Fascinating. Thanks for posting.

 

Thanks for the very thorough review!

One observation and one question:

I'm puzzled whenever I hear anyone say Teslas underperform their rated range. It's just not true for me in warmer months (winter is another story, of course). I tend to beat the rated range, and that's true for both highway and city driving. It's possible that's because I've got the now-discontinued LR RWD, but that's what you started with too. Or it's possible it's something about the way I drive--perhaps that I use regen a lot, since I'm not shy with bursts of acceleration when I need it and I'm not driving super-slow.

My question is efficiency: I'm sure I can look it up, but what's the Wh/mi for your e-tron? You describe a car that makes less use of regen, so I'd expect it to be not as good as a Tesla.

 

You hit the nail on the head regarding efficiency. The Long Range Rear Wheel Drive Model 3 was king. Like you, I did great from an efficiency standpoint with that car. The dual motor becomes a hog lugging around the extra motor’s weight and power requirements.

Audi approaches presenting the data to you differently in that it’s miles per kWh (easier for consumers used to miles per gallon).

Right now I’m averaging 2.5 miles per kWh and I believe the pack is 83 kWh usable so that tells you I can go 207.5 miles on 100% with current driving habits. The rated range is 222.

With the same habits, I’d get 264 miles in Tesla compared to the 358 rated range. If the Tesla is a 80 kWh usable pack then that means I’d get 3.3 miles per kWh. Definitely more efficient, which you’d expect for the size and weight.

So the Audi will cost me more on the electric bill to operate, but for road trips I won’t really notice any difference in duration.

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences here, great comparison.

 

Have you been on long trips yet? Can you describe your experience with the CCS charging network? I keep reading how poorly maintained the CCS network is and frankly that's the only reason that's keeping me with Tesla.

 

Thanks for the thorough article. Very awesome to hear people enjoying vehicles outside of Teslas. Just tells you that we've got a beautiful EV future lined up.

 

That's a great review. I really do believe that the big auto makers are going to start putting out some seriously nice EVs over the next few years. They already have a major leg up over Tesla in the fit/finish/features department. Once they really get the electronic aspect of it fine tuned, Tesla is going to be left behind.

And on a side note, I think that I REALLY lucked out with my used 18 M3LR. I have absolutely none of the issues I have read people having. No paint issues, no poor body alignment issues, no excessive noise issues, no rattles, no mechanical issues. And what I consider great range for a 60k car, showing 295miles on a full charge. Plus homelink, and regular ole cruise control.

 

I used to be able to say "But the Audi is a much more expensive car" - but with Tesla's price increases, it isn't so much anymore. And probably even less so in the next year, when Tesla's Model Y prices might exceed Audi's.

So yes, right now, in lieu of Tesla lowering prices anytime soon (doubtful) the e-tron is probably a better deal.

 

Great review! Tesla has pushed the other guys into the 21st century. In many cases they will bring their car manufacturing expertise/fit and finish where Tesla still falls short. Tesla's software tech is arguably much further along, especially when it comes to getting updates, than the others mostly because they control it and use Linux at the expense of some openness.

If Tesla can just "up their game" in the fit/finish and quality department they'd do much better but regardless I'm happy to see VW/Audi moving forward and learning their lesson from Dieselgate and pivoting to EVs.

 

There are a lot of different ‘cognitive styles’. I’m OK that not everyone appreciates the minimalist Tesla style. So too I don’t care to drive a keyboard of switches and knobs. If it makes you happy, enjoy just as I like ‘less is best.’

Bob Wilson

 

Great review. My problem with moving away from Tesla is the infrastructure for charging. About every 5 weeks I drive from S. Florida to N. Florida. The CCS Fast Charging infrastructure still has too many gaps. I can't disagree with the quality complaints. My M3 from 2018 is better quality than my 2022 MX just received. 6 significant problems with the MX and in a few days, 2 of the items are going back for their 3rd visit. I have already threatened service manager with Lemon Law if this mess continues.

Now that said, I have Premiere Edition of the Cadillac Lyriq, order confirmed. Ordered white so production starts in November (and maybe a $7500 rebate in January). GM rates that at 312 miles, and if its real miles like Audi, I will sell the MX and have lots of cash. Lyriq fully loaded, $65K. Lss than a Y! And maybe sometime in early 2024 the charging infrastructure I need will be in place.

The real question is if us Tesla owners are jumping ship, when do we sell our Tesla stock?

 

Sorry to hear about the quality issues. Seems to be a common trend that cars in 2018 (and earlier were great) and then when “production hell” began everything changed. Somewhere along the way Tesla also made a conscious decision to go for cost savings over quality control and the results are obvious. Everything is rushed and the end product suffers.

Congrats on the Lyriq order, it looks awesome!!

As for Tesla stock… I liquidated our position on 11/1/21 at $1146.76 a share. I remember the harassment I received on Twitter for my “dumb move”. My rationale at the time was that I thought the pursuit of FSD was seriously flawed and Elon at the helm was a mistake that they’ll pay for dearly at some point. He’s a wild card and I just didn’t want to gamble our money. My position there hasn’t changed. It got personal for me with some comments Elon made on Twitter that accelerated my move away from the brand. My wife is also shopping new EVs at the moment.

 

@garsh asked me to do a 1 week review of the Audi e-tron so here it goes!

Well written comparison, and I couldn't agree more with so many of your sentiments. When the Model Y came out, I have briefly flirted with the idea of upgrading from my 2018 P3D+ built in the tent. But while I was getting some work done on my car, I saw the ENTIRE service center full from wall to wall with Model Ys getting beaten on with hammers, laptops diagnosing issues, door hinges being realigned. I mean, imagine everything a service center can do to a vehicle and they were doing it all. And it wasn't like this was the first month or two of deliveries happening. So I figured I'd wait. Then they had all of the heat pump problems here in Northeast US and Canada, and I figured no way would I risk that, so I waited some more. Then they had phantom braking issues, missing component issues, on and on the problems went so I never upgraded my P3D+.

Recently my drive unit failed, almost certainly because of firmware issues. I was lucky enough to get a loaner that is obviously a returned lease vehicle- A 2019 Model 3 LR. I absolutely can not believe the quality of the 2019 vehicle compared to my 2018. They're like two different cars made by two different companies. The 2019 has an uncountable number of rattles and squeaks, the suspension squeaks on both sides, the ride is unbelievably loud on these 18" wheel/tire set compared to the 20" I have. I knew quality was an issue, but I am stunned every time I get into this loaner at how quickly it dropped off a cliff.

To Trevor's point, yes. If Tesla upped their game on build quality, service centers, customer support services, software stability, UI design, interior design, and so on, they could compete with these other EVs. But Audi has been making the e-Tron since 2018 and it has only gotten better. It feels like Tesla is pinching pennies so much that they're guaranteeing a lot more one-and-done customer stories. That's the real shame, IMO. They've had so long to address all of these issues and they've done nothing but go the wrong direction.

 

…It feels like Tesla is pinching pennies so much that they're guaranteeing a lot more one-and-done customer stories.

I’m pleased I’ve not replaced my 06/2018-built M3 LR RWD vehicle; it still has advantages over today’s equivalent. But we’re in the one-and-done camp. We’ll keep it a few more years, assuming nothing catastrophically expensive happens to it as it is now out of the 4-year warranty. We’re looking for a 2nd vehicle and trying to buy an Ioniq5 Limited (no availability), an Audi Q4 e-tron (no availability), a FIsker Ocean (no availability), or the Cadillac Lyriq (no availability). Lots of great EVs coming but nothing here yet even if in production (the Hyundai). Lots of hope for 2023 though, maybe 2024. I think both Tesla and Nissan, each with a huge early-mover EV advantage, have lost their way. If anything, the winner might be Nissan in that they actually deliver (sort of, still hard to get) a low cost EV that hasn’t been recalled essentially off the market.

 

Very interesting read. For whatever reason, I geeked out on the red light countdown feature. That's cool.

 

@garsh asked me to do a 1 week review of the Audi e-tron so here it goes!

I was an early Tesla Model 3 owner with VIN 005950 (2018 Long Range Rear Wheel Drive). For a few months there it was rare to see a Model 3 and my car was a head turner. This was so early that the rear heated seats were still software locked with people trying to figure out if the hardware was even there. As time went on, Tesla had done enough hardware upgrades (powered trunk, new center console, and black trim) mixed with other improvements (better seat padding primarily, double pane glass) that I wanted a new one so I traded for a 2021 Long Range Dual Motor. That car was a dud. I call it a lemon, but technically speaking a car is only a lemon if it is safety related. The car was delivered with tons of defects (paint and fit) and then had a loose passenger seat and dash pieces that rattled non-stop. After 5 services it was still unresolved. Fortunately this was the point in time when used car prices started surging and I was able to flip the 2021 Long Range Dual Motor for a 2022 Long Range Dual Motor for a profit and get in before the new car prices increased. I got the white seats that weren’t available for low VINs. I downgraded to the 18s from the 19s because I didn’t like how they changed the 19s though that was my preferred move as the dark wheels fit better with the dark trim. Alright, so I’m happy now, right? No… third new Tesla delivered with paint issues. To their credit they fixed the paint quickly. However from there the car rattled a lot. The trunk rubbed the body of the car each time it closed and stripped paint as well. I just got fed up with the quality issues and inability to fix them. At this point I’ve had a Model 3 for 4.5 years and I’ve grown tired with some missing “normal car” things and it’s time to move on.

I find myself at a cross roads looking for a “sports car” and a ”luxury/comfort car”. I test drive the BMW i4 and like it enough to put a deposit on it. The waiting list is 1 year deep. The car drove great, but it seemed over complicated in some ways and I’m just not sure about the front end.

I test drove an Audi S4 (yes an ICE car). I fall in love with it. They don’t have the spec I want and so I’m relegated to a 2023. The fact that I couldn’t leave the dealership with it right there was fortunate as it gave me some time to realize no I definitely don’t want to pump gas.

Alright, so I love Audi and want an EV. What about the e-tron. I have a friend that is a former e-tron owner and speaks volumes about the car. I have never been an SUV fan, but I’m open to considering it. I have 5 dealerships in my local area so I check local inventories. Sure enough the closest dealer has 2 of them “on the lot” in the exact spec I want (glacier white, with black interior, premium plus trim). I called and they tell me unfortunately no e-trons are on the lot. I ask if they can double check the system since the site says on the lot. They check the first one… sold. Bummer. They check the second one… at the port! We’re in the business. I ask how I can secure the car, but note that I need to test drive before I’ll take it. They have me fill out a credit app, but tell me that they won’t run my credit unless I take the car. Then they send over a price sheet and have me sign off. After that the car will be marked “SOLD” upon arrival. 2 days later it leaves the port and 2 days after that it arrives. Dealer prep is thorough and takes a full day from charging to 100% to validate the pack is good to a full inspection and detailing the car. Needless to say having purchased 3 Teslas in a row with immediate issues needing service, it was a welcomed sight to see a flawless vehicle waiting for me.

Pros and cons of the Audi e-tron coming from the Tesla Model 3

1. Mobile Application - overall the Audi app does basically everything that the Tesla app can do. There are 3 areas where the Tesla app is superior: (1) Phone as a key, (2) Generally it loads faster, and (3) It works through Bluetooth in close proximity to the car. On the Audi side, it lets you program shortcuts for long press on the icon, so for instance I trigger climate control on long press which is nice. While it connects slightly slower, it’s a quick adjustment to time when to pop open the app to trigger climate control and a nice added benefit you can also turn on the air conditioned seats from the app! No SentryMode/TeslaCam equivalent in the Audi, so no view of the cameras in the app. It is certainly possible if they wanted to add it, but I don’t think they will.
2. Entering the car - the Audi greets with you dancing LED lights front and back then an animation on the dash and welcome sound. It may seem trivial, but it just feels nice.
3. Starting the car - the Audi has a start/stop button. That was an adjustment from just getting in and stepping on the brake. To be honest for the first day or 2 I struggled to tell if the car was on or off. Not as simple as it could be, but second nature just a few days later.
4. Virtual ****pit / Screens - The Audi Virtual ****pit is very cool. An all digital display behind the steering wheel that is highly customizable as far as style and content displayed. While I never minded having the single screen, I have now moved to a car with 3 screens and you realize what an advantage it is. Things simply do not have to be buried in menus because you have the room to see them. Maps can be in the virtual ****pit with music on one display and A/C controls on the other. Lots of options here.
5. Apple CarPlay (or Android Auto) - I used to take the stance that Tesla was a software company that happened to make cars and this was their competitive advantage. Over time, I found myself getting more and more frustrated as Tesla has a closed off system and you’re at their mercy as to whether or not they build that app you’re looking for. Apple CarPlay solves that. I love listening to audiobooks on Audible when I drive and obviously Tesla doesn’t have that app. CarPlay does. It’s seamless and easy. The Waze, Maps, Calendar, Spotify, Audible, iMessage and PlugShare functionality works so well. I’m also getting pop up notifications from Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp. One note here, the car comes with Wireless CarPlay. Personally I found that to be less stable. I have since disabled that and gone with hardwired CarPlay and it has been flawless.
6. 360 Camera/Rear Cross Traffic/Blind Spot Mirrors - this is something that Tesla is severely lacking. The Audi has an incredible 360 view including the ability to independently call up every camera angle around the car. I especially love this for pulling into my garage and getting as close as possible to the wall In front of the car without the fear of accidentally going to far. Rear Cross Traffic works exactly as it does in all other cars and what you expect. You get beeps and alerts as things approach from the sides. Finally, blind spot mirrors. No, having an indication on the center screen or a low quality live feed camera angle is not an acceptable solution. A simple little light in the mirror is all you need. I like how the Audi tucks the light into the mirror housing so it’s not on the glass. They’ve also tinted it so it’s not that bright at night. Works like a charm and again what you expect!
7. Red Light/Green Light Notification - I know Tesla just rolled out the Green Light Chime to non-FSD customers. That feature works well. As I approached a red light in the Audi for the first time, it popped up with a countdown. Yes that’s right, the car knows exactly how long the light is going to remain red and gives you an indication of how long you have to fumble around doing something before you’ll be on your way again. It also lets you know to maintain speed and the green light ahead will still be green when you get there. Incredible! I believe this feature is locked into an Audi Connect package that runs $30/month, so I am unlikely to keep it after the free trial ends. Still really neat though.
8. Autopilot - don’t get me started on FSD. Having wasted money on that false promise once, I wouldn’t make that mistake again so my last 2 Tesla’s had basic Autopilot. Generally speaking I had no complaints with Autopilot. The rare phantom braking heart attack always loomed but otherwise it did the job. If any complaint was warranted, they went vision only in June of 2021 and you had to acknowledge the step back before you could take delivery of the car. Don’t worry “parity was coming soon”. As of selling the car (13 months later), vision only still lagged behind the capability of the prior system. Moral of the story, never trust “soon” with Tesla (see also FSD, Cybertruck, and 2020 Roadster). How does the Audi stack up? Surprisingly very well. The car keeps the lane like a champ. It’s very easy to adjust speed and follow distance. Honestly, it’s the perfect road trip companion. It also has some cool (if you use Audi’s navigation) wherein you can remain in the system and it will slow for you at intersections and turns and then accelerate back up to speed. This is something I honestly will never use as I prefer the Apple CarPlay navigation.
9. Wipers/Windshield Washers - yes I made this it’s own category. In 4.5 years of Model 3 ownership it seemed Tesla could never quite figure out auto wipers. They either didn’t come on, came on full speed, or for the last year the big issue was choppy wiping skipping across the windshield. In the Audi, as you would expect, they just work. Easy access on a stalk not buried in a touch screen and again they just work. One thing of note, due to the aero design of the Model 3, any time you use washer fluid it ends up all over the driver’s window and side of the car. This doesn’t happen in the Audi as it is contained to the windshield.
10. Seats - I did the white seat experiment with Tesla. They are eye popping. I also think they’re more comfortable than the black seats, but maybe just because your brain is tricked into thinking they are big marshmallows. However, no matter what anyone says they stain and that’s a problem, because they are white and the stains are obvious. With the Audi I was happy to go back to black seats. I also find them to be more supportive and overall more comfortable. They are air conditioned, which I love in South Florida. The air conditioned seats are on 100% of the time for me and I’m happy to take the range hit. They do have optional massage seats, but they tucked those into the Chronos trim for 2022 and I didn’t want that trim (bigger rims / less range, etc). Sigh… I wanted the massage seats though!
11. Homelink - with the Audi you can store up to 8 doors/gates versus 3 with the Tesla. You also don’t have to make a service appointment to have it installed after delivery. They also match the experience of GPS aware suggestions. No auto open/close though. One thing of note with my Tesla is that it routinely failed to open and close the doors. This was both in automatic mode and manual mode. To date the Audi has worked every time.
12. Wind Noise/Road Noise - no way around this, the Tesla is bad at this. I had the double pane glass in my Model 3 and 18s. That did nothing. The reason why is because it’s mostly road noise, not wind noise. I think Tesla is missing insulation in the wheel wells (call it cost savings, weight savings, or both), but it’s a big miss. For comparison my wife’s 2018 Model 3 has 19s and no double pain glass and it’s equally as bad. As soon as you hit a bad patch of road you just wish that you are in any other car. The Audi is silent whether on bad roads or at highway speeds. I have missed having a quiet cabin!
13. Fit/Finish/Materials/Luxury - this is a bit of a catch all, but the quality of the materials does feel better to the touch in the Audi and overall it just feels better put together. I will say the Audi has an affinity for finger print magnet surfaces (gloss black) which Tesla gets kudos for moving away from that beginning in 2021. My cleaning cloth is always at the ready. One thing of note, with the Tesla you commonly see unpainted areas (or worse yet under painted areas) whereas with the Audi you just don’t see that.
14. Range - I put this pretty far down the list, but range (or lack there of) is often a knock on the e-tron and why people won’t consider non-Tesla EVs in general. What I can tell you so far is that Tesla dramatically overstates range versus what you can expect in the real world where the Audi approach (and seemingly all other OEMs) is to understate. Why is that? I have a few guesses at it: (1) Tesla only sells EVs and must convert you from an ICE car. You’ve heard “range is an issue” and thus they need the biggest number possible. If you stop and look at how the range estimates are established by the EPA you’ll find that it isn’t very “real world” and (2) the opposite of Tesla is that the OEMs can sell you ICE cars if you don’t want an EV so they don’t have to reach for the stars to get you there. There is also a sense of under promise, over deliver (the way it should be). Long story short, it is realistic that I can go on a road trip with my e-tron rated at 222 miles of range and get 230-240 miles. By comparison, I can go on a road trip with my 350 mile range Tesla Model 3 and get 260 miles. A shocking difference on “rated range” and a narrow difference on “real world range”. More importantly, see #15 next. One last thought here is that the Audi shows you what you can do to improve your range (more than just drive slowly) so for instance, turn off cooled seats for + 8 miles, etc. The Audi has no vampire drain whatsoever, which is nice. It also doesn’t have cabin overheat nor a Sentry Mode equivalent, so while you don’t have those features you also don’t have the range hit associated with those features which can be considerable.
15. Charging - on a road trip, more important than range (to some extent) can be charging. The e-tron charges at 150 kW, but because Audi puts a big buffer in the battery you can get peak charging speeds all the way up to 80% and it still holds a solid rate beyond 80% as well. That means it’s a completely different dynamic than a Tesla road trip. In other words you don’t drain it down to get high charging speeds at low state or charge. To be honest, I’m not sure one is better than the other. The big learning here is that both work well on road trips and Tesla isn’t the only EV highly capable of a road trip. For home and destination charging, the Audi has J1772 inputs on both sides of the car which adds some convenience and I found a Tesla to J1772 adapter so I can continue to use my Tesla Wall Charger at home and additionally can use Tesla destination chargers on the go!
16. Driving - I’ll end it here. No sense comparing an SUV to a sedan from a driving dynamics standpoint as they are just so different, so some thoughts here. Audi and Tesla has a different take on efficiency and regen. Again not to say one is better than the other, but it’s just different. The Tesla has one pedal driving if you like that and I did and got very used to driving with one pedal. The Audi will not be a true one pedal driver as you will eventually have to use the brake pedal to come to a complete stop. Personally I prefer one pedal. That said, the Audi has taken the paddle shifters from ICE cars and converted them to be manual regen paddles. Want to slow without the brakes, hit stage 1. Want to slow more without the brakes, hit stage 2. You can relax the regen with the other paddle or simply step on the accelerator to reset. Audi takes the stance that “coasting“ is more efficient. I suppose that does make sense given the size and weight of a big SUV so they want to conserve the momentum. The brake pedal does apply the brakes and regen at the same time. It’s an adjustment, but I’m already used to it. Another cool thing is driving modes. You can set the Audi from dynamic (lower ride height, stiffer suspension, tighter steering feel, and more response from the accelerator pedal) to comfort (raised ride height, pillow like suspension, soft steering feel, and less response from the accelerator pedal). There also an Efficiency mode, which I find myself using the most. This maximizes range, even adjusts the A/C which hasn’t seemed to stop the car from being freezing cold in the Florida heat.

Final thoughts - I absolutely love everything about the Audi. I have no regrets. My time with Tesla was special. I am however immensely happy that I was able to get a compelling EV that didn’t have to be made by Tesla. That’s ultimately the only way we move forward with EVs.

Fortunately used car values are insane right now and I got $58k for my Model 3 + 7% FL Sales Tax Trade-in Credit for a total of $62,060. I paid $58,195.98 out the door for it. Yes, that means I drove it for 8 months and made $3,864.02. Thanks supply chain issues! The Audi did not have any dealer markup or extra made up fees and does qualify for the $7,500 US Federal EV Tax Credit.

Biggest reasons for the change…. (1) better fit and finish, (2) silent cabin/luxury, (3) CarPlay, (4) no Elon, and (5) capitalize on short-term ridiculous used car values

Things I will miss the most… (1) one pedal driving, (2) phone as a key, (3) acceleration

Yes I need a new license plate and sigh it will probably take 2-3 months…

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Good review. Also, why is ****pit being censored? 😂

 

Good review. Also, why is ****pit being censored? 😂

Thanks and yes we’re trying to figure out how to remove censorship on that word which is clearly not a bad word.

Reviews much appreciated. Well done. Sorry if I missed it but can you disclose the Audi etron purchase number details please?

Price on the e-tron was $77k before considering the $7500 US Federal Tax Credit for EVs.

 

Reviews much appreciated. Well done. Sorry if I missed it but can you disclose the Audi etron purchase number details please?

 

Amazing. It’s great to see you such an educated experienced opinion. Thanks for putting that together. Good luck with your ride. Any issues with Tesla could easily be fixed in my opinion. The biggest obstacles are ego and the idea that they are the only one that have mastered manufacturing a vehicle.

 

Is there a big backlog for demand for eTrons? I’ve heard generally good reviews - but not as in depth as the OP. Range and charging infrastructure are a hold back. But I haven’t heard about the depth of the backlog like I do about Teslas.

I love my M3. I don’t have the quality issues. it drives like a dream. Have taken many long trips and has worked flawlessly. I do love the look of the Audis. A4 was my last car. The M3 just does loops around it from a fun driving experience perspective.

 

Audi e-trons have some availability, Q4 e-trons do not. Audi’s model naming convention is confusing at best with about 6 or more models all sharing the name “e-tron.” Pricing is from $60k-ish to two-and-a-half times that.

 

Audi e-trons have some availability, Q4 e-trons do not.

My dealer just emailed me and they got their first ever Q4 e-tron and it is somehow available. That can only mean someone bailed on their order or no one wanted it.

They shot this video to send to me to see if my wife would be interested in it

2022 Audi Q4 E-Tron!

CarFilm

carfilmapp.com

Easter egg at 1:24 into the video you see my blue Model 3 that I traded in

 

That depends - we live in a split economy now, where people who aren't wealthy are stuck in a recession, and everyone who is wealthy is making more money than they've ever made before. They're all on 3 month long vacations in Europe.

…and easily able to purchase whatever vehicle floats their boat recession or not. Recessions are only felt by what remains of the middle class and lower.

Remember a lot of people do "the Tesla stretch" and you also have people wavering between gas cars and EVs as a means to save money as gas prices rise. I have to imagine they will suffer. Maybe the Model S/X level buyer is relatively unscathed, but the 3/Y buyers may fallback.

Is there a big backlog for demand for eTrons? I’ve heard generally good reviews - but not as in depth as the OP. Range and charging infrastructure are a hold back. But I haven’t heard about the depth of the backlog like I do about Teslas.

I love my M3. I don’t have the quality issues. it drives like a dream. Have taken many long trips and has worked flawlessly. I do love the look of the Audis. A4 was my last car. The M3 just does loops around it from a fun driving experience perspective.

As you saw in my example, I was able to get an e-Tron in about a week. Of course I also got a Model 3 fairly quickly despite months long backlog. I rarely if ever see them actually available for sale so my guess would be someone had this one on order and backed out and I lucked into finding it at the right time. Seems they make just enough to meet demand which is not that high right now. I had a 2002 A4 that I absolutely loved. I always wanted an S4 and as you see in my original post I came close to pulling the trigger on that, but alas the thought of pumping gas now is just not something I want to do. I liken the Model 3 to my Audi A4 of the past, which is a compliment. Just those things I noted started to really frustrate me.

Audi e-trons have some availability, Q4 e-trons do not. Audi’s model naming convention is confusing at best with about 6 or more models all sharing the name “e-tron.” Pricing is from $60k-ish to two-and-a-half times that.

e-tron
e-tron S
e-tron Sportback
e-tron S Sportback
e-tron GT
RS e-tron GT
Q4 e-tron
Q4 Sportback e-tron

Rumored A6 e-tron on the way in 2024

Yes, they'll have to figure out these names.

 

I washed my e-tron and my wife’s Model 3 this morning and wanted to add a few additional impressions that you really only get looking this close at the car.

1. The seals on the Audi are far superior. They feel sturdy and they are in the right places. This stops water and dirt from coming into the door jambs. Probably helps with noise to some extent. Though I remember buying those gimmick noise reduction kits for my Model 3 that did absolutely nothing.
2. The paint on the Audi really is flawless. I think I already mentioned that, but getting up close and it’s literally perfect. Every door jamb, the inside of the trunk, literally everything. On my blue Tesla I really noticed where Tesla stopped spraying paint because it wouldn’t be seen from the outside.
3. The build construction on the Audi is also far superior. Take a look at the trunk lid on your Tesla when it’s open and look near the lights. Below is a picture of my wife’s but I remember seeing similar on my previous cars

 

What does Tesla say about this? I'm thinking of going from Bolt EUV to MYLR for the charging network, but not if every Tesla falls apart. My best friend once owned a Porsche and the entire bottom fell off!

 

@SoFlaModel3 - glad you are loving it. Does it drive as well and as fast as a Model Y? Wondering if as good a driving experience.

Also, can you say more about the software? It’s been live for a while now, I figure it should have many kinks worked out.

If those are at least nearly as good, any reason why we shouldn’t see E-tron figures eclipse Model Y sales by 2024? Your review makes it seem like the E-Tron is better on all that is important and for those areas that it may not be better, the area is minor.

I think the E-Tron is gorgeous - a good push to all in space to step up their game. The sales figures are a disconnect though. If so awesome, why not selling better?

 

@SoFlaModel3 - glad you are loving it. Does it drive as well and as fast as a Model Y? Wondering if as good a driving experience.

Also, can you say more about the software? It’s been live for a while now, I figure it should have many kinks worked out.

If those are at least nearly as good, any reason why we shouldn’t see E-tron figures eclipse Model Y sales by 2024? Your review makes it seem like the E-Tron is better on all that is important and for those areas that it may not be better, the area is minor.

I think the E-Tron is gorgeous - a good push to all in space to step up their game. The sales figures are a disconnect though. If so awesome, why not selling better?

I have actually never driven a Model Y. Historically I was never a fan of SUVs. Now that has quickly changed and I love the driving position in an SUV.

So I can’t directly compare them. The Y is a little quicker and I’m sure considerably lighter so it’s probably more nimble if you want to toss it around.

Software wise, the Audi has some really incredible software. Very much so focused on letting you customize what is important to you and saving that to your profile. From design to data displayed. Then for the Infotainment, I just use Apple CarPlay and it’s seamless.

Why don’t we see more on the road? I think it’s two-fold. They are expensive and the understated range. Once you realize in real world driving Tesla’s are usually far overstated you already own it, but when you’re shopping on specs it’s a pretty big concern I’m sure.

 

Judging by the amount of people picking up new Teslas on this past Saturday when I got my Y they are still selling a lot of cars! Even with all these new EVs on the market now. It was a completely different experiance then when I got my 3 in 2018. I was the only one there taking delivery back then. But on Saturday, it was actually kind of annoying. The staff seemed stressed out and there was about 10 people waiting for new cars.

Similar for me. Delivery of my 2018 was personal. It was the only one in the morning that day. Delivery of my 2022 (and 2021 for that matter) was 1 of ~100. It was so rushed the expectation was I would finish all of the paperwork without even seeing my car first. Of course Tesla experiences dictate you better see the car first given it will likely have some kind of issue you have to make a decision about. Discovered an issue literally 2 minutes later and my delivery specialist was already delivering a car to the next “number”.

Perhaps that is the intent. But in practice? Let’s see. Every EV appears pre-sold before it hits the stealerships and that’s certainly the case for Tesla. Additional dealer markups is the norm for many models. Waitlists and wait times are measured in months and in some cases years. Rebates to consumers has encouraged manufacturers to raise prices. And consumers faced with all that still want to buy.

So again, that incentivizes manufacturers how?

I can get an EV6, ID.4, IONIQ 5, and F-150 Lightning right now. Each of those are on the lot at my nearest dealership. Each also probably has 5+ dealerships within a reasonable drive. Might not be the trim, color, or options set the way I’d want them, but that said they’re all available. Want an EV today, you can get an EV today. Want a specific spec, prepare to wait (but same goes for literally every car right now).

 

I ended up turning this into a YouTube video

 

Ok, so I took a look:

Here are the Tesla Model 3:

Everyone has a right to their requirements. The Tesla Model 3 still meets mine and the Audi, not so much.

Bob Wilson

 

Absolutely… choices, more and more choices and we all win.

Curious though, what are you showing with the graphics? The efficiency, price, something else?

A few thoughts … (1) the car I got is an e-tron. Not an “S” or a “Sportback” and on the Tesla side the prices are way off and the efficiency isn’t close to real world.

Interestingly enough I just went on the Tesla site and you can order a base Model 3 or a Performance Model 3, but the long range is grayed out.

Last thought — I say don’t knock it until you try it. Not saying this is your line of thinking but I hear so many people say “it’s great there are other EVs but they are all so far behind Tesla”. Those same people generally haven’t even bothered to test drive one. All I can say is that my eyes have been opened. Every (or at least almost every) EV on the market today basically covers the daily commute of 98% of Americans with simple overnight charging. It’s go time. Viable EVs are everywhere. Pick your favorite brand!

 

Great review. This gives me hope that German best practices are already making its way into Tesla manufacturing by their presence in Berlin.

While I’m a fan of Teslas, they could use improvement in quality, design, fit and finish - you know, that wow factor - that we find in German brands. Combine these with a Tesla powertrain and it will be my dream car.

 

One more thought for comparison sake, it really isn’t fair to compare e-tron to Model 3, but that’s all I have known for 4.5 years.

If we compare my e-tron to a Model Y Long Range.

Model Y is $66k base + $2k for 20” wheels so $68k. It has 318 miles of rated range.

If my Model 3 gets ~260 miles on a road trip (rated at 350), then I’d guess the Model Y gets 237.

Now for the e-tron. $77k for Premium Plus. -$7500 federal EV credit so $69.5k.

Rated range is 222 miles but real world on a road trip it will get 235-245 miles.

Long story short, but those basic numbers the 2 cars are dead equal.