Just completed a test drive of a '23 X and a '23 Y. The park assist features are important to us and I want to make sure I understand how the X/Y park assist works. It was a "touchless" test drive so no salesperson from Tesla on the drives.
For context, we have been using overhead 360 view cameras for over 10 years with an Infiniti QX56, then BMW X5. Normal habit is pulling into a parking space (forward) and pressing the camera/parking button to get overhead 360 view to center in the space and be able to see distance from cars on all three sides. I did find the camera button in the X and Y when pulling into a parking space but no overhead view and the side cameras didnt show the parking lines just the cars next to us. No top down view in front either to show distance to curb etc. Backing into a parking space was considerably better with the backup camera with simulated parking space lines.
Sensors and chimes when parking were not great. I tested backing up to a wall at the service center and it didnt give any indication until I was really close to the wall. I also tested backing into a normal parking space and it didnt provide much feedback until it chimed and displayed "Stop" when i was still a couple feet from the curb behind the space. Overall parking aids were pretty poor. Just want to make sure I am not missing anything on this. Parking in the Y was basically the same results. Our BMW has perpendicular and parallel self parking, 360 cameras, etc so dont want a downgrade on these features. The park assist package is $800 on the BMW and I think part of the $6k package on the X/Y which I did not select due to cost. Unfortunately the demo X had a Yoke instead of a steering wheel so it was very awkward in low speed parking situations.
Navigation and the screen were great and having the screen behind the wheel in the X was nice. We are spoiled with having a HUD on the X5 with all our navigation instructions directly in front of you with lane guidance speed limit etc. Surprised I guess again that no HUD but its one of those things you get used to having and immediately notice it if its not there.
FWD were nice but not necessary for us and would prefer standard doors. The glass in the FWD above the rear seats was hot and warmed up the rear seats. For that matter it was warm up front with all the glass as well. We generally keep the sunroof shade closed during the day in our X5. No shade in the X. Cooled seats were very nice, I wouldnt buy another car without them, our X5 does not have that feature.
Autopilot was fine in the X, didnt realize it wasnt enabled in the Y before we headed out on the drive. The blind spot warning was not really much of a warning system other than triggering the camera to display automatically in the center screen when you are looking left. No indicator on the side mirror or buzzing your seat if there is car there and you start to turn into adjacent lane.
Trunk space of X was fine with the deep storage area at the very back. The panel covering the deep well storage was kinda flimsy and seemed a bit cheap. The original MSRP sticker was down there and showed $129k I believe LOL. I have looked at the S before and with its rear hatch seems to make a bit more sense when looking at a 5 seater.
The Y with a regular steering wheel and turn signal stalks was immediately easier to drive and more or less drove like a "regular" car. It was a perfectly fine car and I can see why its popular. The looks of it do absolutely nothing for me and it has all the same issues noted above as the X which is unfortunate.
Overall was kinda hoping to be blown away but left underwhelmed. Almost thinking now we keep the X5 and maybe wait for the updated model 3 as a second run about car. The new 3 has vented seats but have not heard if park assist features have been improved...
For context, we have been using overhead 360 view cameras for over 10 years with an Infiniti QX56, then BMW X5. Normal habit is pulling into a parking space (forward) and pressing the camera/parking button to get overhead 360 view to center in the space and be able to see distance from cars on all three sides. I did find the camera button in the X and Y when pulling into a parking space but no overhead view and the side cameras didnt show the parking lines just the cars next to us. No top down view in front either to show distance to curb etc. Backing into a parking space was considerably better with the backup camera with simulated parking space lines.
Sensors and chimes when parking were not great. I tested backing up to a wall at the service center and it didnt give any indication until I was really close to the wall. I also tested backing into a normal parking space and it didnt provide much feedback until it chimed and displayed "Stop" when i was still a couple feet from the curb behind the space. Overall parking aids were pretty poor. Just want to make sure I am not missing anything on this. Parking in the Y was basically the same results. Our BMW has perpendicular and parallel self parking, 360 cameras, etc so dont want a downgrade on these features. The park assist package is $800 on the BMW and I think part of the $6k package on the X/Y which I did not select due to cost. Unfortunately the demo X had a Yoke instead of a steering wheel so it was very awkward in low speed parking situations.
Navigation and the screen were great and having the screen behind the wheel in the X was nice. We are spoiled with having a HUD on the X5 with all our navigation instructions directly in front of you with lane guidance speed limit etc. Surprised I guess again that no HUD but its one of those things you get used to having and immediately notice it if its not there.
FWD were nice but not necessary for us and would prefer standard doors. The glass in the FWD above the rear seats was hot and warmed up the rear seats. For that matter it was warm up front with all the glass as well. We generally keep the sunroof shade closed during the day in our X5. No shade in the X. Cooled seats were very nice, I wouldnt buy another car without them, our X5 does not have that feature.
Autopilot was fine in the X, didnt realize it wasnt enabled in the Y before we headed out on the drive. The blind spot warning was not really much of a warning system other than triggering the camera to display automatically in the center screen when you are looking left. No indicator on the side mirror or buzzing your seat if there is car there and you start to turn into adjacent lane.
Trunk space of X was fine with the deep storage area at the very back. The panel covering the deep well storage was kinda flimsy and seemed a bit cheap. The original MSRP sticker was down there and showed $129k I believe LOL. I have looked at the S before and with its rear hatch seems to make a bit more sense when looking at a 5 seater.
The Y with a regular steering wheel and turn signal stalks was immediately easier to drive and more or less drove like a "regular" car. It was a perfectly fine car and I can see why its popular. The looks of it do absolutely nothing for me and it has all the same issues noted above as the X which is unfortunate.
Overall was kinda hoping to be blown away but left underwhelmed. Almost thinking now we keep the X5 and maybe wait for the updated model 3 as a second run about car. The new 3 has vented seats but have not heard if park assist features have been improved...
