The 2022 Tesla Model X will come in two trims namely Long Range and Plaid. There are also some rumors about Tesla adding a new “Plaid+” trim for the 2022 model year but there is no official confirmation of the same yet. The Long Range version is the base trim and characterizes itself with a 0-60 MPH time of 3.8 seconds and a range of 360 miles. While the Plaid version will have a 1000+ hp and will do 0-60 MPH in a much faster 2.5 seconds but at the cost of 20 miles lesser range. The interior and exterior features on both trims, namely the Long Range and Plaid will be the same. 

Apart from the standard features listed in the table below a couple of extra options are also available for the Model X. The full self-driving capabilities can be unlocked for $10,000 extra. On the exterior, only pearl white color is a no-cost option while the rest of the exterior colors are charged. Also, the 22-inch turbine alloy wheels cost extra if replaced with the standard 20-inch alloy wheels. Moving inside, the black interior color theme is standard while the black and white or cream color interior themes are optional. While the 5-seat layout is standard you have the choice of either 7-seat or 6-seat layout too both of which command a couple of grand extra premium. 

*Prices before any potential federal incentives or rebates

Price

The 2022 Model X will be offered in two trims but the prices will be different as compared to the 2021 model. With the base Long Range trim, you will get an AWD system and all the Tesla goodies for the price of $99,990. While the Plaid trim gets a three-motor setup which makes it more powerful and hence comes at a price that is far more expensive than the Long Range at $119,990.

Release Date

The 2022 Tesla Model X is expected to be available for booking by later this year with deliveries beginning by the end of the first quarter of 2022.

The drivetrain of the 2022 Model X is expected to be carried over so the performance figures and the range are expected to remain similar to the 2021 model year if not better. The base Long Range is powered by dual 3-phase, 4 pole induction motors, and a 100-kWh lithium-ion battery. This powertrain can produce up to a whopping 670 horsepower, which makes it the most powerful EV in its segment. The engine is mated to a single-speed direct-drive transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. The Plaid trim gets a more powerful tri-motor set up with the same battery capacity and bumps the power figure to an astonishing 1020 horsepower.

The base trim does the 0-60 MPH in 3.8 seconds from standstill and with the Plaid, it comes down to 2.5 seconds given the beast of the power. The handling and vehicle dynamics of the Model X have been excellent so far and the previous Model X felt sure-footed at all speeds. The updated yoke steering wheel was added last year although needs some time to get used to it but once that's done you would love the ease of driving that it offers. As for the braking system, the previous Model X showcased very good stopping power and the brakes were strong enough to halt the beast safely under panic braking. 

In the competition, it is very much obvious that the clear winner in terms of performance would be the Tesla Model X and its power figures are quite unbeatable by the competition. The current-gen Mustang Mach-E GT and the I-Pace are adequately powerful too but nowhere close to beating the Model X. While the heaviest and the least powerful of the lot is the Audi e-Tron. Don’t get us wrong, all three cars are powerful enough but the Tesla Model X is a leap ahead of the other two cars although Tesla comes at a price that is much higher than the others.

Not only the performance, but the Model X also impresses us with the MPGe and range. The standard Model X offers 109 MPGe for the city, 101 MPGe for the highways, and a combined mileage of 105 MPGe which is impressive considering the competition. The total range is a claimed 360 miles in one single charge. The dual-motor setup gives the Long Range a boost in the mileage. Side-by-side the Plaid trim gets a slightly lower range at a claimed 340 miles on a single charge, which is an acceptable bargain for the added performance.

The Model X is the clear-cut winner here with none of the rivals even close to matching its claimed range. Among the rivals, the Mustang Mach-E offers the highest range followed by the Jaguar I-Pace and the Audi e-Tron. Compared to the Model X the Mustang Mach-E returns 90 miles of lesser range which becomes a dominant factor when doing long journeys.

The interior of the Model X seems to have no parallel among the SUV segment. Being based on the Model S' it follows the minimalistic approach and with the change in the design for the 2021 model year, it seems to be more familiar. The interior makes use of high-quality materials which supports the overall luxury of the car. The interior carries a simple design language with fewer curves which makes it look subtle and very classy. The U-shaped steering wheel is updated for the 2021 model year which is inspired by race cars and airplanes. While the dashboard and the area around the center console get walnut wood finish treatment. For the 2022 model year, we expect only minor changes to the interior.

The seating capacity as standard is for five people but that can be increased to six or seven passengers for some extra cash. The interior space is class-leading and the seats are very comfortable in all the rows. The Model X offers enough legroom and headroom for the passengers at the rear to travel comfortably. Also, the cargo capacity of the Model X is impressive and contributes to the overall practicality of the car. The infotainment system available in the cabin features a big 17-inch touchscreen display which is used to control almost every function. The interface is easy to use and is graphically rich. And on top of that, the infotainment can also double as a gaming console with capabilities matching the PlayStation 5.

* including additional 6.6 ft³ front trunk space

When we see these SUVs here as a people mover and a family car then none can beat the Model X. All the rival SUVs offer seating for a maximum of five people while in the Model X you can get two more seats. As far as the cabin space is concerned it is more or less similar in all the SUVs here except for the I-Pace that has the smallest rear leg room among all. Moving to cargo space again the Model X leaps and bounds ahead to the competition offering a class-leading 81.2 cubic feet of cargo space which includes the front trunk offering 6.6 cubic feet of space. Compared to that the highest cargo space among the rivals offered by the Mach-E GT is only 34.4 cubic feet. 

Interior Features:

• Mobile App Remote Control
• 17-speaker audio system
• Panoramic windshield
• Power adjustable front seats
• 17-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Tesla has always been for a design language that stands out in the crowd and that carries on with the Model X. The looks of the car have been inspired by the Model S with a few changes to make it look new. As for the upcoming 2022 model year, it should have a similar design language as the current-gen model but with some minor tweaks to make it look fresh. Although, the design language seems to be quite dated as a few of the areas it has remained the same since it was first launched.

For the 2021 model year, at the front, we have LED headlights that are sharp and look futuristic. Along with that, the front looks clean and minimalistic with no grille, unlike the competition, except for a Tesla logo which looks stunning. The bonnet slides up to the panoramic glass sunroof which is distinctive in its class. The rear has a quite attractive look too with a rear spoiler and sporty-looking taillamps

Talking about the physical dimensions, the Model X is bigger than the competition in terms of length and height. While the I-Pace is wider and also has a longer wheelbase. As for the ground clearance, the Audi e-Tron offers the best clearance among all. Surprisingly the ground clearance on Model X even though being an SUV is the lowest at just 5.4 inches.

Exterior Features:

• Falcon-winged rear doors
• Panoramic sunroof
• LED fog lights
• Keyless Entry
• Power adjustable and heated mirrors

The safety ratings according to the NHTSA on the 2021 Model X are impressive as it bagged a perfect 5 stars rating for overall safety and not only that it scored a perfect score in rollover mitigation, front and side crash tests too. We expect that the 2022 Model X to perform similarly and remain top among the competition. The safety features and ratings have always been in the favour of Tesla for a long time now and it is not new. Due to the glass covering a larger amount of real estate on the car, the overall build quality of the Model X has been questioned by a lot of enthusiasts and experts.

However, Tesla has got their mastery in the advanced driving assistance tech- the Semi-autonomous Autopilot feature. The Autopilot bundles feature like blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a few more. While the federal agencies' top safety ratings are enough to put any such doubts to rest. 

Safety Features:

• Hands-free parallel and perpendicular park
• Autopilot system
• 360-degree camera view

2022 Tesla Model X vs 2021 Audi e-Tron

The Audi e-Tron is a fantastic EV with a design language that is aggressive and holds the Audi line. The 2021 e-Tron offers quite the off-roading capabilities the other cars in the competition do not offer. The Quattro system works like a charm and it is a good electric SUV you can go for.

Tesla on the other hand is impressive with the high-tech features offered and better practicality in the Model X. The interior space is better on the Tesla but all the goodies come at a price.

2022 Tesla Model X vs 2022 Jaguar I-Pace

The 2021 Jaguar I-Pace is a class on its own. The level of luxury provided inside the cabin is unmatched and is impressive. As it holds the Jaguar trademark, it shines in almost every aspect. It also has a similar wheelbase as the Model X but fails to provide a spacious cabin or better cargo space.

While the power and performance are adequate on the I-Pace it is no match to the Model X. But seeing at the price difference between the two it is hard to pick a clear winner here.

The Tesla Model X is a very versatile electric SUV with all the modern techs which are future-proof. If you want to switch to an all-electric SUV then the Model X is the best for you but keep in mind the price and the cost of ownership which are way higher than the competition. Also, a downside of the Model X would be its overall build quality which is questionable. All of this is not the case with most of its rivals although they are yet to beat the Model X in terms of performance and practicality.