It’s no secret Tesla has become one of the most popular automakers in its rise to fame. For some, they are dream cars, for others, they are merely appliances that comfortably transport from A to B without much thought about what a car needs to be. Either way, Tesla has been wildly successful at selling its fleet of electric cars with very little advertising at all. Showing up in 2016 as the second car in the Tesla lineup, the Model X quickly snatched a huge portion of the SUV/crossover market showing that SUVs can, in fact, be electric, and a viable large vehicle solution. The Model X is in its seventh model year with engineering refreshes that arrived in 2019 and 2020. Even with the changes Tesla has made including the addition of the infamous yoke, interior materials, design, fit and finish, and overall ambiance doesn’t compete with other offerings in the electric SUV space. It seems as though Tesla has been trying to cover the wrinkles by simply throwing power at the Model S and X. Plaid power is amazing, yes, but power alone isn’t enough to solve the issue of an aging platform. Another refresh happened in 2021, but at this point, the vehicle is due for a full redesign. The world has finally caught up to Tesla, and it appears they have been overtaken by the very competitors Tesla humbled once upon a time. Want proof? Here are 10 Tesla Model X alternatives you might want to consider.
1 BMW iX
BMW very clearly took cues from the Tesla Model X and applied them to the IX. From the aero-focused jellybean shape to the simple single-screen infotainment display. The design is absent of clusters of buttons and is instead focused on a minimalist approach. Where the BMW and Tesla differ is in the quality of the experience. The IX is out to impress occupants with luxurious materials, clever design, auditory elements, and a sea of ambient lighting. The Model X by comparison shows its age with a lack of the impressive but seamless elements BMW provides. Do you want your car to do a silly dance, or do you want it to indulge you with headrest-mounted audio? If you’re looking for an elevated electric SUV interior, the BMW IX is sure to impress. Despite its controversial exterior design, spend some time where it really matters, inside, and you’ll find it will make even the most mundane drives much more pleasant.
2 GMC Hummer EV
The electric SUV is for when you really want to do SUV things. Heavy on the “U”, and just plain heavy in general, here the GMC Hummer EV arrives as the most off-road capable answer. The EV powertrain on this monster is truly impressive. Its 830 horsepower might only match that of the Tesla Model X Plaid, but considering this vehicle can scream (silently) to 60 miles per hour in 3.0 seconds, while weighing over 9,000 pounds is simply ridiculous. It also has a towing capacity of an additional 7,500 pounds, and can operate for an estimated 314 per charge. If you’re serious about off-roading, and electric performance, The GMC Hummer EV SUV should be considered especially since it costs about the same as an entry-level Model X but offers Plaid performance.
3 Cadillac Lyriq
Another electric GM star is the Cadillac Lyriq. The Lyriq is fairly close in size to the Tesla, but offers the next generation of interior creature comforts and tech while the Model X is still being sold on a seven-year-old platform. Cadillac is in the midst of a rebirth, establishing itself once again, as a world-class automaker. The Celestiq, a hand-built luxury capsule, will sit as the brand's flagship, but as the industry still leans towards SUVs for those who can’t afford a $300,000 Rolls-Royce beating sedan, the Lyriq aims to inject some of that luxury and design for the real world. Starting at $59,000 the Lyriq will be a strong competitor for nearly $40,000 less than the Model X. Available in single or dual-motor variants, the Cadillac Lyriq should not be overlooked.
4 Polestar 3
A competitor that hasn’t even been released for purchase yet, the Polestar 3 promises to be a sleek Scandinavian substitute for the gimmick-filled Model X. Polestar is all about minimalism and quality. Understated, but performance oriented is the name of their game. Polestar 1 and Polestar 2 did a fantastic job of launching the performance electric brand, backed by Volvo, and the Polestar 3 is almost ready to continue that story. Spoiler alert, it’s a stunner, inside and out, the Polestar levels up in design and materials in ways no Tesla has. Using a similar powertrain and platform as Volvos EX90, the Polestar 3 utilizes a 111-kWh battery pack with an estimated range of around 300 all-wheel-drive miles. Opt for the performance trim, and you’re looking at 517 horsepower, plenty for soft-roading or a trip to the slopes.
5 Lotus Eletre
Yes, Lotus of all manufacturers, has created a Tesla Model X fighter. The brand known for lightweight, sports cars is taking its stab at the luxury SUV market by offering a powerful, yet sophisticated EV as its answer to the trending segment. Eletre is its name, and it may not be a super-light vehicle, as Lotus cars usually tend to be. Lotus is aiming for a 4,400-pound curb weight which in comparison to Model X’s 5,200 pounds, will certainly feel like a featherweight. Lotus is also claiming a sub-$85,000 starting price base model equipped with a healthy 602 horsepower. Opt for the R model and power goes way up to 906 ponies with an estimated 0-60 mile per hour sprint of just 2.9 seconds, which isn’t far off the pricier Tesla Model X. Range should be competitive, and Eletre is a key part of Lotus’ new image. Gone are the stripped interiors of the past and in comes true luxury and motorsport-inspired design. Eletre could be a real power player in the next couple of years.
6 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid
Maybe you’re making the switch to electric but aren’t sure about the charging networks. Conversely, perhaps you have grown tired of the woes of all-electric vehicle drawbacks. A solution could be a Hybrid like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid. Yes, Porsche makes less expensive, less powerful versions, but considering the Tesla Model X goes all the way up to the Plaid with 1000+ horsepower, it’s only natural to compare top-trim cars. The Cayenne does with “only” 670 horsepower, but still hits 60 miles per hour in a very quick 3.6 seconds. The Porsche is more expensive but comes with the convenience of electric driving, gasoline driving, or a combination of both. The build quality of a Porsche also speaks volumes to the product you would receive in comparison to the dated Model X.
7 Volvo EX90
As Volvo makes its transition to electric powertrains, the EX90 will sit above its XC90 gasoline-powered counterpart, but below the Polestar 3, a vehicle with which it shares its architecture. The EX90 represents a big step away from gasoline for Volvo as the EX90 will inevitably replace the XC90, a car that has brought much success to the brand. In some ways this is a gamble, in others, it’s exactly what Volvo drivers might expect from such a brand. The interior will feature a Tesla-like large center control screen and a clean minimalist design. Volvo is known for its use of high-quality materials, so expect a major step up in quality as opposed to the Model X’s. The dual-motor Volvo EX90 is expected to start around $80,000, making it a suave alternative considering the aged Tesla starts at nearly $100,000.
8 Jaguar I-Pace
If you’re going to buy an outdated electric vehicle, might as well choose one that combines the best of JLR’s interior, with a clever, Ian Callum-designed exterior. The I-Pace is an incredibly natural feeling. The transition from gas to electric is seamless as the Jag still has style, and drives/operates like a normal car. If you are used to a JLR product, the I-Pace will feel like home. The Jaguar I-Pace was released in 2018, a mere two years after the Tesla, yet you sit inside and would swear it was a full generation newer. The I-Pace may not have the actual pace or range of the Model X, but it’s certainly a better cabin in which to spend time.
9 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Mercedes-Benz has received a ton of harsh criticism regarding the EQ brand, specifically how the EQ models are styled and their less-than-stellar cornering abilities. As compared to the Model X which, let’s be honest, isn’t winning any beauty contests itself, the only thing it has over the EQS SUV is speed. The Mercedes-Benz EQS models are actually some of the most supple, coddling vehicles on the market. They contain just as many tech gimmicks as the Tesla, but the luxury you receive as well as on a completely different level. The way this vehicle is able to calm its occupants to near hibernation is a testament to why silent, smooth electric vehicles are such an attractive proposition. Forget the looks and handling, those metrics should be reserved for sports cars anyway.
10 Tesla Model Y
Those who just can’t stand the thought of not buying a Tesla should consider Tesla’s own Model Y. It’s newer, simpler, drives better, and because it doesn’t have the silly falcon-wing doors, it even feels roomier inside the cabin. Due for its own refresh soon, the Model Y remains a solid electric vehicle that slots somewhere in between a lifted hatchback and an SUV. For the price, options, spacious cabin, and design of the Model Y, it makes the most sense out of any Tesla vehicle and should really be taken the most seriously. The truth is all-electric cars are quick these days, so the Model S and X’s claim to fame powertrain render those vehicles more of a one-trick pony compared to the Model 3 and Y. With the added height of the Model Y, it seems to be the greatest hits vehicle from Tesla with fewer drawbacks.