Tesla Model X review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

​The Model S is already a practical saloon, so the jacked-up Tesla Model X is even more spacious. The batteries are under the floor, which means there’s space for two boots, one at each end, as well as the option for six or seven seats. 

The falcon wing doors might look like they are straight off a supercar, but they do actually help with the car’s practicality. They only require a little space at the side of the car, and automatically stop when they reach a hard surface, so there’s no risk of damaging them. That does mean you have to stand away to allow them to open fully, though.

Opening the doors in a car park will mean it’s actually easier to get in and out. However there’s still a big problem and that’s the slow speed at which they open. If it’s raining you’re going to get wet while the doors edge their way upwards, and the loud beep that plays as they do so is annoying, too. It’s a feature that really feels like it was designed for Tesla’s home market and the sunshine of California.

The doors feel flimsy as well, wobbling in the wind and to the touch, even if there’s nothing to suggest that they’ll fall off. Someone may hit their head on them, though - and we’ve seen that happen plenty of times.

Size

The Model X is just over 5m long and 2.3m wide, and it feels large on the road from behind the wheel. The seating position is comfortable, and visibility is decent with that huge panoramic windscreen.

The ride height can be set at a few different stages, going up from the lowest setting of 137mm to 211mm in the highest setting. It’s useful for switching between faster driving and areas with speed bumps or rough terrain, although the car isn’t intended for off-roading.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

There’s lots of room in the front seats and in the six-seater, the second-row seats are nearly as spacious. They’re adjustable, just like the front seats, so passengers are bound to find a good position to sit in. Headroom was good too, even for tall passengers.

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The final row of seats are forward-facing, unlike in the Model S, but they are really only suitable for children. There’s poor legroom behind the second row, and we found our heads pressed against the hot rear windscreen. The seats are quite low too, so our knees felt too high up. Climbing in isn’t too bad, though.

Boot

Fold down the rear seats and there’s an impressive 2,180 litres of space, and there’s a 187-litre boot in the front, too.

The boot floor can be brought up to eliminate the loading lip, dropped down for more storage or removed completely to create a deep space behind the seats.

In the six-seater version, luggage could easily slide and fall forwards into the cabin when the seats are folded down. This is because, although part of the floor is flat, it’s stepped and the front seats are on a lower level. There are hooks to secure loads, however, which will help stop this becoming a problem.