Compare the2025 Audi A6 e-tronVS 2025 Tesla Model 3

The A6 e-tron’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Model 3 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the A6 e-tron are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The A6 e-tron has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The A6 e-tron offers an optional Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Audi A6 e-tron offers an optional Top View Cameras and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Tesla Model 3 doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

The A6 e-tron has standard Audi Connect Care, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the A6 e-tron and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Audi A6 e-tron weighs 895 to 1301 pounds more than the Tesla Model 3. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 48 percent more Audi dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the A6 e-tron’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 10 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

The A6 e-tron has more powerful engines than the Model 3:

On the EPA test cycle the A6 e-tron ultra Quattro gets better mileage than the Model 3 Performance (125 city/116 hwy vs. 118 city/107 hwy MPGe).

The A6 e-tron can travel longer on a full charge than the Model 3 on a full charge:

The A6 e-tron’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Model 3 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the A6 e-tron’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Model 3:

For better traction and acceleration, the A6 e-tron has larger standard rear tires than the Model 3 (255/50R19 vs. 235/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A6 e-tron has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Model 3.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the A6 e-tron can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Model 3 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The A6 e-tron Prestige has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The A6 e-tron’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A6 e-tron’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Model 3 (116.1 inches vs. 113.2 inches).

The A6 e-tron has 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the A6 e-tron’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A Service Interval Display is standard on the A6 e-tron to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

The A6 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The A6 e-tron’s power window, power lock and power mirror switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model 3’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A6 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Model 3 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the A6 e-tron has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Model 3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The A6 e-tron’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A6 e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Compared to the Tesla Model 3’s traditional radio, the Audi A6 e-tron equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.