Founder. Environmentalist. EV Enthusiast. Dad.

Audi E-Tron Vs Tesla!

So after seeing the Audi E-Tron at a launch event I have the following knowledge to pass on, to be clear and upfront, I’m a Tesla shareholder/owner for ~4 years but have extensively driven almost every consumer electric vehicle currently available (including Tesla Model S/3/X, Jaguar I-PACE, Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, Hyundai Kona, Renault Zoe, e-Golf, Ioniq, Soul EV and of course the Twizy) and will do my best to be as honest as possible without any prejudice (although I appreciate that’s a difficult task).

It’s a typical Audi, built well with plenty of optional extras that you will want to spec, with a decent dealer network ready to take as much money as they can as soon as they can help with any issues.

Audi’s E-Tron mirrors (optional extra) are pretty great from first impressions

The things I loved about the E-Tron:

✅Interior build quality
✅Illuminated seatbelts
✅All the subtle lighting inside

Audi’s interior lighting reminds me of Mercedes, very good, completely excessive but nice to have. It’s these small features that Audi know Tesla won’t bother to compete them on.

✅3D ‘Reversing’ Camera
✅Camera mirrors are pretty cool, unsure in reality how useful they’re but they certainly look great (optional paid extra)
✅Two charge ports (optional paid extra)

✅Smaller panel gaps (Yes, USA are really bad at this compared to the Germans)
✅Superior route-planning (the Tesla is weak in this regard)
✅Door pockets (The Tesla Model S has none but Model 3 does)
✅9 Paint colour options Vs Tesla’s 5 (removal of the blue pictured above is disappointing)

Tesla’s Model X Prototype Render (the mirrors made it on to the physical prototypes as well)

The things I hated about the E-Tron but probably because I’m a Tesla owner of ~4 years / grumpy git:

  • So many buttons and what’s with the excessively large selector
  • Front Grill! Why?
  • The lack of an all-glass roof
  • Two screens = less space to see what you want (e.g. maps)
  • Range and efficiency is poor compared to other EVs (a Hyundai Kona will go further)
Why is this so big?

The things that I dislike about the E-Tron:

❌Supercharger network? Nope, they only work with Tesla. Although Audi are co-launching a rapid charging network (IONITY).
❌Dedicated destination charger network across Europe? Nope
❌Quicker than a Tesla? Nope.
❌200-mile range (A Tesla is closer to 300)
❌Self Driving capable? Nope

❌Smaller battery size than a Tesla (100kWh Vs 95kWh)
❌124mph max speed (up to 155-162mph in a Tesla)
❌No all glass roof option
❌No summon feature or advanced summon coming soon?

So a few things that other car reviews are quick to point out but actually are comparable to a Tesla:

👊Batteries at the bottom of the car (same as most EVs, patent given away by Tesla)
👊Throttle response (same as all EVs, Tesla is superior)
👊8 years warranty but limited to 100,000 miles, Tesla has 125,000 miles. However, on the non-drivetrain/battery warranty the Tesla has an extra year but 10,000 less miles.

Tl;dr:

Tesla needs to up its game with interior features, build quality, panel gaps and exterior paint colours but everything else is superior with a Tesla.

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