Compare the2022 Audi e-tron GTVS 2021 Tesla Model S

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

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi e-tron GT are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The e-tron GT has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Model S doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The e-tron GT offers optional Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Model S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The e-tron GT Prestige/RS has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the e-tron GT’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model S doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The e-tron GT has a standard Audi Connect CARE, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S 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 e-tron GT and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rearview cameras.

The e-tron GT’s corrosion warranty is 8 years and unlimited miles longer than the Model S’ (12/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are over 2 times as many Audi dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the e-tron GT’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 20th in reliability. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 30th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 11 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

The e-tron GT has more powerful engines than the Model S:

As tested in Car and Driver the RS e-tron GT is faster than the Model S Long Range:

For better stopping power the e-tron GT’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Model S:

The e-tron GT RS offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Model S doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The e-tron GT stops much shorter than the Model S:

For better traction and acceleration, the e-tron GT has larger standard rear tires than the Model S (285/40R20 vs. 245/45R19). The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Model S (305/30R21 vs. 295/30R21).

The e-tron GT’s standard 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Model S’ standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron GT has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Model S.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron GT is 1.9 inches wider in the front than on the Model S.

The RS e-tron GT handles at .95 G’s, while the Model S pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RS e-tron GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the Model S (24.1 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the e-tron GT’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Model S’ (38.1 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

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

A Service Interval Display is standard on the e-tron GT to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspection 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 S.

The e-tron GT Prestige/RS has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The e-tron GT’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S 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 e-tron GT has standard extendable sun visors. The Model S doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The e-tron GT offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model S.