The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling electric vehicle the world over, but its EV competition is getting more heated every day. Audi’s electric vehicle lineup offers a worthy adversary to the venerable Model Y: the Q4 e-tron. This stylish electric SUV is packed with awesome technology and premium interior materials, but can it beat the Model Y at its own game?
Let’s explore which one is the better choice between these two premium electric SUVs!
1. Price Comparison
The Model Y starts at $47,740 for the entry-level model, which is simply called the Model Y. The Model Y Long Range gives you superior range, and the price jumps to $50,490. At the top of the price ladder sits the Model Y Performance, which is the quickest model with the most features and a price tag of $54,490.
The Q4 e-tron is available in single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor with Quattro all-wheel drive. The 40 e-tron Premium model is the RWD base model, and it starts at $49,800. If you want to splurge for the RWD Premium Plus model, you’ll have to shell out $56,000 for the upgrade. The Quattro AWD Q4 e-tron is also available in Premium and Premium Plus trim levels, with the 50 e-tron Premium starting at $55,200.
The 50 e-tron Premium Plus starts at $61,400. The Premium Plus trim includes features like Audi’s Virtual Cockpit and an upgraded sound system by Sonos that the Premium package does not include. In terms of value, the Model Y is the winner here because even the base model (which is cheaper than the base model Audi) still includes dual electric motors versus the Audi’s single-motor base model.
2. Interior Comparison
The Tesla Model Y has a minimalist interior, just like every other Tesla model currently for sale, and it’s a nice place to spend time. The vegan leather looks classy and durable, and it’s best in Ultra White. The interior is dominated by the infotainment screen, which controls most of the vehicle’s functionality.
The interior of the Model Y doesn’t feel as premium as the Q4, but it manages to stand out regardless due to its unique appearance. Because the Model Y is a Tesla, fit and finish issues are also a concern, although Tesla has been improving massively in this regard, and this should improve further when the Model Y gets a major overhaul to bring it in line withthe updated Model 3 sedan.
The Q4 e-tron’s interior is typical Audi, which means it’s very well executed, and the materials are top-notch. In terms of interior quality, the Q4 e-tron has the Model Y beat with tons of soft-touch surfaces and excellent use of a variety of materials inside. The Audi also has a dedicated driver’s screen, which is awesome and could swing someone in favor of the electric Q4 if they find the Tesla’s lack of a digital gauge cluster annoying.
There’s also a cool augmented reality head-up display that projects vital information on the windshield, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road. The only downside to the Audi’s cockpit is that you could say that the interior is uneventful, especially for an EV. A lot ofthe EVs with the best interiorsstrive to make their interiors different from traditional ICE vehicles, but the Q4 e-tron’s interior looks like any other traditional Audi interior.
That being said, the Audi does win this category due to its superior interior quality and the inclusion of key features (head-up display and Audi’s awesome Virtual Cockpit), which the Tesla doesn’t even offer.
3. Performance Comparison
The Audi Q4 e-tron’s most potent configuration is the $55,200 50 e-tron Quattro, which provides up to 295 horsepower and a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. These numbers are adequate, but even the most affordable Model Y ($47,740) smokes the Audi to 60 mph in 5 seconds.
Interestingly, the $54,490 Model Y Performance (the most powerful Model Y available) is cheaper than the 50 e-tron Quattro and way cheaper than the $61,400 Q4 50 e-tron Premium Plus, yet it is far superior in terms of performance and range.
The Model Y Performance completes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in a mere 3.5 seconds. When it comes to performance for your dollar, it’s hard to beat Tesla’sperformance EVoptions.
4. Range Comparison
The most affordable Model Y you can purchase, which is equipped with dual electric motors (not a single motor like Audi’s base model Q4 e-tron), offers more range (279 miles) than the base model Q4 e-tron’s 265 miles (which is the Q4 e-tron model with the most available range).
The Long Range Model Y offers 330 miles of range, which the dual-motor Q4 e-tron’s 236 miles of range simply cannot match. Even the Model Y Performance, which is more powerful than any comparable Q4 e-tron, still offers way more range (303 miles) than any e-tron configuration.
Tesla is still the range king for the price, although aReutersinvestigation revealed Tesla may be overestimating the range of its vehicles compared to what you’ll see in the real world and suppressing customer complaints on the matter.
5. Design Comparison
The Model Y might be refreshed very soon considering that there’s already a new Model 3, and these vehicles are heavily related to each other. Regardless, the current Model Y design is very attractive, and the look arguably works better on the Model Y’s more SUV-like proportions than onthe previous generation Model 3.
The look of the Model Y is 100% Tesla, especially the front end with its flat snout replacing what would traditionally be a grille on a normal car. The rear three-quarter view of the Model Y is probably its best angle, especially with the muscular fender flares.
The Audi Q4 e-tron isn’t immediately recognizable as an EV unless you look at the massive faux grille. The overall look is boxy, and it doesn’t convey any sporty intentions. The front end is extremely busy, and the fog light inserts don’t appear neatly integrated.
The implementation of the rear design is much better, and the light bar out back looks sophisticated and expensive. The trunk spoiler is also a very nice touch that rounds out the rear and gives the Q4 e-tron a sporty character that’s missing from the front. The true problem with the Audi’s design is that it lacks character, which is something the Model Y’s design has tons of (even if it might not be everyone’s cup of tea).
6. Towing Capacity and Storage
The Tesla Model Y can be configured with a $1,300 towing package good for towing up to 3,500 pounds.Towing diminishes an EV’s range by about half, but it’s still good to know the Model 3 can get you out of a tight spot if you need to tow something for a relatively short distance.
The Q4 e-tron can tow up to 2,650 pounds, which is significantly less than the Tesla, but none of these vehicles are going to get confused for heavy-duty diesel pickup trucks anyway.
When it comes to storage, the Model Y offers a frunk with 4 cubic feet of space and 30 cubic feet of storage behind the second row of seats. On the other hand, the Q4 e-tron does not have a front trunk, and the storage space behind the second row is only 24.8 cubic feet. The Tesla wins hands-down when it comes to storage and towing.
7. Which One Is Safer?
The Model Y is one of thesafest EVs you can buy,and its five-star safety rating from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is proof of this. The Model Y is also an IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Top Safety Pick+, which is the organization’s top safety award.
The Q4 e-tron is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, although it is worth mentioning that the vehicle the IIHS tested was a Volkswagen ID.4. The NHTSA tested a Q4 e-tron, and the vehicle achieved a five-star safety rating.
There is a caveat to this rating, though, because unlike the Model Y (which earned a five-star rating in every subtest), the Q4 e-tron did not. Even though both vehicles get five-star safety ratings, the Tesla performed better in most NHTSA tests, so it is the winner when it comes to safety.
The Model Y Is the Better Value
Both of these premium electric SUVs are excellent alternatives if you’re shopping for an efficient vehicle that’s also practical. But at the end of the day, the Model Y does most things just a little better than the Q4 e-tron, and it even offers features that the e-tron doesn’t (like a frunk).
The Q4 e-tron does offer one of the best EV interiors, but the Tesla still manages to beat it out in terms of interior volume and practicality (with an optional third row). The Tesla also beats out the Audi when it comes to performance for your dollar. If you don’t mind some minor fit and finish issues, the Model Y is the way to go.
