2026 Tesla Model X First Look: This Old Gal's Getting the Blues
Tesla throws only a few scraps of updates at its aging three-row SUV.
Tesla's Model X SUV is nearly a decade old, having first gone on sale later in 2015. It's received only one major update since, for 2021, and has largely lurked in the background of Tesla's lineup. Its one standout feature, a set of massively complex Falcon Wing rear doors that lift and fold themselves up and out of the way, caught a bad rap early on for their … finicky operation. The X also suffers from a relatively high price—it costs more than any other production Tesla—especially if you go for the high-performance Plaid version introduced at the SUV's last update in 2021. Can a freshening help?
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It can't hurt. Alongside the Model S hatchback sedan, the Model X SUV is receiving a light freshening for 2026. If the Model S' changes seem subtle to you, good luck picking out the Model X's upgrades without sitting in or driving one. Most casual observers might not notice the new 19- and 21-inch wheel designs available on both the Model X All-Wheel Drive and Model X Plaid. Even those with a working knowledge of existing Model X wheel orthodoxy might miss them.
One of the most noticeable exterior changes, in fact, is the newly available Frost Blue paint option. It joins a palette that largely requires you to pay extra; only Stealth Grey is free, and Frost Blue demands a hefty $2,500 upcharge. But it looks very good and stands out against the X's otherwise reserved color palette. There also are new adaptive headlights, while the cabin's ambient lighting is "dynamic" and can now perform sequences when occupants enter the vehicle.
The Stuff You Can't See
Tesla has packed a lot of minor changes underneath the X's skin, however. There are new suspension bushings and hardware that promise a smoother ride, and Tesla says there is now more room in the third-row seats for passengers—while at the same time cargo space also improves. It's not clear how Tesla achieved this feat, given the Model X's body structure seems no different than it was before, but we'll reserve judgment until we stuff ourselves into that third row and check it out in person.
Combined with changes to the Active Noise Cancellation feature, which uses the audio system's speakers to offset untoward frequencies inside the Model X, the SUV should exhibit better over-the-road refinement. We have a blueprint for what to expect from these seemingly subtle updates, too: the newest Model 3, the so-called Highland model. Although fundamentally the same as the pre-Highland Model 3, this version's small suspension tweaks, improved body sealing, and other noise-suppression tactics transformed that sedan's once-harsh ride and loud cabin for the better.
Minor Range Improvements, Big Price Changes
Given the Model X's age and the relatively minor upgrades, it's a little disappointing that prices have risen sharply. The entry-level Model X now starts at $91,630, a big jump from the $79,380 it recently cost. Plaid versions are pricier still, starting at $104,990, up from a recent low of $94,380. Range for both Model X variants inches upward by a few miles, from 348 to 352 on the Model X All-Wheel Drive and from 333 miles to 335 on the Plaid.
A lifelong car enthusiast, I stumbled into this line of work essentially by accident after discovering a job posting for an intern position at Car and Driver while at college. My start may have been a compelling alternative to working in a University of Michigan dining hall, but a decade and a half later, here I am reviewing cars; judging our Car, Truck, and Performance Vehicle of the Year contests; and shaping MotorTrend’s daily coverage of the automotive industry.
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