If you’re an SUV fan and looking to jump into the world of electric vehicles, then this Model X Plaid vs. Model Y showdown is bound to be right up your alley!
Tesla’s EVs have come a long since its first car, the Tesla Roadster, went into general production in 2008.
Since then, the company and its cars have gone from strength to strength, culminating in today’s fierce yet luxurious vehicles.
So, Model X Plaid Vs. Model Y —what are each of these EVs really like, and which would suit you best?
In this article, we’ll put each vehicle’s latest (2022) editions up against one another by diving into their price, performance, interiors, and exteriors.
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Table of Contents
Model X Plaid Vs. Model Y Long Range (Comparison Table)
Model X Plaid Vs. Model Y Performance (Comparison Table)
Tesla Model X Plaid Vs. Tesla Model Y (Visual Comparison)
Tesla Model X Plaid
Credit: Throttle House, Tesla
Tesla Model Y
Credit: Motor Biscuit, Tesla
Tesla Model X Plaid
Let’s start this Tesla Model X Plaid vs. Model Y comparison by looking at the Model X Plaid.
Exterior
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Model X Plaid looks like a blown-up version of its smaller cousin, the Model S Plaid.
Granted, some of you may appreciate the fact that Tesla isn’t straying very far from what works. However, we also know that some of you out there will have expected a bit more creativity with this design – something that makes it stand out from the rest of the Tesla EV line.
For those falling into the latter group, you’ll have to excuse Tesla; they were just trying to make the fastest SUV ever.
Yes, that’s right, the Model X Plaid is the fastest SUV ever. Its design contributes to this achievement in a massive way, with the vehicle having the lowest drag coefficient of any SUV!
The Front
Tesla has made sure to future-proof the design of the Model X Plaid, presumably to mitigate the possible envy of earlier Model X adopters.
Credit: Vehicle Virgins, Doug DeMuro
As such, there isn’t much difference between previous Model X iterations and the 2022 Model X Plaid, aside from an updated, sleeker front bumper.
Front Trunk
Lucid has decided to include a reasonably large front trunk that is both wide and flat.
Much like the rear trunk, you can lift up a leather handle to reveal a hidden compartment. We must take a second to note that this is one of the largest EV trunks currently on the market.
The Rear
The rear of the Air Dream consists of a large, unbroken tail light that wraps around the back of the car.
You’ll notice that the lights are particularly thin, with no separations or slits present throughout the design.
Rear Trunk
There are a lot of mixed emotions with this aspect of the Model X Plaid.
Looking at the image below may leave you with some confusion as to why — it certainly appears as though there’s plenty of storage space, right?
Yes and no.
First off, this SUV is a 6-seater, meaning that a third row of seats is present. While extra seats add to the practicality of the Model X Plaid, they rob an enormous amount of cargo space.
Sure, you have some cargo room behind the third row, but it isn’t that much.
Although, there is extra storage space underneath the rear trunk floor panel.
Fortunately, there is a solution — you can put the third row of seats away.
To do this, you’ll need to press and hold a little button on the side of the seats and then push it forward — a little frustrating if you ask us. Yes, the buttons work, but you’d expect a vehicle at this price point to at least have power-folding seats.
There is, however, a more significant obstacle than you’ll come across — the issue of getting the seats back into position. To do this, you’ll have to reach all the way inside the car, then press and hold down the button while simultaneously pulling the seat back up.
Honestly, this is one of the worst, most ridiculous seat folding systems out there, especially for such an expensive vehicle.
Tesla, what on earth were you thinking?
Falcon Wing Doors
Open the passenger doors of the X Plaid, and you’ll be greeted by something rather unexpected — gullwing doors.
Tesla’s decision to add gullwing (or falcon-wing doors as they call them) has injected a real supercar-like element into the Model X Plaid.
This provides some additional flashiness to proceedings, but it’s also rather practical.
Wheels
The Model X Plaid comes standard with 20-inch Cyberstream Wheels. However, it is possible to upgrade to 22-inch Turbine wheels at an additional cost.
Interior
Now let’s dig a little deeper into the interior.
Materials
Minimalistic and virtually buttonless — the interior of the Model X Plaid has Tesla written all over it.
Tesla has done a great job overhauling the interior. The company itself has stated that seat rails are the only similarity that the 2022 X Plaid shares with the older models.
Color-wise, the interior comes in standard black (a tad boring). You can, however, opt for a two-tone black and white or cream interior at an additional cost.
Additionally, you can choose between carbon fiber or walnut trim.
Space
The 6-seater interior of the Model X Plaid is incredibly airy and spacious, primarily due to the windshield, which is really just a giant glass panel.
It starts where a standard windshield would and then travels all the way over the heads of the front seat occupants.
The windshield and the ceiling’s lack of busyness give the interior a massive, open-air feeling that you just don’t get with any other vehicle.
There are, however, sun visors folded to the side that you can use. Should you need one, simply move it until they latch onto the panel with your central rearview mirror.
Passenger Seats
Here you’ll find a second and third row of passenger seats.
The second-row seats are mounted on what looks like pedestals — it seems as though they’re suspended over the floor. They are also power-operated with controls that can be found on the side of the seat. Using these controls allows you to move each seat up, down, forward, and backward.
Credit: Doug DeMuro
Second-row occupants can also use a third touch screen that includes climate controls, seat heating options, and entertainment apps such as Netflix, Youtube, and Twitch.
If you’re willing to spend a little extra, you can splash out on a dedicated Tesla handhold control that allows your passengers to play some games while on the move.
Steering Wheel
The talk of the town — Tesla decided to fit the Model X Plaid with a very unconventional yoke steering wheel.
Some of you may be partial to this race car-esque addition. Others, not so much.
Admittedly, it does come across as an annoying gimmick that tarnishes an otherwise fantastic interior. But some people swear by it.
Look at the steering column, and you’ll see no stalks for turn signals or windshield wipers. Instead, these functions (among others) have all been integrated into the yoke or the center screen in the form of buttons and multiple-purpose dials.
Interface
Tesla’s digital interface has come a long way. It plays a significant role in how people interact with their Tesla EV, and as usual, it doesn’t disappoint.
First off, there’s a gauge cluster on the dashboard that provides you with range stats, outside temperature, speed, autopilot features, etc.
Then there’s the main attraction — the center console. The distinctly tablet-like system is more intuitive than ever before, and it’s designed to be easily customizable for both the driver and passenger.
You’ll be able to find everything you need via the main screen — from climate controls and seating options to navigation and some pretty incredible entertainment features. You can even play games on the center screen and use the steering wheel as a controller!
There is, however, a bit of an overreliance on the digital interface for what should be simple actions, such as opening or closing the glove compartment. Adding a simple and discreet handle to the compartment would have been a much better move and still in line with Tesla’s minimalistic design.
Special Features
Tesla has introduced several distinctive elements to the Model X Plaid to retain its minimalistic feel.
First off, the center console possesses no fancy controls or buttons of any kind.
However, a nice addition can be found above the hazard lights – a velvet pad that acts as two phone charging pads.
But it gets even more interesting —look at the yoke, and you’ll notice that there’s no gear selector; there aren’t even any buttons in the center.
So how does it work? Well, the gear system is predictive — the car will predict the gear you want to be in and automatically select it.
For instance, if you step into the car while it’s stationary and there is an obstruction in front of the vehicle, the car’s system will prompt you to put your foot on the break to put it into reverse.
If the thought of a predictive gear system makes you feel uneasy, you can easily override it using the center console.
But what if the screen fails and you can’t get the car into gear?
Should this happen, there’s another backup gear selector. In the center console — next to the hazard lights — you can faintly see the letters “P, R, N, D.”
Range
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimate on Tesla’s website, the Model X Plaid can travel 333 miles on a single charge.
Credit: Tesla
With this range capacity, if you were traveling from San Jose, you’d be able to reach the outskirts of Los Angeles
Power Train
| Motor | Tri-Motor |
| Combined Power | 1020 hp |
| Combined Torque | N/A |
| Battery Pack | 100 kWh Lithium-Ion Traction |
| Transmission | Transmission: 1-Speed Automatic |
Price & Delivery ETA
The Model X Plaid costs $138,990.
If you were to purchase it now, the estimated delivery date for the vehicle would be between August and October 2022 — according to Jeremiah, a Tesla Advisor.
Tesla Model Y
The Model Y is Tesla’s most affordable SUV. It comes in two variants — long-range and performance.
Exterior
Even at a glance, it’s easy to see how similar the design of the Model Y is to the Model 3; it’s basically a taller version of the Model 3, but with a hatchback, so it does have quite a slope at the rear end.
In fact, it’s unsurprising to learn that the Model Y and Model 3 share about 75% of the same parts.
The Front
There are no surprises to be found here. The Model Y shows off a classic tesla “face” that is (again) similar to the model 3, except that the front is larger and more upright.
Credit: Carwow, cars.com
Front Trunk
The front trunk, or “frunk,” as Tesla likes to call it, can be opened with the key or via the infotainment screen.
The “frunk” in this SUV is of a pretty decent size, coming with 117 liters of storage space.
The Rear
Moving on to the rear.
The Model Y comes with a distinct hatchback look. In our opinion, the car’s profile from this angle is rather attractive.
Other than that, there isn’t too much that makes this particular model stand out from the rest.
Tesla has decided to stick with what works best for them, and in all honestly, they’ve pulled it off.
Rear Trunk
The Model Y may have some drawbacks, but there’s one area where it simply does not fall short — rear trunk space.
The rear trunk is absolutely enormous, coming in at a total of 854 liters — that’s almost 8 times the size of the front trunk.
If you’re hungry for more space, unlatch the backseats using the release buttons to give you a completely flat floor.
In short, whether you’re an avid camper, on a road trip, have a large family, or simply doing your monthly grocery shopping, you’re certainly going to love the amount of cargo space the Model Y has to offer.
Wheels
Wheel size starts at 19 inches, moving up to 20 inches for the long-range model.
Those of you opting for the performance model will find yourself with 21-inch wheels.
Interior
As previously mentioned, the Model Y is Tesla’s most affordable SUV, so don’t expect the same level of luxury here as you would with the Model X Plaid.
With that being said, the quality of the interior is very solid — not quite on par with the likes of Mercedes, Audi, or BMW, but decent nonetheless.
Essentially, it feels like you’re inside a larger, higher, and less sporty version of the Model 3.
Materials
The Model Y comes with Tesla’s “premium” synthetic leather.
You can stick with the standard black seats or upgrade to a two-tone black and white color scheme.
Space
The amount of interior space that the Model Y provides is an absolute winner. Again it feels like you’re sitting in a raised, roomier version of the Model 3.
You’ll find the same power-adjustable seats as you would in the Model 3 but on raised platforms.
There’s also plenty of closed storage space for all of your belongings.
Passenger Seats
The passenger section of the interior isn’t as flashy as the Model X Plaid — you won’t find an additional infotainment screen to play around with. But to be fair, you aren’t paying anywhere near the same price.
Credit: Carwow, Tesla
The seating itself is comfy, and there’s quite a bit of room. Headroom and knee room are plentiful, you can stretch your legs out because of the jacked-up front seats, and you can even recline the passenger seats.
The middle seat, however, leaves a bit to be desired. It’s not very comfortable so try to avoid long trips with a third backseat passenger.
Finally, a lovely glass roof welcomes just enough light to make things feel comfy.
Steering Wheel
No controversy this time around.
Tesla uses a far more conventional steering wheel in the Model Y, unlike the yoke in the S & X Plaid Models.
Again, some of you may like the more traditional-looking steering wheel (indicator stalks and all), while others will veer toward the yoke.
Interface
The user interface in the Model Y is exactly the same as the one found in the Model X Plaid.
Well, that is except for one glaringly obvious omission — there’s no dashboard gauge cluster.
Admittedly, we aren’t terribly fond of this design choice — it just doesn’t feel right, especially when you have to turn your head to view your speed.
7-Seater Upgrade
The Model Y comes standard with a 5-seat interior, but you do have the option to upgrade to a 7-seater.
It appears as though the 5-seater option is more popular. However, should you decide to upgrade, here’s what you can expect:
- Third-row seating for two;
- Easy entry into the third row;
- Third-row USB-C charging,
- Sliding second-row with adjustable seatbacks;
- Fold-flat second and third rows for maximum cargo storage;
- Electronic fold-flat releases in the trunk.
Range
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimate on Tesla’s website, the Long-Range Model Y can travel 330 miles on a single charge.
Credit: Tesla
That is just 3 miles shy of what the Model X Plaid can achieve. Again, you’d be able to travel from San Jose to the outskirts of Los Angeles without any trouble.
Power Train
| Model Y | Long-Range |
|---|---|
| Motor | 1 permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 1 AC induction |
| Battery Pack | 80.5-kWh lithium-ion |
| Combined Power | 384 hp |
| Combined Torque | 376 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 1-speed direct-drive |
Price & Delivery ETA
The Model Y Long-Range costs $62,990, whereas the Performance version will set you back $67,990 (without potential incentives).
If you were to purchase it now, the estimated delivery date for a Long-Range model would be between November 2002 and February 2024, and for the performance model, between June and August 2022 — according to Jeremiah, a Tesla Advisor.
Model X Plaid Vs. Model Y — Which Should You Choose?
Ultimately, choosing a Model X Plaid vs. Model Y comes down to your budget.
The Model X Plaid is the most luxurious SUV that Tesla has to offer. It’s faster, has a far better interior, and includes more features than the more affordable Model Y.
You could argue that the Model Y has the potential to carry more passengers — with its 7-seater version. You could also justify it being more value for money, but that’s about it.
The real question here is this: are you willing to fork out $138,990 for a Model X Plaid, or will a $62,990 Model Y suffice?
If you’re deadset on joining the EV club and want a Tesla, but you’re not willing to sell your wife and kids in exchange for a car, the Model Y is the way to go.
If however, you have some spare cash lying around (just a little), the Model X Plaid is a no-brainer!
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a breakdown of the latest (2022) iterations of the Model X Plaid vs. Model Y!
We sincerely hope that this article goes some way towards you making your first EV purchase.
Should you have any further questions or opinions on the matter, we encourage you to join our growing community!
