2021 Tesla Model X

Dual-motor AWD Long Range Plus is the volume trim for MY2021; Tesla does not publish an official combined hp figure, but the EPA/dyno-derived combined output is well corroborated across spec aggregators.

Torque

556 lb-ft combined

Combined peak torque for the dual-motor Long Range Plus powertrain carried over from 2020.

0-60 mph time

3.8 seconds

95/100

Manufacturer-quoted 0-60 time for the Long Range Plus trim, corroborated by independent instrumented tests.

Powertrain refinement93

Dual electric motors deliver instant, linear torque with no turbo lag, gear hunting, or hybrid-transition harshness; reviewers consistently praise the immediacy of power delivery.

Transmission behavior94

5,000 lbs (with factory tow package)

Single-speed direct-drive motors with no shifting; power delivery is instantaneous and never hunts or hesitates.

Max towing capacity

57/100

Manufacturer-rated max towing capacity when equipped with Tesla's tow package, unchanged across Model X model years.

AWD/4WD availability88

Dual-motor AWD is standard across the entire Model X trim range (Long Range Plus and Performance), with independently controlled front/rear motors providing electronic torque vectoring and adjustable air suspension.

Off-road capability22

Powertrain lineup breadth18

Pavement-oriented luxury SUV; adaptive air suspension can raise ride height but there is no low-range gearing, skid plates, lockers, or dedicated off-road trim.

Model X is offered only as a battery-electric vehicle; trims (Long Range Plus, Performance) vary output and range but not powertrain type.

2Efficiency & RangeOne of the Model X's strongest categories.2.94B-

Combined fuel economy

105 MPGe combined

EPA combined rating for the Long Range Plus, the volume trim for MY2021 (pre-refresh carryover; refreshed Long Range/Plaid were EPA-certified under MY2022).

City fuel economy

109 MPGe city

EPA city rating for the Long Range Plus.

Highway fuel economy

101 MPGe highway

371 miles EPA (Long Range Plus; Performance trim rated lower, 296-305 mi depending on wheels)

EPA highway rating for the Long Range Plus.

Driving range

28/100

250 kW peak (Supercharger V3)

EPA-rated range on a full charge for the volume Long Range Plus trim.

DC fast-charge peak rate

72/100

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Tesla does not publish a formal peak-kW spec sheet figure, but the Long Range Plus's 100 kWh pack is corroborated across multiple sources and owner charging logs as peaking at 250 kW on V3 Superchargers.

10-80% fast-charge time

~35 minutes (10-80%, V3 Supercharger)

36/100

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Tesla has not published an explicit 10-80% minute figure for this trim; real-world and third-party charging-curve data converge on roughly 30-35 minutes at a 250 kW V3 Supercharger.

Estimated annual fuel cost

$700/yr (EPA estimate, 15,000 mi/yr at avg electricity rates)

EPA's standard-assumption annual energy cost estimate for the Long Range Plus.

Fuel requirements92

5 stars overall (5/5 frontal, 5/5 side, 5/5 rollover; 9.3% rollover risk)

Charges on standard home Level 2 equipment or Tesla's own Supercharger network, which was already extensive by 2021; no fuel-grade concerns since it runs on electricity only.

3SafetyMid-pack among this car's ten categories.2.27C

NHTSA overall rating

IIHS awards & crashworthiness42

NHTSA's 5-star overall rating for the first-generation Model X (unchanged structure for 2021) was earned across every crash mode and sub-category, making it the first SUV to do so.

Standard ADAS suite breadth83

IIHS has never put the Model X through its crashworthiness, headlight, or front-crash-prevention tests, so there is no award and no individual test-mode data on record — a gap, not a demonstrated weakness, given the vehicle's perfect NHTSA result.

Automatic emergency braking performance62

Every 2021 Model X ships with standard Autopilot (Traffic-Aware Cruise Control + Autosteer), automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and blind-spot/rear cross-traffic alerts with no trim gating — only the Enhanced Autopilot/FSD add-ons (Navigate on Autopilot, auto lane change, Autopark, Summon) are optional.

Blind-spot & cross-traffic coverage60

The Model X's camera-and-radar AEB (radar still fitted in 2021, pre-dating Tesla Vision's radar removal) has a generally solid real-world reputation, but with no IIHS front-crash-prevention test on record there is no independent superior/advanced-rated data point to confirm day/night and pedestrian performance.

Lane keeping & centering58

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard across the range, but 2021 Tesla hardware is alert-only — audible/visual warnings with no active steering or braking intervention, and no trailer-aware mode.

Adaptive cruise & highway assist55

Autosteer generally keeps the Model X in-lane on highways, but owner reports from the 2021 model year describe a tendency to track toward the driver-side line rather than dead center and occasional abrupt 'hyper' corrections rather than smooth centering.

Hands-free driving availability12

Traffic-Aware Cruise Control covers the full speed range including stop-and-go, but 2021 owner reports note false-positive forward-collision warnings/phantom braking, and true highway-assist features (Navigate on Autopilot, auto lane change) are gated behind the optional Enhanced Autopilot package rather than standard.

No hands-free mode existed for the 2021 Model X — both standard Autopilot and optional FSD Beta required continuous hands-on-wheel torque input, and pre-2021-built S/X units lack the cabin camera Tesla later required even to begin phasing out the torque nag.

Headlight performance50

The Model X has never received an IIHS headlight rating, so there is no Good/Acceptable/Marginal verdict on record; 2021 units carry standard LED projector headlights with auto high-beam but no adaptive matrix-beam hardware, scored as an unremarkable average in the absence of independent test data.

Outward visibility55

Child-seat (LATCH) usability57

The full-glass panoramic windshield gives excellent upward and overhead visibility, but it's paired with unusually thick, raked A-pillars that multiple owners describe as creating real forward-corner blind spots at intersections and crosswalks — a wash between an exceptional feature and a recurring complaint.

6 seats (2+2+2 second-row captain's chairs); Tesla's standard layout for 2021 Long Range Plus, with 5-seat (no third row) and 7-seat bench configurations offered as no-cost options

Falcon-wing doors open vertically for extra headroom while buckling in a car seat, and second-row LATCH anchors are easy to reach, but the two third-row LATCH positions sit deep in stiff upholstery and the doors don't swing high enough to avoid head-bumping during installation back there.

4Space & ComfortMid-pack among this car's ten categories.2.51C+

Seating capacity

50/100

The six-seat interior with second-row captain's chairs and a two-seat third row became the standard, no-cost-option Model X layout from 2021, ahead of the 5- and 7-seat alternatives. Six seats sits at the midpoint of the SUV band.

Front headroom

41.7 in

94/100

The tall body and panoramic windshield give the Model X class-leading front headroom, unchanged across this single-generation shell. Near the top of the SUV normalization band.

Front legroom

41.2 in

27/100

Front legroom is modest for a full-size SUV; the raised battery floor and dash packaging cost stretch-out room relative to body-on-frame rivals.

Rear headroom

40.9 in (second row)

38.4 in (second-row captain's chairs; seats slide fore/aft to trade space with the third row)

Second-row headroom tops the SUV normalization band — the roofline stays high over row two and the falcon-wing doors cut into the roof for a near-vertical entry, so tall adults sit upright.

Rear legroom

70/100

Good second-row legroom for the segment; the sliding captain's chairs let occupants buy space from the third row at the cost of rear-seat kneeroom.

Third-row usability55

38.9 cu ft behind the second row with the third row folded (6-seat configuration)

The third row is standard on the volume 6-seat layout and genuinely accessible — the falcon-wing doors open a huge, nearly vertical aperture and the power-folding second row clears an easy path — but with roughly 32.7 in of legroom and 37.1 in of headroom it suits kids and short teens rather than adults on a real trip.

Cargo/trunk volume

25/100

87.3 cu ft maximum with second and third rows folded, including 2.1 cu ft of underfloor storage

With the third row folded, cargo space behind the second row is below par for a full-size SUV — the sloped liftgate and folding third-row mechanism eat into the load floor. The front trunk adds separate space this item does not count.

Max cargo volume

72/100

In-cabin storage & clever solutions78

A strong maximum cargo figure for the class with all rear seats folded flat, aided by underfloor storage; the separate front trunk adds further capacity not counted here.

A large covered center console with a wireless phone charging pad, deep door and underfloor bins, a flat battery-skateboard floor, and a genuinely useful front trunk make storage a real strength, just short of the segment's very best gear-hauling tricks.

Seat comfort75

Heated, power-adjustable front seats (ventilated on upper trims) are comfortable over long stints; Edmunds rated the 2021 car 8.0/10 for comfort. Second-row captain's chairs are supportive but offer limited recline versus segment benchmarks.

Ride quality82

Standard adaptive air suspension and a low center of gravity give a settled, well-controlled ride that absorbs bumps admirably even on 20-inch wheels, per contemporary reviews.

Cabin quietness82

Climate & comfort features88

No engine noise and a reasonably well-insulated cabin make for a quiet highway experience, though the pre-refresh car lacks the extra acoustic glass and sound-deadening added in the later 2021 refresh.

~$99,990 (Long Range, the only non-Plaid trim); Tesla raised Model X pricing repeatedly through 2021, from $89,990 at the post-refresh relaunch to $104,990 by Q4

Comfort equipment is effectively standard across the range: heated front seats, HEPA filtration with Bioweapon Defense Mode, and app-based remote climate preconditioning, Dog Mode and Camp Mode were all already available on the 2021 car.

5Cost of OwnershipThe Model X's lowest-graded category.0.00F

Base MSRP

~$104,990 as typically equipped (Long Range with 3rd-row seating standard; popular options like 22" wheels or FSD push it higher)

Tesla refreshed the Model X in early 2021, discontinuing Standard Range/Performance and narrowing the lineup to Long Range and Plaid; Long Range is the de facto entry trim.

Volume-Trim Price

5-Year Maintenance & Repair Cost

Long Range is both the entry and volume trim in 2021 since only two trims exist; most buyers configure it with the standard 6/7-seat layout and premium interior.

~$11,032 over 5 years ($4,437 scheduled maintenance + $6,595 repairs per Edmunds True Cost to Own)

5-Year Resale Value Retention

Tesla's EV drivetrain needs little scheduled service, but Model X's falcon-wing doors and complex systems drive higher repair costs than typical EVs or rivals.

~34% of original MSRP retained after 5 years (~$36,600 resale on a ~$107k original price)

4 yr / 50,000 mi bumper-to-bumper

The 2021 Model X depreciates faster than the broader SUV market, which CarEdge attributes to rapid Tesla price cuts/increases on new units undercutting used values and the luxury EV SUV class as a whole losing over 60% in 5 years.

Basic warranty

50/100

8 yr / 150,000 mi battery & drive unit, minimum 70% battery capacity retention guaranteed

Standard across all Tesla passenger vehicles in 2021, in line with mainstream rivals but short of some luxury competitors' coverage.

Powertrain warranty

60/100

Complimentary maintenance & perks48

Tesla's Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty on Model X is unusually long and includes an explicit minimum-capacity guarantee, a strength versus most EV rivals of the era.

Effective 5-Year Ownership Cost

Tesla offers no included scheduled-maintenance plan for Model X — owners pay out of pocket for all service — and by 2021 had ended standard free unlimited Supercharging for new orders; the only complimentary perk is roadside assistance tied to the active warranty period.

$80,220 (≈$69,188 depreciation + $11,032 maintenance)

$104,990 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (34.1% retained, or about $35,802) leaves about $69,188 in depreciation. Add the projected $11,032 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $80,220 in total.

6Reliability & QualityOne of the Model X's weakest categories.0.32F

Predicted reliability18

Brand reliability track record20

Consumer Reports' 2021 reliability survey put the Model S/X/Y generation dead last among EVs and well below the industry average, citing body hardware, climate system, and in-car electronics problems — squarely in the below-average band despite the vehicle's strong technology.

In Tesla's unofficial 2021 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study debut, the brand placed 30th of 33 manufacturers at 176 problems per 100 vehicles versus a 121 industry average, beating only Jaguar, Alfa Romeo and Land Rover — a consistent bottom-tier standing, not a one-year outlier.

Recall & TSB history20

Powertrain durability reputation82

NHTSA logged 24 recalls touching 2021 Model X units, several of them safety-critical rather than cosmetic: a brake-fluid warning-light failure (~55,000 vehicles), a power-steering-assist dropout after pothole impacts (40,000+ Model S/X), driver airbags that could tear during deployment, an airbag horn-pad defect, rear-view camera failures (158,000+ vehicles), and a roof-panel detachment recall — a pattern of repeated, sometimes safety-system-level campaigns rather than isolated minor fixes.

Interior material quality56

Despite the Model X's broader reliability troubles, the battery and drive-unit package carries a genuinely strong long-term track record: Tesla guarantees 70% capacity retention to 8yr/150k miles, real-world packs average around 88% capacity at 200,000 miles, and documented high-mileage examples (one Model X past 400,000 miles, largely on its original pack) support a proven, high-mileage-capable EV powertrain family.

Reviewers describe the cabin as high-tech with cavernous cargo space and striking minimalist design, but note some materials don't fully justify the price point and the cabin lacks the perceived solidity of six-figure-class Audi/German luxury rivals — competitive rather than class-leading.

Fit & finish35

Dealer & service network42

Owner forums and professional reviews consistently flag inconsistent assembly on the Model X: wide, uneven panel gaps, trim squeaks and rattles (particularly quarter-panel trim), and build-quality complaints described as unbecoming of a flagship-priced vehicle — placing it in the frequent-rattles/misalignment band.

Parts availability & repair cost26

Tesla's direct-sales service network is far thinner than an established luxury brand's dealer footprint, and owner forums from this period describe growing waits for service appointments and rushed, inconsistent repair experiences — adequate for Tesla's install base but below the dense, high-satisfaction network of legacy luxury SUV rivals.

17.0 in center touchscreen (portrait orientation, pre-refresh layout); plus a 12.3 in driver instrument display

Tesla tightly controls its parts supply chain, authorized body-shop capacity is limited relative to legacy brands, and collision repairs run high even for modest damage ($7,000-$15,000 for a moderate accident; a windshield alone runs over $1,300) — expensive, slow, and largely dealer/Tesla-sourced parts.

7Technology & InfotainmentGrades above the middle of the scale.2.70B-

Touchscreen size

Infotainment UX & responsiveness80

The pre-refresh 2021 Model X carries the same 17-inch display Tesla had used since the original car, just in the portrait orientation that predates the October 2021 refresh. Well above the top of the SUV normalization band.

Wireless CarPlay / Android Auto10

Tesla's infotainment was already regarded as fast and well organized by 2021, with minimal lag and broad native app support, but secondary functions like climate and some settings already lean heavily on the touchscreen versus physical controls.

Voice control & native navigation75

Tesla has never offered Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, wired or wireless, on any model or trim — the 2021 Model X is no exception. Native streaming apps and Bluetooth audio/calling are the only alternative.

Native navigation with live traffic and Supercharger trip planning was already a genuine strength in 2021 and the one most owners actually use, since there is no CarPlay/Android Auto alternative; voice commands covered climate, media and navigation requests reliably but with a narrower vocabulary than today's assistant.

Audio system quality90

Digital instrument cluster82

The 2021 Long Range Plus carries Tesla's premium 22-speaker audio system standard, widely rated among the best factory setups of its era despite no branded partnership.

A 12.3-inch full-digital driver display is standard, showing speed, range and driver-assist state directly in the driver's sightline; resolution (1280x480) is lower than the display introduced in the later refresh, and Tesla offers little configurability compared with rivals.

OTA update capability95

Companion app & remote functions90

Tesla was already the OTA benchmark in 2021, pushing whole-vehicle software updates — powertrain, driver assistance, infotainment — that added functionality over the air, well ahead of rivals' maps-only update paths.

Charging ports & device power62

The Tesla app was already a class leader in 2021: phone-as-key, remote climate preconditioning, charge control, vehicle locate, Sentry Mode live camera view (introduced 2019), and remote operation of the falcon-wing doors, with core functions carrying no subscription.

Keyless & remote access88

The pre-refresh console offers a wireless phone charging pad and USB-A ports (not yet USB-C, which arrived with the later refresh), adequate but increasingly dated provisioning for the segment, and no household 120V outlet.

Phone-as-key over Bluetooth gives walk-up unlock with nothing in hand, the auto-presenting driver's door and powered falcon-wing doors operate from the app or touchscreen, and a conventional key fob became compatible with 2021-model-year cars alongside the key card.

Camera & parking aids78

Head-up display availability5

2021 cars still carry Tesla's ultrasonic parking sensors alongside the camera suite (removed from the lineup only in 2022), giving genuine proximity sensing plus a usable surround camera view and Summon/Autopark functions — a stronger setup than the vision-only cars that followed.

Kid & car-seat practicality70

No head-up display has ever been offered on any Model X trim or year, at any price, while most full-size luxury rivals fit one.

8Use-Case FitMid-pack among this car's ten categories.2.42C+

The falcon wing rear doors open a huge, nearly vertical aperture that makes buckling kids into the second or third row easier than any conventional SUV door, and the standard 6-seat layout with a walk-through to row three helps too. This is tempered by LATCH anchor usability that contemporary reviewers flagged as only middling — cat3's own child-seat item scores just 57 — and limited cargo room (13.7 cu ft) when all six seats are occupied.

Family safety package76

Family road-trip comfort83

Crash credentials are excellent — NHTSA 5 stars overall — and a broad ADAS suite (forward collision warning, AEB, blind-spot/cross-traffic alerts) is standard on every 2021 trim, not gated to upper options. It falls short of the best because there is no current IIHS rating, Edmunds flagged false-positive collision warnings and imprecise lane centering on the contemporary car, and true hands-free driving was not available at all in 2021.

Second-row provisioning is strong: best-in-class 40.9 in of rear headroom, sliding captain's chairs, heated seats, HEPA-filtered tri-zone-capable climate, and a panoramic windshield that gives rear passengers an unusually good view. 87.3 cu ft of maximum cargo plus a front trunk means luggage is rarely an issue with the third row folded; the limiting factors are a third row rated only 55 for usability and modest space (13.7 cu ft) with all six seats occupied.

Daily driving ease84

Commuting cost efficiency62

Shift-free dual-motor delivery, one-pedal driving, standard adaptive air suspension, and a quiet cabin make for a low-fatigue daily driver; the pre-refresh car still has conventional steering-column stalks and a physical shifter rather than the screen-based controls introduced later, which keeps everyday ergonomics straightforward. The real annoyances are the complete absence of CarPlay/Android Auto, no head-up display, and a wide footprint in tight traffic.

Parking & maneuverability65

Energy cost per mile is genuinely low — 105 MPGe combined for about $700/yr at 15,000 miles — with no oil changes and regen sparing brake wear. That strength is undercut by everything else around the electricity bill: Consumer Reports' 2021 survey rated the Model X the least reliable EV tested, parts and repair costs scored poorly, and the car's own ownership-cost items in cat5 reflect a worse-than-typical total cost of ownership for the class.

At 198.9 in long and a wide turning circle this is a big SUV to place in tight spaces, but the pre-refresh car's narrower body (78.7 in wide, excluding mirrors, versus the wider refreshed fascia) and its retained ultrasonic parking sensors alongside the camera suite make it easier to judge clearances than the vision-only cars that followed. The falcon wing doors are a genuine asset in cramped garage bays since they need only side clearance, not a full door swing, though they require overhead clearance some structures lack.

Work capability55

Durability for work duty29

A 5,000 lb tow rating with the optional hitch and 534 hp of instant torque never run short on a grade, which beats most luxury SUVs of the era, but there is no bed, payload headroom is thin for the vehicle's mass, and towing meaningfully cuts into the 371-mile EPA range between charges.

Jobsite & upfit practicality30

Poorly suited to hard use in 2021 specifically: Consumer Reports' 2021 annual survey rated the Model X 'much less reliable than average' and the worst-rated EV tested, J.D. Power placed Tesla 30th of 33 brands, and the car logged 24 recalls that model year. The falcon wing doors are the most complaint-prone assembly and tolerate repeated hard-use cycling worst of all. The drive unit/battery warranty (8 yr/150,000 mi) is the one durability bright spot.

Long-distance comfort & range80

Almost nothing here serves a jobsite: no household outlet or vehicle-to-load power, no bed, and the falcon wing doors make a conventional roof rack impossible, ruling out ladders and lumber entirely. What credit exists comes from the optional 5,000 lb hitch, an underfloor cargo bin, a lockable frunk, and USB-A ports that can at least charge tools' batteries, though they are a step behind the USB-C provisioning that arrived with the later refresh.

Outdoor & adventure capability60

371 miles of EPA range on the 2021 Long Range Plus is the longest range the Model X nameplate has ever posted, a genuine highway-touring asset backed by Tesla's already-extensive Supercharger network with automatic route planning. Standard Autopilot (traffic-aware cruise plus Autosteer) reduces fatigue, though Edmunds flagged false-positive collision warnings and imprecise lane centering on the contemporary car, and true hands-free driving was unavailable in 2021.

Gear & luggage flexibility75

Standard dual-motor AWD and adaptive air suspension that raises ride height handle gravel roads and trailheads reasonably well, and 5,000 lbs of tow covers a small camper or boat, but there is no low range, no locker, and street-oriented tires and an expensive underbody limit anything beyond mild off-pavement use. No factory roof rack is offered, since the falcon wing doors preclude one.

87.3 cu ft with the rear rows folded, plus a separate lockable front trunk, a power liftgate, and a power-folding third row, add up to strong total volume; the falcon doors also make loading bulky items into the second row unusually easy. The constraints are only 38.9 cu ft behind the second row, a sloping tailgate that limits tall boxes, and no roof rails or rack to take overflow gear.

9Driving ExperienceOne of the Model X's strongest categories.3.02B

Handling & agility78

Standard adaptive air suspension and a floor-mounted battery pack give the Model X a center of gravity far below any combustion full-size SUV, and Edmunds specifically praised how the low center of gravity and adaptive suspension keep body motions in check — 'this sizable family SUV drives more like a car.' Mass still tells eventually in quick transitions, keeping it below the segment's sharpest dynamic benchmarks.

Steering feel62

Edmunds specifically called out 'ultra-quick steering' that makes the Model X feel nimble for its size, and the quick ratio is accurate and easy to place — but like other Teslas of this era the weighting is synthetic and genuine road feedback is largely filtered out, keeping this in the upper half of the 'precise but numb' band rather than higher.

Braking confidence80

Powertrain smoothness & response92

Edmunds rated the brakes excellent, both easy to modulate in traffic and strong and confident in a hard stop, with enough regenerative braking on lift-off that the friction pedal is rarely needed in everyday driving.

Drivetrain noise & vibration85

A single-speed dual-motor EV with no shifts, no stop/start, and no driveline shunt delivers instant, linear torque in a 3.8-second-to-60 package; this matches the powertrain refinement and transmission-behavior items already scored elsewhere in this run.

Near-silent in normal driving with no vibration reaching the controls — only faint inverter/motor whine intrudes under full throttle. The pre-refresh car lacks the extra sound-deadening and acoustic glazing added in the later 2021 refresh, so it trails the most hushed version of this generation slightly.

Turning circle

40.3 ft curb-to-curb

21/100

Driving position & ergonomics80

The commonly published curb-to-curb turning circle for this single-generation Model X shell is 40.3 ft, unchanged by the pre/post-refresh trim differences since wheelbase and front suspension hard points carried over. That is poor even by full-size SUV standards, near the wide end of the segment's 34-42 ft band.

A commanding hip point, wide power seat adjustment, and the panoramic windshield that sweeps overhead give excellent forward and upward sightlines, while the falcon-wing rear doors and auto-presenting driver's door make ingress and egress easy. Unlike the later refresh, the pre-refresh 2021 car retains conventional steering-column stalks for turn signals and wipers and a traditional column-stalk gear selector, keeping the control layout straightforward rather than screen-dependent.

Fun-to-drive factor65

Standard equipment generosity75

The Long Range Plus is quick (3.8s 0-60) with clean, immediate responses that make it genuinely engaging in a straight line, but the appeal is more spectacle than involvement — numb steering, no soundtrack, and a heavy, sealed-off feel mean few owners take the long way home for the sake of it.

10Value & Market PositionOne of the Model X's weakest categories.1.99C-

Feature value per dollar58

The refreshed 2021 Long Range came standard with a glass roof, HEPA cabin air filtration, heated/ventilated front seats, a 17-inch center touchscreen, standard Autopilot, adaptive air suspension, and 6-seat falcon-wing configuration — features many rivals charge extra for.

Trim & configuration breadth32

Strong tech and performance per dollar versus traditional luxury SUVs, but repeated 2021 price hikes (Long Range climbing from $89,990 to $104,990) and extra-cost Full Self-Driving eroded the value proposition compared to earlier Model X pricing.

Sales popularity & market acceptance40

The 2021 refresh narrowed the lineup to just two trims (Long Range and Plaid), both AWD-only with no body or seating-layout alternatives beyond an optional 7-seat bench — a take-it-or-leave-it range next to rivals offering multiple engines, drivetrains, and trim ladders.

Brand desirability & image90

US Model X sales collapsed to roughly 7,300 units for all of 2021 as Tesla halted production for the refresh transition, well behind established full-size luxury SUV rivals like the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS.

Deals & incentive availability8

2021 was a high-water mark for Tesla's brand momentum — soaring stock price, long order waitlists, and an aspirational following that few rivals could match.

Tesla's direct-sales model means no dealer negotiation or discounting, and the federal EV tax credit had already phased out for Tesla by 2021 (manufacturer cap reached in 2019); the only 2021 pricing trend was repeated increases, not incentives.

Model freshness85

Critical reception & awards65

2021 was the refresh year for this generation: new interior, motors, suspension, and the optional yoke steering wheel debuted, keeping the platform current-tech even though the base generation dates to 2016.