2019 Audi eTron vs. 2019 Tesla Model X: Which is Best?

2019 Audi e Tron Side Profile Charging ・ Photo by Audi

The 2019 Audi e-tron is an all-new electric vehicle that offers the versatility of an SUV along with the efficiency of an electric powertrain. As an Audi, it’s very much a luxury car with an elegant interior and the performance aesthetic one expects from the brand.

It goes head-to-head against the 2019 Tesla Model X, which has been on the market for several years. The Model X offers the same upscale design, roomy interior, and exhilarating performance, but there are key differences between these vehicles. Let’s take a closer look at the 2019 Audi e-tron and 2019 Tesla Model X to see which is best.

Both are luxury vehicles, but there’s a big pricing difference.

These both are luxury vehicles, so you’ll pay a premium to get behind the wheel. The 2019 Audi e-tron has two trims. The Premium Plus is priced at $74,800, while the Prestige comes in at $81,800. Even on the base trim you’re getting a well-equipped SUV, featuring a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The 2019 Tesla Model X is available in three trims. Standard Range is priced from $81,000, Long Range from $91,000, and Performance from $102,000. Like the Audi e-tron, all Tesla Model X vehicles are well-equipped with a 17-inch portrait-style touchscreen and a 17-speaker audio system. Although the trim range is greater with Tesla, the price of entry makes the Audi e-tron a better choice.

Photo by Audi

Available tax credits differ.

There are various incentives offered for those who purchase electric vehicles, but they differ depending on exactly which car you buy and where you live for local and state credits. The federal tax credit starts at $7,500 and phases out as the number of units sold increases.

The 2019 Audi e-tron currently receives the full $7,500 federal tax credit. Since it’s new and the number of units sold is still low, the dates for when that credit will decrease aren’t yet known. The 2019 Tesla Model X already is phasing out since it has been on the market longer, with $3,750 available through June 2019. That number drops to $1,875 starting in July 2019, and disappears completely at the end of the year.

Photo by Audi

If you’re worried about range anxiety, there’s a clear winner.

One of the drawbacks to owning an electric vehicle is its driving range. It’s not something you worry about with a gas powertrain because gas stations are everywhere, but chargers aren’t always as easy to find. The 2019 Audi e-tron offers an EPA-estimated range of 204 miles. That covers more than what most people drive in a day, but the 2019 Tesla Model X has it beat.

The Standard Range trim has an EPA-estimated range of 255 miles. That’s a big difference, but the Model X can do even better with the Long Range trim, which posts an EPA-estimated range of 325 miles. If you want to reduce range anxiety, then there’s only one choice.

Photo by Tesla

The fastest-charging electric SUV you can buy is…

Especially on road trips, stopping to charge is a nuisance. No one wants to spend time at a charger, so the faster your car charges, the better. The 2019 Audi e-tron boasts the fastest charging speed of any electric SUV. At a 150kW charging station, it gets 54 miles of range in 10 minutes, or 163 miles of range in 30 minutes.

To counter, Tesla offers a solid network of Superchargers placed specifically to help with longer road trips. That network is constantly growing to make it more convenient to charge the Model X, but if you simply want to get back on the road as quickly as possible, then the Audi e-tron comes out ahead.

Photo by Audi

What about performance?

Driving an electric vehicle is unique because of the instant torque. It presses you into your seat with even a light touch on the accelerator, but which of these two luxury vehicles has the better performance chops?

The Audi e-tron has a top speed of 124 mph, while the Tesla Model X comes in at 130 mph. Those are speeds you can only hit on a track, so the bigger question is how quickly they hit those speeds. The Audi e-tron has a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds, which is fast, but the Tesla Model X has it beat with a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds.

Photo by Tesla

How many passengers do you plan to carry?

Both of these SUVs offer ample room for people and cargo. There’s seating for up to five passengers in the Audi e-tron, with a spacious second row that comfortably seats three, even for longer trips. The Tesla Model X, however, offers more flexible seating options.

The Model X comes standard with seating for five passengers, but there’s the option for six-passenger seating with two in the second row and two in the third row. If you need even more seating, then make the second row a bench seat and you can fit up to seven passengers in the Model X.

Photo by Tesla

When it’s cargo and not people, there’s plenty of room.

One of the reasons people buy SUVs is for their ability to easily carry both cargo and people. They’re versatile vehicles for busy lifestyles, and both the 2019 Audi e-tron and 2019 Tesla Model X have plenty of room for your stuff.

The Audi e-tron comes in with 57.0 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Tesla Model X ups that number considerably with 88.0 cubic feet behind the front seats. That’s an additional 31.0 cubic feet for cargo, which is no small difference. This might not matter if your priority is passengers, but if you plan to use the utility part of your sport utility vehicle, then the Model X clearly wins.

Photo by Tesla

Yes, you can tow with an electric vehicle, but how much?

Although both of these electric SUVs have roomy interiors with plenty of space for cargo and people, sometimes that’s not quite enough. That’s when you need to be able to tow, whether it’s because you’ve already packed the interior full or you need to bring something that’s simply too large for the interior to handle.

If you’re planning on towing, both the e-tron and Model X have that ability, but the numbers aren’t quite the same. The Audi e-tron can tow up to 4,000 pounds. The Tesla Model X can tow up to 5,000 pounds, once again making it a better choice if your needs fall heavily toward carrying lots of cargo.

Photo by Tesla

Fuel economy that lets you drive, and drive, and drive.

Driving an electric vehicle is an environmentally conscious choice, but it’s also an economical one. Gas prices fluctuate and can be a big expense for those with a long daily commute. Especially if there are road trips in your future, going with an electric vehicle yields a significant savings in fuel costs.

The Audi e-tron gets an EPA-estimated 74 MPGe in the city, 73 MPGe on the highway, and 74 MPGe combined. While those numbers are solid, the Tesla Model X comes out ahead with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 91 MPGe in the city, 95 MPGe on the highway, and 93 MPGe combined.

Photo by Tesla

And the winner is…

These are similar electric vehicles, but the 2019 Tesla Model X comes out ahead of the 2019 Audi e-tron in our comparison. It offers more passenger and cargo room, higher towing capacity, better performance, and better fuel economy. Where it falls behind is on price.

Those on a budget will do better with the Audi e-tron, due to its lower price of entry and higher federal tax credit. It also charges more quickly than the Model X. Despite these strengths, the Tesla Model X is a better overall choice.

Photo by Tesla