These days, if you love camping, you do not need a large recreational vehicle that does nothing but eat up space on your driveway for most of the year. Plenty of savvy campers have taken up using their personal vehicles as campers. This is not only a cost-effective method, but it can be more convenient for most people. For camping, it is hard to do much better than the legendary Tesla Model X.
Not only is it an all-electric family SUV, but it has plenty of specific features and upgrades that make it one of the best cars to go camping with. In this article, you’ll get a closer look at the Tesla Model X in the scope of using it as a camper.
The Tesla Model X was first released in 2015 after numerous delays and setbacks due to challenges in its design and manufacturing. Despite these challenges, the vehicle was still in very high demand. In January of 2021, Tesla unveiled the refreshed Model X and S to the world with an updated interior and even better range and performance.
Price and Value
There is no denying that the Tesla Model X is not a budget-friendly vehicle. Brand new, the car starts at $89,990 for the Long Range version with dual motors and $119,990 for the tri-motor Model X Plaid. However, tax credits and government rewards can help lower the total cost of the vehicle by a few thousand dollars. Additionally, due to the lower cost of electricity compared to gasoline, and the minimal maintenance costs associated with owning an electric vehicle, the running costs of the Tesla Model X are low.
As a camper, a used Tesla Model X might provide better value over a brand new vehicle.
Size and Seating Capacity
This is where the Tesla Model X shines as it has a large interior with plenty of space. The vehicle can be configured with five, six, or seven seats, and the rear seats can be folded down to give a relatively flat area, perfect for a large mattress. The vehicle also features a wheelbase of 116.7 inches, a width of 78.7 inches, and an overall height of 66 inches. The car also features a minimum ground clearance of 5.4 inches, which means you can get to your campsite even if the terrain is not all that friendly.
The internal dimensions of the car are also good. For example, in the five-seater model, the front row features 41.7 inches of headroom and 41.2 inches of legroom. The second row features 40.9 inches of headroom and 38.4 inches of leg room.
The Tesla Model X also features a cargo capacity of 68 cubic feet when the third row is folded down and has some underfloor storage. The car also features a decently sized trunk at the front, which is 7 cubic feet in volume.
Battery, Range, and Engine Specs
The Tesla Model X features a 100 kWh battery. The large battery and aerodynamic design of the vehicle mean that the dual-motor, Long Range version will give you an estimated range of 360 miles. The more powerful tri-motor Plaid trim has a slightly lower estimated range of 340 miles. Something that should be noted is that, due to Tesla’s massive Supercharger Network, a rapid charge is never far away. This means that the Model X can get you across the country and to any campsite you may want to visit.
In terms of power, the Model X Long-range produces 670 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in an impressive 3.8 seconds for an SUV. However, the Model X Plaid has a ludicrous 1,020 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in an insane 2.5 seconds, which is faster than most sports cars and super cars.
Trims and Features
The Tesla Model X comes in two trims, the difference between them being the number of motors. The Model X Long Range has two motors and, thus, is slower and has a slight range advantage over the Model X Plaid version, which has three motors.
When it comes to the interior, both trims come standard with the same design, which Tesla designs to be smart and minimalistic. The car does not feature any physical buttons, with most of the functionality being placed behind the massive 17-inch infotainment screen. The vehicle may not feature Android Auto or Apple CarPlay but, instead, come loaded with features such as Netflix streaming support, wireless gaming support, multi-device Bluetooth connection, and a 22-speaker, 960-watt audio system with active noise-canceling capabilities. The movie streaming functionality is especially useful while camping.
The vehicle also comes with a dedicated “camp mode,” which allows the car to maintain airflow, temperature and interior lighting, play music, and power devices for as long as the mode is active. The feature was added in 2017 after multiple customers requested it from Tesla.
The exterior of the Tesla Model X is optimized to be as aerodynamic as possible. The Model X is the current most aerodynamic production SUV on the market. It also features large 20-inch wheels as standard, with the option to upgrade to 22 inches. The falcon-wing rear doors allow for easier loading and unloading of cargo or passengers.
Safety
The Tesla Model X is one of the safest cars on the market. The car has received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA since its launch and performed particularly well in the rollover test. Its headline feature is “autopilot,” where the car will actually drive itself with minimal input from the driver. The system provides active guidance and is capable of avoiding obstacles, automatically changing lanes, and auto-emergency braking as well as auto parking and summoning.
The vehicle also comes standard with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. Therefore, the Tesla Model X is packed with enough technology to keep you safe as you go on your next camping adventure.
Reliability
Tesla vehicles are generally reliable cars. They are known to have some build quality issues, which include some paint issues and some body-panel gap issues. However, overall, the car is rated well for reliability. As the Model X does not have all the moving parts associated with an internal combustion engine, mechanical failure of the car is rare. Tesla also issues software updates to your car online and recommends connecting it to your home Wi-Fi system.
The Takeaway
The Tesla Model X is a spacious, eco-friendly vehicle that offers class-leading performance and functionality. It makes a great daily driver and a great camper. The vehicle has enough space for a queen-sized mattress when the rear seats are folded down. The ‘camp mode’ and streaming functionality make this car even better for long camping trips, and its long-range and Tesla’s supercharger network means you can reach any campsite in the country with confidence.
