We're a retired couple who decided to consolidate from two cars to one EV. Since my wife didn't like the lack of physical controls and minimalism of my 2020 Model Y, we're trying a 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron - the all-wheel drive version - instead. We don't road trip much and do 99 percent of our charging at home. A little apples to oranges here, but since I like both cars I'll try to note advantages of each.
My 2020 blue Y with a hitch cost almost exactly the same as my 2024 blue e-tron with a hitch, but Tesla price slashing since 2020 makes today's Y a real bargain, especially given its eligibility for the tax credit. The Y is slightly larger, has more storage, greater range, better efficiency, all those cameras, the charging network, and true one-pedal driving. Its autopilot has flaws but is still better than Audi's. It remains a no-brainer of a buy.
Ah, but the Audi has advantages as well. It's rock solid, with far better fit and finish, a more luxurious interior, and is far quieter and rides far smoother. Better paint, no rattles. The doors thunk, and do a better job keeping dirt off the sills. I also prefer the looks, though that's a matter of taste. Other nice changes:
- Real door handles, inside and out.
- Better mirrors and rear visibility.
- Radar and parking sensors. Better blind spot monitoring and cross rear traffic warning.
- A sun roof that opens and can be covered by a power shade.
- Physical controls for climate, wipers, cruise control, rear hatch, hood release, and glove box.
- Better nighttime interior lighting, with every control well-lit. Fancy puddle lights at night when exiting.
- A digital instrument cluster that can display a lot of varied information, plus a big infotainment screen next to it.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that works well, not dropping like Tesla Apple music did.
- Sirius XM, though you have to subscribe after the three-month trial.
- Seemingly better speakers (Sonos) or maybe music just sounds better because the car is quieter.
- Auto wipers and auto high beams that actually work.
- Screen and software combo that I prefer to the Tesla menus. I felt Tesla wasted a lot of its big screen real estate. Another matter of taste.
- Larger fonts on the screens. Important to aging eyes!
- Tesla has a better phone app, but the Audi one is fine. It actually connects faster than the Tesla one did.
- The Audi has keyless entry, locking, and starting, but I like having a key fob again. (But now I have to remember to physically lock the car, either by touching the door handle or using the fob!)
- No Elon Musk, Elon time, and vaporous Elon promises.
The Tesla is futuristic and clever, the Audi deliberately more traditional for us geezers or those coming from ICE cars. The Audi has a different EV philosophy, coasting far further and using blended braking for its regeneration and efficiency. It does have a drive mode close to one-pedal driving but this doesn't bring the car do a complete halt - it creeps - so if choosing this I still have to use the brake at a stop sign! (If you press hard on the brake after stopping it does hold the car without needing to keep your foot there.) Because of this I don't use the inferior Audi one-pedal option, instead letting the car computer do the efficiency calculations in normal drive mode. (For extra regeneration, better to use are the Audi paddle shifters to control battery regeneration and coasting speed on hills, similar to downshifting in a gas car.) The Audi system works well, overall, with Audi seeming to underestimate range while Tesla overestimates. But the driving feel is VERY different. (My wife prefers the Audi.)
I'd prefer the nimbler Tesla on a curvy road and the quiet, smooth, heavier Audi for highway driving. Only time will tell on issues such as reliability, long-term efficiency, and depreciation. (Tesla price cuts, incidentally, really lowered the trade-in value of my Y.)
Both are good cars, and the great news is that there is much more EV choice and refinement than in 2020. We were impressed looking at other brands as well. Tesla has pioneered a path leading to lot of good innovations and choice across many makes and models.
"Audi Logo Focus" by Michael Moran-Diaz is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Admin note: Image added for Blog Feed thumbnail
My 2020 blue Y with a hitch cost almost exactly the same as my 2024 blue e-tron with a hitch, but Tesla price slashing since 2020 makes today's Y a real bargain, especially given its eligibility for the tax credit. The Y is slightly larger, has more storage, greater range, better efficiency, all those cameras, the charging network, and true one-pedal driving. Its autopilot has flaws but is still better than Audi's. It remains a no-brainer of a buy.
Ah, but the Audi has advantages as well. It's rock solid, with far better fit and finish, a more luxurious interior, and is far quieter and rides far smoother. Better paint, no rattles. The doors thunk, and do a better job keeping dirt off the sills. I also prefer the looks, though that's a matter of taste. Other nice changes:
- Real door handles, inside and out.
- Better mirrors and rear visibility.
- Radar and parking sensors. Better blind spot monitoring and cross rear traffic warning.
- A sun roof that opens and can be covered by a power shade.
- Physical controls for climate, wipers, cruise control, rear hatch, hood release, and glove box.
- Better nighttime interior lighting, with every control well-lit. Fancy puddle lights at night when exiting.
- A digital instrument cluster that can display a lot of varied information, plus a big infotainment screen next to it.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that works well, not dropping like Tesla Apple music did.
- Sirius XM, though you have to subscribe after the three-month trial.
- Seemingly better speakers (Sonos) or maybe music just sounds better because the car is quieter.
- Auto wipers and auto high beams that actually work.
- Screen and software combo that I prefer to the Tesla menus. I felt Tesla wasted a lot of its big screen real estate. Another matter of taste.
- Larger fonts on the screens. Important to aging eyes!
- Tesla has a better phone app, but the Audi one is fine. It actually connects faster than the Tesla one did.
- The Audi has keyless entry, locking, and starting, but I like having a key fob again. (But now I have to remember to physically lock the car, either by touching the door handle or using the fob!)
- No Elon Musk, Elon time, and vaporous Elon promises.
The Tesla is futuristic and clever, the Audi deliberately more traditional for us geezers or those coming from ICE cars. The Audi has a different EV philosophy, coasting far further and using blended braking for its regeneration and efficiency. It does have a drive mode close to one-pedal driving but this doesn't bring the car do a complete halt - it creeps - so if choosing this I still have to use the brake at a stop sign! (If you press hard on the brake after stopping it does hold the car without needing to keep your foot there.) Because of this I don't use the inferior Audi one-pedal option, instead letting the car computer do the efficiency calculations in normal drive mode. (For extra regeneration, better to use are the Audi paddle shifters to control battery regeneration and coasting speed on hills, similar to downshifting in a gas car.) The Audi system works well, overall, with Audi seeming to underestimate range while Tesla overestimates. But the driving feel is VERY different. (My wife prefers the Audi.)
I'd prefer the nimbler Tesla on a curvy road and the quiet, smooth, heavier Audi for highway driving. Only time will tell on issues such as reliability, long-term efficiency, and depreciation. (Tesla price cuts, incidentally, really lowered the trade-in value of my Y.)
Both are good cars, and the great news is that there is much more EV choice and refinement than in 2020. We were impressed looking at other brands as well. Tesla has pioneered a path leading to lot of good innovations and choice across many makes and models.
"Audi Logo Focus" by Michael Moran-Diaz is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Admin note: Image added for Blog Feed thumbnail
