Categrory: Quality

Design & Exterior 6/10

Interior & Comfort 8/10

On first acquaintance, the Model X feels big, spacious and airy. The clean cabin aesthetic contributes to that sense of space, with the dashboard dominated by a huge 17–inch touchscreen infotainment system that controls pretty much everything. Think genetically modified iPad and you’re about there… There are a few buttons and switches that car geeks may notice have been borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin, but that’s no bad thing.

The Tesla Model X can be ordered with five, six or seven seats, making it a rival in reality for cars like the plug-in hybrid versions of the Audi Q7 e-tron and Volvo XC90 T8. A threeseater bench can be ordered for the middle row and fold completely flat, with two occasional, collapsible seats in the back. Alternatively, the six-seat option provides two plusher, nonfolding chairs for the middle row, with an optional central storage console. The buttons to either move or fold any of the chairs are concealed within the top corner of the seat upholstery so make sure somebody shows you or you’ll be there for hours.

As a tech company, Tesla even likes to approach safety a little differently. While crash testing remains a pre-requisite the Model X has yet to receive a Euro NCAP rating but has received a maximum five stars in the US equivalent from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the company is thinking of safety more holistically. This remit ranges from a medical grade air filter, preventing any dangerous toxins from entering the cabin, right through to active safety measures that include collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking.

Ethically astute shoppers will also be pleased that the leather trim is in fact made from polyurethane, which is wipe clean and family friendly.

Reliability and Servicing

The Model X is too new for there to be much meaningful reliability data available. In our limited test, we recorded no faults and tested the falcon doors multiple times in a variety of parking scenarios. Despite their complexity, they worked faultlessly, but whether they’re robust enough to survive small children tampering with them or even hanging from them, remains to be seen.

But the Model X isn’t a rational purchase. It’s aimed at tech conscious early adopters and fans who want to assist in the future development of the car. The fact that Tesla is marketing (and securing orders for) a £2,800 ‘Full Self Driving Capability’ option that doesn’t yet exist, is testament to this.