The quickest SUV of 2023 is far from the best choice for most consumers. While performance specs are important, practicality and affordability play huge roles in the decision to purchase a vehicle. The quickest SUV of 2023 is appealing to many gearheads, but the likelihood of most drivers actually pursuing the exciting electric vehicle is extremely low. What is the quickest SUV of 2023, and how come most drivers won’t get one?

How fast is the quickest SUV of 2023?

It’s a wonderful time to be a fan of automobiles. Recent technological innovations have allowed automakers to produce some of the quickest vehicles of all time. It’s no coincidence that many of the chart-toppers happen to be electric SUVs. The producer of the fastest SUV of 2023 is also producing the best-selling SUV of 2023, the Tesla Model Y.

The quickest SUV of 2023 is the 2023 Tesla Model X Plaid. Its performance specs are practically too exciting to believe.

0-60 Time	2.5 Seconds
Top Speed	149 Miles Per Hour
Peak Power	1,020 Horsepower

The Model X Plaid is quicker than competitors by leaps and bounds. It is quicker than standout models like the 2024 Lotus Eletre R, 2023 Rivian R1S, and 2023 Aston Martin DBX707. Even models like the Ferrari Purosangue pale in comparison when it comes to quickness. So, why don’t you see the Model X Plaid more often on American roads?

The Model X Plaid is too expensive for most consumers

What’s a reasonable amount of money to pay for a midsize SUV? Most new models range from around $35,000-$45,000. Upper trim levels can cost over $40K. Factor in the Model X’s complex electric powertrain system and its performance vehicle status, and you begin to see one of the main issues with the Model X Plaid.

The base Model X starts at a whopping $75,590. Its Plaid configuration starts at $85,590 before taxes and additional fees. Tesla’s midsize SUV is already too expensive for most drivers. Its final configuration is far too expensive for the average consumer.

Tesla’s current best-selling vehicle, the Model Y, is significantly more affordable than the Model X. Once the federal electric vehicle tax incentive is applied, it’s even more affordable. The first reason that the Model X Plaid is a hard pass for most drivers is because of its astronomical price.

Most drivers don’t need an SUV as quick as the X Plaid

The 2023 Tesla Model X Plaid is easily one of the most impressive SUVs on the market from a performance standpoint. That being said, quickness means little for consumers who want a practical and affordable SUV. The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is one of the fastest-selling new vehicles because it’s large, has decent fuel economy, and a great value proposition. Practicality is a huge part of its appeal.

The Model X Plaid just isn’t practical for the average driver. Flooring it in the X Plaid for 3.0 seconds could earn you a speeding ticket on many American roads. Leaving your foot on the gas pedal for 5.0 seconds could be downright dangerous.

The 2023 Tesla Model X Plaid isn’t very reliable

Performance vehicles can be fun, but they can also be expensive to maintain and repair. Electric performance vehicles are relatively new territory. Tesla’s midsize SUV has notoriously bad reliability ratings. The brand has also had trouble with a variety of battery overheating issues, as is the case with many electric vehicles.

The final reason why the Model X Plaid is a hard pass for many consumers is because it can be intimidating to maintain over time. With great power often comes great repair costs, and many Americans aren’t in a position to shoulder those costs. The Tesla Model X Plaid is an incredible vehicle, but it could occupy more wall posters than driveways and garages because of its unique traits.