S/X refresh is live (and underwhelming)

[A-AY-RON]

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[hemiarch]

I bought the X. We have a 2023 six-seater X but we have three kids in car seats and not having them all in the same row is a big pain. So while the refresh is quite underwhelming, it's a quality of life upgrade.

We have three in car seats in our 6 seater (one rear facing) and our experience has been just the opposite. Having them in separate seats stops the fighting most of the time.
what we’re doing now though is we have the two front facing seats in the back row and the rear facing seat behind the driver. This leaves the passenger middle seat open and most of the time tilted forward for easy access to the the third row.
Why you ask? One, I can climb back there and so can my wife when one of us is the passenger and resolve whatever situation needs to resolved, take snacks and drinks out of the cabin fridge for them, work the screen etc.
Two, we have room to transport another adult with us wherever we go at the drop of a hat.
Previously had a seven seater x and definitely NOT going back to the three side by side config.

 

[hemiarch]

I don’t know much about tint chemistry and it sounds like it’s not an issue for you, but if anyone else is reviewing this thread for answers. be careful with all these solvents. Remember the tint is on the inside of the glass.

 

[dalton108]

Maybe I just don’t appreciate the finer things in life, because they feel quite similar to me as far as “luxury” goes.

I think that your crotchety comments are mostly correct. ?

Some of it though depends upon which M3 or M3P you’re talking about versus which “year” of MS. my 2021 M3P matches all of your statements. I would definitely take one over any MS besides the one I have (… I don’t know what to call it now— mark 2 refreshed MS? [* Nope: “Palladium” - see below]) forward.

So many minor changes that happen make a difference like mine has the upgraded brakes for the plaid that are short of the track pack but way better than what the refreshed plaid initially had. No matter how much experience any of us have with these vehicle vehicles it’s highly unlikely that any of us have experience with the exact same two versions of each vehicle.

I think from a very general generic standpoint the model three is like a BMW series 3 and handles amazingly if you have one of the really quick ones with the performance badge from a driving enthusiast standpoint it’s gonna be a better rig than any model S short of the Plaid (and it still wins and handling the model S cannot really do anything to hide all that mass).

From a luxuriousness standpoint, most versions of M3 don’t measure up, but it’s not like we’re talking Bentley versus Kia. I think Highlander probably changes that comparison bringing it closer in line with your rant. ?

And now me and my friends will get off your lawn, Sir. You have a nice day! I’m gonna go check my lawn and make sure there are no damn kids on it!!

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If any of you weirdos care I decided to ask chatGPT what the hell my car should be called and here’s what it had to say:

Tesla’s own engineers use informal project codenames only for major engineering programmes. Four names have leaked over the years, and they define the generational shorthand that owners and service technicians still use:

WhiteStar (development phase, 2007-2012)

“WhiteStar” was the internal programme that took the car from clay model to first production builds in 2012. If you own an original nose-cone Model S (2012-early 2016), that is the WhiteStar generation.  

2016 facelift (no codename in common use)

The April 2016 facelift swapped the black plastic nose-cone for the smooth fascia the car still wears, added LED headlights and the HEPA “Bioweapon” filter. Tesla never attached a project nickname, so owners just say “facelift” or “refresh-2016.” 

Raven (mid-2019 mechanical update)

Project Raven replaced the front induction motor with the permanent-magnet unit from the Model 3, introduced adaptive air suspension and raised range. All Model S builds from mid-2019 until January 2021 are Ravens. 

Palladium (2021 ground-up overhaul)

Palladium delivered the yoke-style steering, new interior, heat-pump HVAC, structural battery pack revisions and, crucially, the tri-motor Plaid power-train. Every Plaid—including your 2023 build—is a Palladium-generation car. The codename is widely documented in Tesla’s firmware and leaked production memos.  

2025 update (no new codename so far)

The range-and-NVH tweaks announced on 13 June 2025—extra sound-deadening, smoother suspension valving, 410-mile Long Range rating, Frost Blue paint, front-bumper camera—are regarded inside Tesla as a running change to Palladium, not a fresh programme. No credible codename has surfaced, and service bulletins still list the car under the Palladium platform code. 

What to call your car

Your vehicle remains a 2023 Model S Plaid (Palladium). That label is unambiguous in Tesla circles and distinguishes it from both the earlier Raven Plaids that a few pre-production customers received in 2020 and from the slightly heavier, lower-top-speed 2025 build.

 

[BeFamousVideo]

It is quite mind-boggling that anyone would buy an X AWD for $90K over a CT AWD for $80K (or $72.5K for some people)

IMO.
The X has feminine lines.
The CT has masculine lines.
Car buyers are accustomed to mostly feminine design lines.

 

[hemiarch]

It’s not that mind boggling. We own both. The x is a better people mover whereas the CT is a better stuff mover and adventure vehicle.
Daily school dropoffs in a car where every single aperture and seat can be operated from the drivers seat is a joy, so is the ability to load and unload car seats in the tightest of parking spaces.
the round dome interior “feels” very spacious.
As for design language, I think @BeFamousVideo hit the nail on the head. Not everyone appreciates the humvee/warthog design cues and wants to be seen in that.
also, up until very recently the prospect of a lifetime of free gas in one vs the other was somewhat compelling.
Right or wrong, the CT attracts a different kind of attention when we drive it. It’s now inextricably tied with Elon’s DOGE antics in a lot of people’s minds. I don’t know why and I don’t agree with it but as an owner of both vehicles I’m telling you this is true.
The x has been around long enough people don’t react to it. Going downtown in it is WAY more discreet and private than taking our CT.
I love steer by wire but some people prefer a more traditional steering feel also. An X with round wheel feels way more like you’re …you know…driving a car.
I would never get a yoke in that thing, it’s just plain stupid with that steering rack in my opinion but love the squarcle in the CT. My point is that if you’re wanting something that feels more like a traditional car, the x would be more appealing.
Finally, most shoppers don’t know this but FSD is infinitely better on the x. Also has ASS and doesn’t feel like you’re part of a giant experiment that sometimes lands you in the wrong lane facing oncoming traffic.

 

[dalton108]

I would never get a yolk in that thing, it’s just plain stupid with that steering rack in my opinion but love the squarcle in the CT.

I would go as far to say that an egg would be a terrible steering wheel replacement no matter what kind of steering rack it was attached to. ?

 

[hemiarch]

I would go as far to say that an egg would be a terrible steering wheel replacement no matter what kind of steering rack it was attached to. ?

Well said as usual.
Thumb typed that quickly and didn’t even notice.

 

[ABILISK]

Yolk/yoke, we all know what he meant lol

 

[dalton108]

Well said as usual.
Thumb typed that quickly and didn’t even notice.

I usually just blame Siri in these situations. ?

 

[llllIIlIIlIlIllII]

There is a manual release (it's not labeled, though) opposite the electric release, right in front of the window switches.

I just find it to such a pain in the butt to get the kids bucked in in the 3rd row. The fighting is definitely a concern, but 7 seats still gives us the flexibility to sit someone back there if that becomes a big enough issue.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

When I had less money, I bought a Model 3 Performance. Life changes generated more income for me, I said "now is the time to upgrade to the Model S!" I am not frugal and I will spend my money on stupid shit more often than not. After some time in a Model S, the fact that I could not justify the upgrade in price in the Model S from a Model 3 and I buy any dumb stuff anyone will sell me... it means something.

With used 2021 refreshed Model S Plaids costing a bit less than I paid for my 2021 M3P, I may finally go forward with the update and snag a 2023 S Plaid. But I agree with what some others have said, the M3P feels more nimble to me and I love how it corners. The S may be more exciting on a straight line, but it feels heavier and less enjoyable on a curvy road.

Last thought, I was waiting for the refresh to see if I'd be disappointed getting a used 2022/23 S. Nope, not at all, I don't feel like I'm missing anything. But if the new S refresh had steer-by-wire, I would've placed my order for it already.

 

[YDR37]

Maybe it's just me, but I was most surprised by the absence of the "signature" front light bar, as seen on the Cybertruck, Model Y Juniper, and Cybercab. I just assumed that this would be a distinctive feature of all new Teslas going forward, but apparently not.

I realize that the S/X are no longer big sellers, so maybe there is no budget for a substantial redesign. But adding the "signature" light bar would have been a relatively inexpensive cosmetic change, and it would have at least made the S/X look newer.

I see a lot of Model Ys in my area, but most of them are older. It's still unusual to see a Model Y with a front light bar, but whenever I approach one on the road, I can recognize it at a glance and instantly think "ooh, there's one of those new Ys".

It's not going to be like that with the "new" Model S or X. I don't expect to recognize the "refreshed" S or X at a glance, unless the owner dropped an extra $2,500 for the new "Frost Blue" paint option.

When Tesla announced the new S and X, the first "highlight" that they listed was the Frost Blue paint color. And yes, that is the most visually distinctive feature of the refresh. But if the top "highlight" of a refresh is a new paint color, that's ... underwhelming.

 

[hemiarch]

When I had less money, I bought a Model 3 Performance. Life changes generated more income for me, I said "now is the time to upgrade to the Model S!" I am not frugal and I will spend my money on stupid shit more often than not. After some time in a Model S, the fact that I could not justify the upgrade in price in the Model S from a Model 3 and I buy any dumb stuff anyone will sell me... it means something.

With used 2021 refreshed Model S Plaids costing a bit less than I paid for my 2021 M3P, I may finally go forward with the update and snag a 2023 S Plaid. But I agree with what some others have said, the M3P feels more nimble to me and I love how it corners. The S may be more exciting on a straight line, but it feels heavier and less enjoyable on a curvy road.

Last thought, I was waiting for the refresh to see if I'd be disappointed getting a used 2022/23 S. Nope, not at all, I don't feel like I'm missing anything. But if the new S refresh had steer-by-wire, I would've placed my order for it already.

Exactly. There is too much Tesla tech excluded from the “flagship vehicles” for me to want to upgrade yet.

 

[YDR37]

They are likely not “big” sellers because the innovation and quality has stagnated. There are way too many options in the $100k range that far exceed both of those factors.

In California, which is the largest and most competitive EV market in the US, both the S and X have lost their positions at the top of the sales charts.

The Rivian R1S outsold the Model X for the first time in 2024. The R1S was still ahead in 1Q 2025, and the BMW iX was gaining ground..

The Model S was still the best-selling EV in its class in 2024. But in 1Q 2025, the BMW i5 and the Lucid Air both pulled ahead.

This refresh will not help. If anything, the S/X could sell worse now, because of the increased starting prices.

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