to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. That mega-motor version will be available in late 2022 according to Tesla. The Model X isn’t as agile as the mechanically similar Model S sedan, but it’s surprisingly agile given its size and weight. The cabin is an exercise in modernism, with a giant screen dominating the dashboard providing touch-sensitive access to most of the Model X’s features. A third row of seats provides room for the whole family, and the second row can be ordered with captain’s chairs.
What’s New for 2022?
Last year’s Long Range model is now called simply Model X and its estimated range falls from 363 miles per charge to 351. The high-performance Plaid trim, which was introduced last year, also has a revised driving range estimation, which is now 335 miles per charge versus 340. The awkward yoke-style (rectangular) steering wheel introduced last year carries over.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The Plaid model with its three electric motors is sure to deliver brutal acceleration, but it’s mighty expensive. And its 335-mile estimated driving range isn’t as long as the less expensive base model, so we’d save the cash. The base Model X offers up to 351 miles of estimated driving range and still feels mighty quick thanks to the immediacy of the electric motors’ power delivery.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The base Model X comes standard with two electric motors—one at the front axle and one at the rear—which enables all-wheel-drive capability. This setup is plenty swift and Tesla claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds. The 1020-hp three-motor Plaid high-performance variant is boasts a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 2.5 seconds, but we haven’t verified its acceleration times at our test track yet. When we tested the Model S Plaid—the Model X’s sedan platform- mate—it managed a viscera-compressing 2.1-second zero-to-60-mph time. Handling is respectable, but the Model X’s party trick is the strong acceleration generated by its electric motors.
Keyword: 2022 Tesla Model X Review, Pricing, and Specs