Tesla Model Y vs. Audi Q4 E-Tron
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 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 with the 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 of the EVs with the best interiors strive 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.