Up until recently, the only options available when shopping for an electric car were mainly unexciting, pragmatic hatchbacks like the Nissan Leaf, or we could have fancy Teslas. This comparison would be very flattering to Elon Musk, we believe.
His company did not invent the concept of the accessible electric car, but it sure perfected it. Ever since their Model S sedan was introduced in 2012, it became the go-to car for wealthy Silicon Valley IT people and Scandinavian taxi drivers alike. Talk about the power of hype.
In the last couple of years, however, more and more car manufacturers - especially luxury ones - have started to come up with their own "Tesla killers." Mercedes EQC, Jaguar I-Pace, the more recent Porsche Taycan, or the hero of this article - the Audi E-Tron. While none of these cars have yet succeeded in dethroning Tesla as the ultimate electric car brand, they do give Elon Musk's company a run for their money.
Don't get us wrong - we love Teslas. But if you were in the market for an EV right now, we say you should consider getting an Audi E-Tron instead - for the following reasons:
15 You'll Save A Few Thousand Bucks
Let's start with the most obvious and mundane reason - pricing. In the U.S. the Audi E-Tron starts at $ 74,800 before tax incentives, while the Tesla Model X (E-Tron closest competitor that we'll be referencing in this article) starts at $84,990. Do the math and you'll see that you can get a pretty decent used car with the money you save in addition to your E-Tron.
14 The Batteries Charge Faster
Nobody likes to wait for stuff to charge - and electric cars are no exception. This is why Audi came up with a first of its kind 150 kW DC high-speed charging system. It allows you to get 54 miles of range in just 10 minutes, or charge up to 80% in only 30 minutes! Teslas, by comparison, take 40 minutes to get up to 80% with the fast charging - but we all know how much 10 minutes can matter during a commute.
13 Cameras - Wait For It - Instead Of Mirrors!
Yes, it's a gimmick, but it's a gimmick we've dreamt of for so long! If you get an E-Tron, be ready to say goodbye to boring old side mirrors and welcome side cameras. EVs are futuristic vehicles and we can't think of a more fittingly futuristic feature than that. Sure, long-term reliability and convenience might be questionable - but who cares when it's just so cool.
12 More Cargo Space
Back onto the mundane and practical things - let's talk cargo space. The Audi E-Tron offers 28.5 cu ft of it without folding any seats. The Tesla Model X, on the contrary, only offers 26 cu ft. If you prefer traveling with an extra case of your favorite beverage, the E-Tron is the EV to get!
11 Audi's Interior Is Miles Ahead...
Here's a take that everyone agrees with but doesn't want to publically acknowledge - Tesla interiors suck! Yes, you have an amazing big screen, but the build quality and materials are just unacceptable for a car in this price range. Needless to say, Tesla stands no competition to the Audi E-Tron in terms of the interior.
10 ...Just As The Overall Quality
Generally, Teslas aren't well-known for having amazing build quality. Just take a close look at the panel gaps, rubber seals and decorative elements and you'll see why. Not to take any shots at Tesla - it's still a relatively young car company. Setting up proper quality standards can take a long time. Audi, of course, has already been through this process - hence the significantly better quality.
9 The E-Tron Is More Subtle
There is no way to put this lightly, but it's the elephant in the room that should be addressed. Teslas have a certain aura of arrogance around them. Hop into one and suddenly you become "that guy with a Tesla." You know what we mean. The Audi E-Tron, on the other hand, looks very similar to any other Audi SUV and won't draw any unwanted attention.
8 It's A Real Sleeper, Too!
Yes, there are much faster Teslas - but the E-Tron is no slouch, either! The car does 0 to 60 in a very healthy 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 124 mph. Not too bad for an SUV that many will take for the soccer mom-friendly Audi Q7.
7 The Driving Experience Is Truly Luxurious
Being an Audi, the comfort and the driving experience is where the E-Tron truly shines. In their comparison test with the Tesla Model X, Autoexpress found the E-Tron superior in terms of handling and comfort. Tesla, on the other hand, turned out to be much noisier inside and more difficult to handle.
6 The Safety Is Outstanding
As you can expect from Audi, the safety features of the E-Tron are top-notch. In fact, they're so good that the E-Tron became the first all-electric car to earn a top safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, according to TechCrunch. The car performed incredibly in all of the Institute's tests - something that Tesla is yet to achieve.
5 It's Not Just All-Wheel Drive - It's Quattro
Just like most other electric vehicles, the Audi E-Tron has all-wheel drive courtesy of two electric motors on both axles. Just with any other Audi, however, the all-wheel-drive in the E-Tron is not just any all-wheel drive - it's Audi famed Quattro system. Needless to say, the E-Tron is guaranteed to perform well on any surface.
4 Sophisticated Air Suspension
The all-wheel-drive is not the only reason why the E-Tron is capable of performing well in different conditions. Another one is the adaptive air suspension. It's a part of Audi's signature "Drive Select" system that offers 7 different driving modes for any situation - including off-roading. By comparison, we wouldn't dare to take the Tesla Model X off-road.
3 The E-Tron Simply Looks Better
Yes, we know that design is a subjective matter, but let's agree - the Tesla Model X does not look great! It's bulky, unproportional and just looks like a bloated Model S. The Audi E-Tron, on the other hand, is genuinely handsome! Sure, it might look like any other Audi SUV - but Audi SUVs are quite good-looking to us.
2 All Doors Are Just Doors
In our opinion, one of the greatest advantages that the E-Tron has over the Model X is that opening the rear doors isn't a spectacle. Tesla's falcon wing doors are a cool, but unnecessary gimmick that attracts too much attention and cameras. We certainly wouldn't want to appear on someone's 'Gram while taking out the child seat. We bet that you wouldn't either.
1 It's An Audi
Lastly, let's talk about brand names. Tesla, of course, has a certain flair around it, but it's hardly as established of a brand like Audi. For years, the four rings logo has been associated with luxury, quality, and prestige. For a lot of buyers, that aspect of a car is very important. If you're one of them and shopping for an EV - we definitely recommend the E-Tron.