Consumer Reports finds the Model X more showboat than functional calling it “fast and flawed” in its latest review of the electric crossover SUV. CR complains about the iconic Falcon Wing doors calling them “prone to pausing and stopping.” The review continues, “But beyond the brag-worthy magic [of the Falcon Wing doors], the all-wheel-drive Model X 90D largely disappoints,” CR says. “The big windshield is neat but not tinted enough to offset the brightness of a sunny day and wind noise is excessive.”
But among the negative sentiments by CR, Tesla’s Model X production numbers are on the rise and the vehicle continues to establish its role in the luxury SUV segment. As of last month, Model X held 6% of the U.S. large SUV market and #8 in the large luxury SUV category, edging out Porsche’s Macan and Cayenne, the Land Rover R-R Sport, and Infiniti’s QX80.
Bolstered by a series of Model X over-the-air software updates aimed at addressing early issues related to the doors, Model X owners are seeing a 92% reduction in reliability concerns over the past year. The vehicle was also recently awarded the ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ for best SUV.
In spite of criticism from Consumer Reports and the organization’s belief that “Model X’s complexity, compromised functionality, and dismal first-year reliability suggest that it’s a car for early adopters eager to one-up their peers”, Tesla continues to ramp Model X production while gaining market share within the SUV segment. One could argue that this is in sharp contrast to what CR’s message would expect to deliver. This leads us to wonder, does the 80-year old legacy reporting organization really matter anymore?
