Compare the2025 Audi A6 e-tronVS 2025 Tesla Model 3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the A6 e-tron is safer than the Model 3:

	A6 e-tron	Model 3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Injury Chance	16%	24%
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Audi A6 e-tron is safer than the Model 3:

	A6 e-tron	Model 3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	120	274
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	245 lbs.
Neck Compression	0 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.42 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	312 lbs.	937 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	154	237
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.59 in	.98 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	335 lbs.	625 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Audi A6 e-tron (only applies to vehicles with Active Front Assist) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Model 3 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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.

Reliability

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.

Engine

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

	Horsepower	Torque
A6 e-tron electric motor	375 HP	428 lbs.-ft.
A6 e-tron Quattro electric motors	456 HP	631 lbs.-ft.
Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive electric motor	295 HP	309 lbs.-ft.
Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive electric motors	425 HP	475 lbs.-ft.
Model 3 Performance electric motors	510 HP	554 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

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:

			Miles
A6 e-tron
	RWD	ultra Electric Motor	392 miles
	AWD	ultra Electric Motors	377 miles
		20" Wheels Electric Motors	333 miles
Model 3
	RWD	Long Range Electric Motor	363 miles
	AWD	Long Range Electric Motors	342 miles
		Performance Electric Motors	303 miles

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	A6 e-tron	Model 3
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.2 inches

The A6 e-tron stops shorter than the Model 3:

	A6 e-tron	Model 3
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

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 Prestige handles at .88 G’s, while the Model 3 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Passenger Space

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.

Cargo Capacity

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.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The A6 e-tron’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Model 3’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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.

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