All-electric SUVs with tons of power are slowly becoming the norm in today's world. However, what other brand-new high-riding EV with over 1,000 hp on tap and seating for six can become yours for just $95,000? That's right. The Model X Plaid is the only one.
Of course, there's the three-row Rivian R1S that tries to put up a fight. However, that SUV has four Bosch motors, space for seven people, and an output of 872 hp. It's also geared toward off-road use, not ultra-fast urban driving.
So, the Model X Plaid has its own place in the automotive world. The EV should theoretically offer owners a zero-emission go capacity of 326 miles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
That figure can be achieved thanks to a 95-kWh (usable) battery comprising 18650 Panasonic cells with a nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) cathode.
Fortunately, it doesn't have the automaker's proprietary 4680 cells, which aren't very impressive. The Cybertruck put those energy storage units in the spotlight, and they failed to show that Tesla has the right recipe for the best chemistry.
In ideal conditions, the six-seater (the only Plaid configuration possible) eSUV should be capable of reaching 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill in 2.5 seconds. No matter who you are and what you've driven before, those figures are bonkers. But that's the magic of having three permanent magnet motors that spin incredibly fast and generate 1,020 hp.
The unit put to this 70-mph highway range test rides on 20-inch Cyberstream wheels, which are the best option if you intend to have a more comfortable ride and better go capability. The EV has around 6,300 miles on the odometer, which means battery degradation is minimal.
The driver charged it to 100% at a DC dispenser, and the vehicle computer displayed an estimated range of 335 miles. He started driving with the suspension set to "very low," which helped avoid any unnecessary drag. The A/C was set on auto to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). The heated seats weren't turned on.
The outside temperature ranged between 40 and 53 degrees Fahrenheit (4 and 12 degrees Celsius). It even snowed at one point during the test.
The driver consumed 25% of the battery after driving 69 miles. The average energy consumption was 349 Wh per mile.
Another quarter of the high-voltage battery was consumed for driving 67 miles more. That meant half of the energy storage unit was gone after covering a distance of 136 miles. Reaching the EPA rating was out of the question at that point.
The driver added another 60 miles to the odometer by emptying 25% more of the battery.
The Model X Plaid reached a zero percent state of charge (SoC) after covering a grand total of 273 miles (439 kilometers) with an efficiency of 335 Wh per mile. The EV consumed 91 kWh, which meant that around 4 kWh were still available as an emergency reserve. That translated into 13 miles of range available after reaching the zero percent SoC. In total, the driver used 95 kWh of energy to cover a distance of 286 miles (460 kilometers).
Although the highway range test revealed a difference of 40 miles between the test's outcome and the EPA's result, that was to be expected. The outside temperature impacts EV batteries, and the eSUV needs more energy to maintain that average highway speed of 70 mph. Moreover, let's remember that this Tesla has three motors! The dual-motor version could fare much better than its high-performance sibling.
All in all, the Model X Plaid didn't disappoint. However, it didn't impress either. Still, it's a satisfactory outcome.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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