Reviews

Review: Tesla Model X Cubby Compartment by EVANNEX

Published

9 years ago

September 16, 2016

The Tesla Model X and Model S contains a small storage shelf located directly beneath the vehicle’s large 17″ touchscreen often referred to as the “cubby”. It’s a location designed with storage in mind. Storage for items such as sunglasses, wallets, cell phones, and small miscellaneous personal belongings no bigger than a deck of cards will make its way into the often underutilized space.

But despite being able to make use out of what is essentially dead space beneath the center stack, items would often slide out of the cubby while the car was in motion, especially under acceleration. Belongings inside the cubby also sit in plain sight of potentially prying eyes. EVANNEX aims to address both of those issues with its new Cubby Compartment available for both the Model S and X.

I had a chance to take a closer look at how the Cubby Compartment works on a Model X.

cubbycompartment-2

Installation

No tools needed.

1.) First, I made sure the shelf where the Cubby Compartment will reside was clean and empty. I suggest dusting off the cubby and wiping clean the inside wall of the cubby because this is where you’ll need to stick a magnetic plate that’s needed to secure the Cubby Compartment in place.

2.) Remove the white tape backing for the magnetic plate and insert the Cubby Compartment all the way into the shelf

3.) Remove the Cubby Compartment from the shelf. At this point the adhesive-backed magnetic plate should be stuck to the back of the shelf space. Hand press the magnetic plate again making sure the magnetic plate sticks to the rear interior wall.

4.) Slide the Cubby back into the shelf.

Fitment

Once the Cubby Compartment is secured into place using the neodymium magnet, the unit is surprisingly secure with no play from side to side.

Quality

I choose the Obeche Wood Gloss finish which matches my Model X perfectly. The front surface looks exactly like the factory trim down to the door handle which mirrors the brushed aluminum look of the interior cabin of the Model X. My wife couldn’t even tell it it was a non-factory item and amusingly thought it had been there all along until I pointed out that it was an aftermarket piece.

It’s worth noting that the Cubby Compartment is made out of relatively thin ABS plastic. One can argue that plastic is waterproof and easy to clean, but given the premium nature of the Model X, the general feel of the Cubby Compartment doesn’t match the interior quality of the Tesla. In place, however, it’s indistinguishable by appearance, but you can certainly feel, and hear, what sliding plastic on plastic yields.

cubbycompartment

Test

To test how strong the neodymium magnet will hold up during sudden acceleration, I came up with two scenarios: first with the Cubby Compartment empty and another with it full of contents, including a smart phone, sunglasses, a fabric cloth cleaner, and a tire gauge.

I did five rounds each where I started from a complete stop and floored it. Much to my surprise, the tiny magnet was able to keep the compartment in place through all 10 rounds of testing. When the cubby was full of “stuff,” the non-slip liner even prevented the contents from sliding around.

My one gripe is that I wished the small aluminum handle was sized just a little bit bigger for easier grip. I think my fingers are normal sized for a guy and even with that I found myself having a difficult time pulling the Cubby Compartment out. After a few attempts, I soon realized that gripping the handles on either end as opposed to pinching it from the top and bottom worked the best.

Keep in mind that the manufacturer designed the Cubby Compartment to slide completely out of the shelf with no stops. So if you pull it too far, the entire compartment along with all of the belongings will come all the way out.

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Summary

The Cubby Compartment for the Model X and Model S is available in Piano Black, Obeche Wood Gloss, Obeche Wood Matte, real Carbon Fiber at a starting price of $149.99, Though the trim matches perfectly with Tesla’s factory finish, the price is a bit steep for what you get. The manufacturer also offers a Satin Black finish that works beautifully for those Model X owners who have the Figured Ash Wood and Dark Ash Wood interior trim finishes.

Overall, the things I love about the Cubby Compartment is the OEM look and feel, the small but very effective magnet to keep it in place, and the fact that it maximizes the space below the touchscreen while concealing it.

Related Topics:Tesla Model X Tesla Model X Interior

Manny Vista

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News

Tesla Model Y wins U.S. News ‘Best Luxury Electric SUV’ award

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

Joey Klender

Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Model Y has won U.S. News award for “Best Luxury Electric SUV,” beating out a heavy lineup of worthy battery-powered sport utility vehicles.

The Model Y first was delivered to owners in early 2020 and was the automaker’s answer to the widely-popular crossover SUV sector. A sibling of the first mass-market vehicle the company offered, the Model 3, Tesla’s Model Y has quickly become the company’s best-selling electric car, and that’s saying something considering it is not the most affordable Tesla vehicle and starts at $62,990.

U.S. News recognizes Tesla’s influence in the changing automotive market, identifying that it was likely the catalyst in bringing EVs to mainstream status. Despite the rapid expansion of the EV segment, Tesla has remained at the top of the hill, fending off worthy competitors like Volkswagen, Ford, and General Motors, who have spent decades developing some of the best automotive technology the world has seen. However, Tesla has also managed to stay above tech-focused and savvy automotive startups entering the electric sector, with battery powertrains being their only focus. Rivian and Lucid, two of the most notable names to fit that description, still have not managed to catch up with Tesla.

The Model Y effectively expanded Tesla’s product line to include a new body style. While the Model X has been offered for seven years, the falcon-wing door-equipped SUV is still only produced for sentimental reasons, according to CEO Elon Musk. It also is much more expensive than the Model Y, and starts at $114,990.

Tesla plans to produce Model Ys with both 4680 and 2170 cells at Gigafactory Texas this year

Those who do not quite have the means to spend over $100,000 on an all-electric SUV have plenty of options, but if a consumer is looking for luxury, the Model Y may be the best choice. U.S. News highlights that, while the Model Y does offer less overall cargo and utility room than the Model X, it still boasts many of the same tech features that Tesla has been known to put in its cars. The Model Y has plenty of performance too, and its premier trim level will get you from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds, while still having over 300 miles of range and a 155 MPH top speed.

“Despite the onslaught of new competitors, the Tesla Model Y is one of the most capable and well-rounded luxury electric SUVs that you can buy at the moment,” U.S. News writes. “If you’re in the market, this is an option that’s well-worth a test drive.”

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

News

Tesla Model Y wins Cars.com’s Best Electric Vehicle of 2022 award

Published

3 years ago

February 21, 2022

Joey Klender

Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Model Y has captured Cars.com’s “Best Electric Vehicle of 2022” award, beating out several worthy competitors to be named the best EV of the year.

The Model Y is Tesla’s newest addition to its purchasable fleet of vehicles, and the first all-electric crossover to come out of the Fremont factory in Northern California. Tesla developed the Model Y to be a mass-market vehicle capable of handling a variety of tasks. Not only is the vehicle lightning fast in typical Tesla fashion, but it also packs enough cargo space to give full-sized SUVs something to sweat about. It is truly Tesla’s most well-rounded vehicle, suitable for nearly any lifestyle and at a price point that won’t break the bank.

“Tesla is an electric car innovator, and the Model Y reflects that leadership with its efficiency, charging capability, range, and options,” Cars.com’s synopsis of the Model Y said. “It checks a lot of boxes for consumers who have been considering making the jump to an EV.”

EVs are still a small slice of the overall passenger vehicle market in the United States. While EV adoption is continuing to grow at a fast rate, Cars.com says that about a third of active car shoppers are considering an electric vehicle. Additionally, the site stated that occurrences of searching for an EV on Cars.com have doubled in the past year, while inventory levels of EVs have dropped 30 percent since 2021, showing there is plenty of interest from consumers.

The Model Y may be one of the most appealing options for those who are considering switching to an EV from a gas car. Cars.com notes the Model Y’s incredible efficiency, which is paired with 326 miles of EPA-rated range in the Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant. Not only will the Model Y get you to where you need to go in a minimal number of charging stops, but it also gets better with age. The vehicle, like the rest of Tesla’s fleet, receives Over-the-Air software updates to upgrade vehicle capabilities, fix bugs, or increase performance.

The Model Y is also great for those who have a focus on purchasing cars with a focus on American manufacturing. The vehicle was ranked third on the 2021 American-Made Index, trailing its sibling in the Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang.

Cars.com’s list is void of the Lucid Air, Rivian R1T, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6. The publication noted demand and production growth of electric vehicles will allow more models to be considered for the award in the future.

News

Ford Mustang Mach-E wins Consumer Reports’ Electric Vehicle Top Pick award

Published

3 years ago

February 17, 2022

Joey Klender

Available Ice White Appearance Package on appropriately configured 2022 Mustang Mach-E and Mustang Coupe models. Closed course.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has won Consumer Reports‘ award for the Electric Vehicle Top Pick. The Mustang Mach-E displaces the Tesla Model 3, which has held the award for the past two years.

CR credits the Mach-E’s rich heritage with the Mustang brand and its obvious popularity based on sales figures to determine the vehicle was in the running for the top pick. After Ford’s introductory EV, the Mustang Mach-E, solidified its prowess in the electric sector by earning the best Overall Score, which factors road-test score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety, Consumer Reports had enough evidence to choose it over Tesla’s mass-market EV.

: Credit: Pirelli

: Credit: Tom’s Ford/Instagram

: Credit: Ford

“Make no mistake, the Model 3 is still a great choice, and Consumer Reports recommends it. It shines with the latest technology, a long range, an impressive charging network, and a driving experience closer to a high-performance sports car than a sedan,” CR said. “But the Mustang Mach-E is also very sporty, plus it’s more practical and easier to live with. The Ford is also quieter and rides better. Both cars have large infotainment center screens, but the Mach-E’s is far easier to operate and doesn’t require multiple steps to activate routine features, such as using the defroster or adjusting the mirrors, as with the Tesla. Also, the Mach-E has an edge when it comes to reliability, according to first-year results in our Annual Auto Surveys of CR members.”

The report notes that the Mach-E is more similar to the Model Y than the Model 3, which is a fact. The two vehicles were the one-two punch in the electric crossover SUV sales figures for the U.S. last year, with the Model Y beating the Mach-E.

: Credit: Emma Berg/Twitter

: (Credit: Ford)

: (Credit: Ford)

Consumer Reports also said the Mustang Mach-E gained two additional points to the vehicle’s Overall Score due to the fact it has an active driving assistance system with an adequate driver monitoring system. Any vehicle that has these features gains two additional points. However, CR did not award Tesla Autopilot the two points because the system “can still be used if the driver is looking away or using a phone, as long as there is at least one hand resting on the steering wheel.”

Tesla activated its cabin-facing driver monitoring system in September as part of software update 2021.32.5. Drivers noted that the system worked adequately, alerting drivers following a brief look away from the road to glance at a cell phone or the floor of the vehicle. However, in CR’s in-house study, the publication stated that GM’s SuperCruise did a better job of monitoring drivers during vehicle operation.

Ford has a lot to be proud of as the Mustang Mach-E was its first crack at an EV, and it went pretty well. Mustang Mach-E sales totaled 27,140 vehicles in 2021, according to Ford. While it was not the best-selling EV crossover last year, it was one of the best, and it made a real splash on the passenger market.