Kia EV6 vs Audi e tron Premium Electric SUVs Luxury or Practicality

New Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q4 e-tron vs Kia EV6

The contenders

New Tesla Model Y Long Range

List price 54,990Target price 54,990

The Model Y promises the long range and potent performance of the Model 3 saloon, but with extra practicality

Audi Q4 e-tron 50 quattro S line

List price 54,545Target price 54,545

With a plush interior and top-notch refinement, the Q4 is a polished electric SUV. However, it has the shortest official range here

Kia EV6 GT-Line S AWD

List price 51,945Target price 51,945

The rear-wheel-drive EV6 is our reigning Car of the Year and favourite electric SUV, with a broad range of talents, but is it as good in range-topping four-wheel-drive guise?

Many of todays Silicon Valley entrepreneurs live by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbergs now-famous motto, Move fast and break things, and none more so than Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Be it the development of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous driving systems or dedicated charging networks, Tesla has made its name by offering buyers bleeding-edge technology way before the competition even if said products (such as Teslas recently recalled Full Self-Driving software) sometimes have issues.

Audi E-Tron vs Kia EV6 What's the difference?

Does the e-tron live up to the promise set by sporty Audis which have come before it? The answer is interesting.

There is no doubt the e-tron S is rapid, at times absurdly so. If you stick it in the required S mode and hunker the suspension down, planting the accelerator makes its claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds suddenly very real.

It lurches ahead without so much as a squeak from its enormous tyres, grabbing the road with its front axle as it warps you forward.

So yes, this electric performance car is no doubt quick. It is also heavy. Weighing in at a tare mass of 2830kg, the e-tron S is quite literally massive.

The trouble is, while its powerful electric motors are great at overcoming this gravitational obstacle in a straight line, its in the corners and at low speeds where you feel every bit of it.

The e-tron crashes over larger bumps, its suspension struggling to deal with the combination of its weight and low-profile tyres, while it can also feel cumbersome in the corners around town.

The suspension is better at levelling things out once you gain a bit of pace, and the tyres work with the all-wheel drive system to put in a Herculean effort when carving up bends at speed, but theres the ever-present lurch of weight always working against you.

This feeling isnt helped by the steering tune, which even in its most comfort-oriented setting feels hefty and slow to turn. In the default sport mode, dynamic, it takes effort to push this car around corners.

Despite the unsettling feeling of it, though, the car holds on for dear life, and I never once felt as though the tyres were remotely in danger of breaking traction when put under pressure.

Is it a performer, then? Absolutely, theres something mind bending about a vehicle so heavy going so quickly.

Does it feel fun to drive? Less so. I enjoyed the connectivity of the Porsche Taycan offers at speed more than I enjoyed the e-tron S, and its weight and girth demand a nice wide piece of tarmac for you to really wring it.

Its far from a darty and engaging car like the Q5 can be despite its mammoth power outputs.

Elsewhere, the drive experience feels very Audi, though. The touchpoints and feedback are mostly familiar, as are the software and ergonomics.

The virtual wing mirrors are more of an inconvenience than anything else. This car is already hard to see out of, with big C-pillars and a tall belt line, and the digital exterior mirrors offer what feels like a limited angle of vision and make it extra hard to see out at night.

Some things fall to the wayside a little. The e-trons drive system almost hides the regenerative braking setting several menus deep, which, once activated, allows you to set it using the paddle-shifters on the wheel.

Audi says the regen will account for nearly 30 per cent of the cars range, which is odd because even at the highest setting it feels a bit mild, relying on the user to manually operate the brake for a blended braking mode to make up the difference.

Its a bit of a stretch from the single-pedal driving modes offered on some rival cars.

My theory here, as with this cars look and feel, is the e-tron is primarily designed to be familiar to an existing Audi customer, or someone coming out of a purely combustion premium rival.

2023 Kia EV6 vs Audi Q4 e-tron Comparison

2023 Kia EV6 vs Audi Q4 e-Tron: Which is Better?

The 2023 Kia EV6 stands out in the electric vehicle market with its unique and athletic design. It offers agile handling, particularly for an SUV, which makes it a fun choice for driving on curvy roads. Despite its sporty characteristics, the EV6 maintains a quiet interior and spaciousness. Placing it favorably compared to SUV competitors such as the Ford Mustang Mach E, Ioniq 5, and Volkswagen ID.4. Meanwhile, Audis Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback models offer accessible pricing and maintain Audis signature style, competing closely with the popular Q5 crossover. The Q4 e-tron boasts a maximum range of 265 miles per charge, surpassing Volvos offerings but falling short of the Tesla Model Y in its price range.

Kia EV6

Battery, Power & Performance

The EV6 comes in two variations: one with rear-wheel drive and a single electric motor, and another with all-wheel drive and dual motors. The all-wheel-drive models boast a larger battery and offer either 320 or 576 horsepower. While the base rear-wheel-drive model features a smaller battery and 167 horsepower. The GT-Line version with 320 horsepower achieved an impressive 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. While the rear-wheel drive variant took 6.7 seconds. The GT model with 576 horsepower reached the 60 mph mark in just 3.2 seconds. In terms of battery options, the EV6 offers a choice between a 58.0 kWh and a 77.4 kWh battery. The larger battery provides a longer driving range. Charging the battery from 10 to 80 percent can be accomplished in less than 18 minutes using a 350-kW fast charger.

Price & Features

While the GT variant of the EV6 may attract some customers with its high-performance capabilities. Most EV buyers prioritize an extensive driving range above all else. For those individuals, we recommend considering the Wind trim level, which features dual-motor, all-wheel drive. This configuration not only provides excellent traction in various weather conditions but also comes at a more affordable price point. Additionally, the dual motors produce a combined 320 horsepower, surpassing the lower power output of the single-motor option. The EV6 has a starting price of $50,025 and is equipped with a 12.0-inch touchscreen integrated with a 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster in its infotainment system. However, its important to note that the menu structure, navigation design, and overall performance of the system may leave something to be desired.

Audi Q4 e-Tron

Battery, Power & Acceleration

The Q4 e-tron distinguishes itself with an impressive range of up to 265 miles per charge, made possible by its 77.0-kWh battery pack. With the standard single-motor 40 powertrains. All Q4 e-tron models support fast charging up to 150 kW, allowing for a speedy charge from five to 80 percent in a mere 36 minutes. The Q4 e-tron lineup offers a variety of powertrain options to cater to diverse preferences. The entry-level Q4 e-tron 40 is equipped with a single 201-hp electric motor that efficiently propels the rear wheels. Delivering ample performance. For those seeking greater power, the AWD Q4 e-tron 50 and Q4 e-tron Sportback 50 models boast an impressive 295 horsepower. Resulting in a rapid zero-to-60 time of 6.2 seconds. During rigorous testing, the Q4 e-tron 50 demonstrated remarkable agility by reaching 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds.

Price & Features

You have the flexibility to choose between the regular squareback or the sleek Sportback body style based on your personal preference. However, we highly recommend considering the Premium Plus trim to elevate your overall experience. Additionally, its worth exploring the all-wheel-drive 50 powertrain. Which offers an impressive 94 horsepower boost compared to the standard setup. The pricing for the Q4 e-Tron ranges from $50,995 for the Premium 40 to $67,095 for the Sportback Prestige 50. Furthermore, the Q4 e-Tron is equipped with Audis latest MMI system. Featuring a standard 10.3-inch digital gauge display and a conveniently angled 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. This user-friendly interface provides easy access to a wide range of menus and features.

Audi Q4 e-tron review: a highly practical premium electric family SUV

Both versions are powered by a 76.6kWh (usable) battery pack thats good for a range of up to 330 miles in the 45 e-tron, or up to 312 miles in the more powerful 55 e-tron quattro. Sportback variants slip through the air a little more easily and officially return up to 339 miles for the 45 e-tron, and 326 miles for the 55 e-tron quattro.

Trim levels are equally straightforward. Sport, S line, and Black Edition specs are offered with both powertrains and all models get lots of standard kit. Every Q4 e-tron is equipped with alloy wheels (19 to 21 inches in size, depending on the trim level), LED headlights, front sports seats, an 11.6-inch touchscreen with integrated sat-nav andAudis Virtual Cockpit digital drivers display, wirelessApple CarPlay,Android Auto, a reversing camera and adaptive cruise control, among other safety systems.

Prices start just under 50,000 for the SUV version with the Sportback coming in at 1,500 more model-for-model. Given that the cars strengths reside in its quality and comfort more than its dynamic prowess, we think the pick of the range is the base Audi Q4 45 e-tron in Sport trim. S line gets sports suspension, which makes things a bit too firm, and the 55 versions cost more while offering a reduced range.

Audi Q4 e-tron 50 quattro: long-term test

In 2022, our Editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler, ran the now-discontinued Audi Q4 e-tron 50 quattro over a six-month long-term test. He found the lower sports suspension on his S line model a little too firm but was otherwise highly impressed by the cars user-friendly design. The large boot area worked perfectly for his dog, Sky, and he found the underfloor storage space for the charging cables very handy. Steve averaged 3.2 miles-per-kWh on his test in mixed driving.

Frequency Asked Questions

Comfortable, refined, practical and well-built the Audi Q4 e-tron is not just a brilliant EV, but one of the best premium SUVs around.

Youll pay between 50,000 and 61,000 before options for an Audi Q4 e-tron, depending on the specification you pick.

On our long term test of the Audi Q4 e-tron 50 quattro we managed to average efficiency of 3.2 miles-per-kWh, which gave us around 250 miles of range in mixed driving.

e-tron is Audis electric car brand. Initially, the large SUV now known as the Audi Q8 e-tron was simply called the Audi e-tron, but this has been changed to make room for other models like the smaller Q4 e-tron to join the range.

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