The Doors Are Dangerous - 2016 Tesla Model X Long-Term Road Test


There's been a lot of talk about the 2016 Tesla Model X's "falcon doors". Aside from being inconvenient, cumbersome, slow to operate and just downright silly (all issues that Jay pointed out earlier along with several others), the doors on our long-term 2016 Tesla Model X are dangerous.
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Unfortunately, Tesla can't bite the bullet and work on that, because it would require a total redesign of the body, electrical system, airbags, crash tests, and software, and would leave the Model X v1.0 orphaned. I think they're stuck with it.
In an market where a well-received CUV can be a license to print money, Tesla's CUV is going to hammer their bottom-line. (Just my opinion, and I will be happy to be proved wrong.)
Selling luxury toys is easy compared to selling mass market appliances. Tesla will learn this quickly.
I'm still waiting for an actual Tesla competitor to show up. I can see a decent competitor to the S or X destroying Tesla due to design and reliability. The Chevy Bolt will be out for at least a year before the Model 3 comes to the party. Should be interesting.
This is exactly why the Model X will never be the type of success the Model S has been. I have a Model S (I've had two, actually). It's not a gimmicky car. It's a fantastic piece of technology that focuses on the core elements of what people want in a car. The Model X is a Model S that has been pimped out.
So for the few people who are into the gee whiz gimmickry or the exceedingly few wealthy people who have very young kids and want those doors for easier access when putting kids in car seats, the Model X fills a need. For the 99% of SUV/CUV buyers that are focused on getting a vehicle that actually provides utility, reliably, the Model X fails. You really can just get a Model S, if you want an electric car, and have the functionality of the X, if you don't have little kids. You can even put roof racks on the Model S, which makes it MORE of a utility vehicle than the Model X.
And what about minivan slider doors, how good are they at detecting blockages?
On a side note, it seems very strange that you are able to drive with the rear doors open, but minivans will allow this as well right?