Tesla Model X Hasn’t Kicked the Bucket After 400k Miles

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Electric vehicles are the future, but that doesn’t mean consumers are stampeding to dealerships to make the switch. While electric vehicles are improving, there is still a lot of work to be done. Practicality is still a big issue with many EVs. Some drivers still view EVs as inferior to gas-powered vehicles. This Tesla Model X proves that EVs can last just as long as gas-powered vehicles with proper maintenance.

Tesla Model X racks up 400,000 miles

The Tesla Model X | VCG via Getty Images

Since electric vehicles are still so new to the automotive industry, it’s hard to tell how long they will last compared to gas-powered vehicles. Conventional gas vehicles can last up to 200,000 miles when properly maintained. Electric vehicles have been theorized to last much longer than gas vehicles but do they really live up to that expectation?

According to Electrek, one Tesla Model X lasted up to 400,000 miles. This proves that EVs have the potential to outlast gas-powered vehicles if properly maintained. It also debunks the myth that EVs are inherently unreliable.

Vehicles that can still drive well with high mileage can save drivers thousands of dollars on a new vehicle purchase. As the automotive industry shifts to electric, it’s also important for consumers to know that new EVs can last as long as their old vehicles.

Is the Model X worth the price?

A blue Tesla Model X 90D full electric luxury crossover SUV car on display at Brussels Expo on January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium.
A Tesla Model X | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

Tesla Model X Long Range models start at $91,190. The electric SUVs are the second most luxurious Teslas behind the Tesla Model S. As far as luxury SUVs go, the Model X is an anomaly in many ways. The exterior makes the electric SUV look like a futuristic spaceship.

The Tesla Model X includes Tesla’s standard autopilot feature. It also is one of the few electric SUVs that completely gets rid of range anxiety. Most electric vehicles have a range limited to under 300 miles per single charge. The Model X is estimated to travel an astounding 360 miles on a single charge.

The Tesla Model X’s infotainment system, many exclusive features, range, and speed make it a tough electric SUV to compete with. Its $90,000+ price tag also makes it one of the least attainable electric vehicles on the market today. If you’re looking for range, great acceleration, and an electric SUV that can stand the test of time, the Model X is well worth it.

How much does it cost to maintain a Model X?

The Tesla Model X | Axel Schmidt/Getty Images for Greentech Festival

The Tesla Model X may be able to last for 400,000 miles, but that doesn’t mean the electric SUV is cheap or easy to maintain. In fact, Tesla repairs are some of the most unreasonably expensive repairs. The owner of the 400k mile Model X spent over $29,000 on repairs in just four years.

Tesla models are also among some of the most expensive vehicles to insure. The Tesla Model X isn’t a cheap vehicle, and it certainly isn’t cheap to own. It does, however, provide an experience that few can relate to.

RELATED: Only Tesla Model X Owners Know About These Features

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Taco Tuesday: The 2022 Toyota Tacoma Is Already Out for Review

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The time when 2022 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck models hit dealerships is just around the corner. By the fall of 2021, Electric Lime TRD Pro models and Lunar Rock Tacoma Trail Edition trucks will be on display, but are they worth our attention? Here’s what 2022 Toyota Tacoma reviews say about this new model year.  

2022 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition | Toyota

The new model year is mostly the same truck 

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma reviews tell us that this truck is much like the 2021 model year Tacoma. One of the primary differences is that the models with a lift as standard equipment will have more ground clearance than before. According to Car and Driver’s 2022 Toyota Tacoma review, the TRD Pro and Trail Edition models both stand 0.5 inches taller in the rear and 1.5 inches taller up front for the TRD Pro models and 1.1 inches taller for the Tacoma Trail Edition trucks. 

With that added height, these pickup trucks now have improved breakover angles, in addition to better approach and departure angles. Now these already bonafide rock crawling beasts have even more capability for traversing brutal terrain than before. The Lunar Rock paint color will now extend beyond the TRD Pro models to the Tacoma Trail Edition trucks, and Toyota revealed the all-new Electric Lime color for the TRD Pro models.

2022 Toyota Tacoma reviews aren’t in love, but sing its praises nonetheless

2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in Electric Lime
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in Electric Lime | Toyota

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is, overall, strikingly similar to its 2021 model year predecessor. There’s a new Trail Edition model and a fresh TRD Pro color. But other than that it features the same standard safety features, the same 2.7 liter four-cylinder base engine and 278 hp 3.5 liter V6 options, and the same ancient six-speed transmission. 

“The Toyota Tacoma is a willing workhorse and credible off-roader, it’s just more primitive than most other mid-size pickups.”

Car and Driver

In their reviews for the new model year Taco, Car and Driver rates it a 6.5/10 and The Car Connection rates it a pretty low 5/10. While the off-road designated versions shine in their element, critics’ reviews point out some flaws. The model receives accolades for off-road prowess, high resale value, and historic reliability.

 “Off-road, TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trucks are veritable mountain goats.”

The Car Connection

That said, their cabin refinement and interior space are a bit questionable. The Car Connection review for the Taco’s new model year warns tall drivers and passengers against the cramped rear seat and headroom. The ride in off-road trims is stiff, and the acceleration can feel lazy, according to the review. 

Is the Toyota Tacoma a good pickup truck? 

Overall, it’s a solid little truck with great reliability scores and unbeatable resale value in its class. Regardless of what any critics say, it’s the most popular midsize pickup in the segment. Is it a good truck? That all depends on what you want. 

If you want a great pickup truck that will last a long time and perform well off-road, you may end up sacrificing some refinement if you choose the 2022 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck model. It’s undeniably popular and presents well in terms of style. It may not get the best ratings from critics, but its popularity tells a different story.

RELATED: Taco Tuesday: The Eagerly Awaited 2024 Toyota Tacoma

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The Choice Between the 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Kia Telluride Is Clear

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Kia Telluride are three-row SUVs that may have new car shoppers torn between. While they don’t have much in common on the exterior, they each have enough going for them to make them competitive with one another. Yet Consumer Reports has designated a clear winner in the 2021 Kia Telluride. Let’s look at why its ratings are so much better. 

2021 Kia Telluride | Kia

The Telluride’s road test score is almost double the Durango’s

The 2021 Kia Telluride gets a 97 in its road test score, while the 2021 Dodge Durango only gets a 47. Key differences include routine and emergency handling. While routine handling in the 2021 Dodge Durango gets a 3/5, emergency handling gets a 2/5. The Dodge Durango’s max avoidance speed is 48 mph.

On the other hand, the 2021 Kia Telluride gets a 3/5 for routine handling and emergency handling gets a very good 4/5. The Kia Telluride’s max avoidance speed is 54 mph.

The Telluride’s headlights are also better, at a 4/5 to the Durango’s 3/5.

Both the 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Kia Telluride are comfortable – the Durango gets a fantastic 4/5 for its ride, and a 5/5 for noise. Front-seat comfort is a perfect 5/5, while rear-seat comfort is a 4/5. Third-row comfort is only a 3/5.

The 2021 Kia Telluride gets a fantastic 4/5 for its ride, as well as for noise. Front-seat comfort is very good, at a 4/5. Rear seat comfort gets a fantastic 5/5. Third row comfort is only a 1/5.

The 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Kia Telluride have safety features, but the Telluride has more

Consumer Reports recommends a slew of advanced safety features that car shoppers should consider. These include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city and highway speeds, lane-keeping assistance, and lane departure warning. Consumer Reports also says that pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning are important to have. While rearview cameras are standard in all new cars, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights are other important features.

The 2021 Kia Telluride comes standard with everything that Consumer Reports recommends – except for automatic emergency braking for the highway, which isn’t available at all. 

The 2021 Dodge Durango comes with disappointingly few of the safety features that Consumer Reports recommends. Only rear-view camera, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control are standard in the 2021 Dodge Durango. Everything else is optional, with the exception of pedestrian detection, which isn’t even available.

Safety ratings in the Telluride are better, too

Both the IIHS and NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 Kia Telluride. The IIHS gives it all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it five stars for everything except for the overall frontal-crash, overall frontal-crash on the driver side as well as passenger side, and the rollover rating. Each of these gets four stars. 

Crash-test ratings in the 2021 Dodge Durango aren’t perfect. While the moderate overlap, side crash and roof crush are good, the front small overlap on the driver side is only marginal. There are currently no front small overlap, passenger side ratings, or rear crash ratings. 

The NHTSA gives the 2021 Dodge Durango four stars for overall crash, overall frontal-crash, and overall frontal-crash on the driver and passenger sides four stars. Everything else gets five stars, except for the rollover ratings. The 2WD rollover rating is four stars, while the 4WD rating is just three stars. 

While the 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Kia Telluride each have a lot going for them, especially comfort, it’s clear that the 2021 Kia Telluride is the better vehicle. It combines a near-perfect road test score with excellent safety ratings and a plethora of safety features. If you’re in the market for a new three-row SUV, the Telluride is the better choice.

RELATED: Kia and Hyundai Dominate Motor Trend’s Most-Searched Cars List

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Infrastructure Bill Mandates New Car Safety Features You May Not Like

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Biden Administration’s infrastructure bill satisfies a lot of issues that we Americans deal with every day. And one would expect an infrastructure bill to fix roads, bridges, traffic, and many more travel and shipping hassles. But the addition of mandating numerous car safety features may not be what some want or like.

Detecting drunk driving is one of the safety features

St. Joseph, Missouri, Anti-drinking billboard sign | Michael Siluk/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Drinking and driving nobody wants. And that is one of the mandates the bill aims to fix. A system would have to be installed to detect drunk, impaired, or fatigued driving. Sensors that are similar to what police use will scan your eyes for suspected drunk driving. 

“We can’t wait any longer to make our roads safer from drunk driving accidents,” Rep. Debbie Dingell said in a statement. “The inclusion of my bill in the bipartisan infrastructure package will help incentivize the development and implementation of technology to stop drunk driving once and for all and save lives.”

The bill would establish the NHTSA to conduct feasibility studies for testing that would set a mandate within three years. This would also allow carmakers to factor into vehicle development potential systems the law would require. 

Children left in a car on hot days is a safety feature in the bill

Drunk driving
The city of Miami Beach police department conducts a field sobriety test at a DUI traffic checkpoint | Joe Raedle/Getty Images

There is also a provision that aims to address children or animals left in cars on hot days. It would require a “door logic” alert. This would trigger a bell or buzz to remind the driver there is something in the rear seat. It would alert when the driver’s door is opened and closed. 

Since 1990 more than 1,000 children have died from being left in hot cars. “The Senate version is only requesting a reminder system that does not detect anything,” Jannette Fennell, president of Kids and Car Safety, told Bloomberg. “It does not let you know if there is an actual child in the back seat.”

There are also provisions for addressing seat-back failures, distracted driving, and recalls. “We must still fight to improve this bill before it becomes law,” said Senator Ed Markey. “That’s why I will be offering several amendments to strengthen my existing safety provisions and remove dangerous proposals that could undermine some of the rules we already have on the books.”

Some vehicles already come with the requested safety features

drunk driving test
A woman walks the white line during a field sobriety test at a DUI checkpoint | Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Some cars already have these distracted driving alerts. Others should only take some software reconfiguring to comply. There are those that will argue this adds still more complexity and cost for the manufacturer and owner. 

But, that is many times the argument when the government mandates safety or environmental changes to vehicle manufacturing. It should go without saying that these are worthwhile safety systems that can save lives as well as improve driving. While some may not like having Big Brother controlling your car, we are already past that point.

RELATED: This Safety Feature Could Prevent Hundreds of Thousands of Accidents

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