I'm interested in this thread because I'm looking into the X because my wife had twins and we now have 3 children total and the Model 3 will no longer do. My question is what exactly does a minivan have that the X does not? When we looked at it I thought it really was a minivan in disguise? Low seats, big side doors, entertainment system, etc... Why should I get a minivan besides the charging on long trips issue?
Let me offer some guidance as Ive had two model 3's, a model y, and now an X plaid. We've also had a 2020 Odyssey for 2 years and now a 2022 Sienna for 2+ years.
The third row in the Sienna is useful for two full grown adults. Meaning someone like 5'10" can fit back there comfortably. Long trip, short trip whatever. Its perfectly fine. Model X, no way. You would need to be under 5' to sit back there for a period of time. My wife is 5'2" and she says it's "okay". Guys know what this means. Third row leg room is very limited. 2nd row in 6 seater X doesnt have a lot of travel back and forth like a minivan. Sienna is 5" longer than an X. 2nd row in the seinna has foot rests. Way more comfortable on a long trip than an X. It also has rear entertainment, and you can plug in HDMI to it. Cant do that on an X. Screen is on the ceiling which is more useful with kids. I like how Tesla builds in apps instead of using a streaming stick, but with the streaming stick more options. Its silly there isnt HDMi on the X.
The sliding doors on a minivan cant be beat. They open faster and wider. You can access the third row much easier on a minivan. I pull a latch on the side and slide the seat front to back, quick and easy. X doors take a long time to open and they can be finicky.
Minivan is way more durable than an X. It will stand up to kids much better. Not even a comparison.
i just got my Plaid yesterday. Its absolutely insane. Our Sienna sounds like it's struggling when you mash the gas pedal, but if we could only have one family vehicle it would be that. 600 miles on a tank and refill in 5 minutes. Yeah I will take that all day long. Boring as hell to drive but toyota reliable and very comfortable.
Sienna:
Pros: way more range, faster to fill, more room inside in 2nd and 3rd row, 2nd row stupid comfortable, reliable, more room to store stuff, more durable, better resale, hdmi rear entertainment so much more options, large trunk even with 3rd row up.
Cons: Slow as sh*t, looks are okay not great, tech is not as good as tesla, infotainment is also meh.
X:
pros: Literally a rocket ship, fun to drive, looks better, handles better, more flashy, better tech.
Cons: 3rd row is smallish, doors are slow and finicky, range cant compete with a ICE, 2nd row is decent but not as comfortable, rear entertainment is limited but works well, small trunk with 3rd row up.
What matters most to you? We have both, so best of both worlds but again I would choose a sienna if I could only have one. It's a more functional family vehicle and significantly less expensive. You could buy a sienna and a fun $25k-$35k car for the price of a base X with a tax credit. Limited Sienna is $49k (platinum trim is dumb and overpriced). X is $70k with a tax credit and very limited options. $84k if you want 6 seats. Not even a plaid which is around $100k.