Compare the2027 Audi Q6 e-tronVS 2026 Tesla Model Y

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q6 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 Y 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 Q6 e-tron are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model Y doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q6 e-tron. But it costs extra on the Model Y.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q6 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 Y doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The Q6 e-tron has a standard Audi Connect CARE, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to 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 Y 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 Q6 e-tron and the Model Y have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q6 e-tron weighs 770 to 1233 pounds more than the Tesla Model Y. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q6 e-tron for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 1 visits). Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model Y.

There are over 45 percent more Audi dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q6 e-tron’s warranty.

Engine

The Q6 e-tron has more powerful engines than the Model Y:

	Horsepower	Torque
Q6 e-tron electric motors	456 HP	631 lbs.-ft.
SQ6 e-tron electric motors	509 HP	631 lbs.-ft.
Model Y electric motor	295 HP	309 lbs.-ft.
Model Y AWD electric motors	397 HP	389 lbs.-ft.
Model Y Performance electric motors	460 HP	487 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q6 e-tron (base engine) is faster than the Tesla Model Y electric motor:

	Q6 e-tron	Model Y
Zero to 60 MPH	4.6 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	13.1 sec	13.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	109.2 MPH	108.9 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the SQ6 e-tron is faster than the Model Y AWD electric motors:

	Q6 e-tron	Model Y
Zero to 60 MPH	3.7 sec	4.3 sec
Quarter Mile	12.2 sec	12.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	115.6 MPH	14.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q6 e-tron can travel longer on a full charge than the Model Y on a full charge:

			Miles
Q6 e-tron
	AWD	Electric Motors	325 miles
Model Y
	RWD	Standard 18" Wheels Electric Motor	321 miles
		Standard 19" Wheels Electric Motor	321 miles
	AWD	Performance Electric Motors	306 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the SQ6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Model Y:

	SQ6	Model Y
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.2 inches

The Q6 e-tron stops much shorter than the Model Y:

	Q6 e-tron	Model Y
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	129 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the Q6 e-tron has larger standard rear tires than the Model Y (255/55R19 vs. 235/55R18). The Q6 e-tron’s optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Model Y (285/45R20 vs. 275/35R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q6 e-tron has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Model Y Standard.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Q6 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 Y doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Q6 e-tron has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Q6 e-tron flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Q6 e-tron Prestige/SQ6 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q6 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 Y doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The SQ6 e-tron Prestige handles at .91 G’s, while the Model Y Premium AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The SQ6 e-tron Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Model Y Premium RWD (24.7 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 25.7 seconds @ .77 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Q6 e-tron has 2.2 inches more front shoulder room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

Towing

The Q6 e-tron’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model Y’s (4400 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Q6 e-tron to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspections, 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 Y.

Ergonomics

The Q6 e-tron (except Premium) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model Y doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q6 e-tron to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Model Y doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Q6 e-tron has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q6 e-tron SQ6/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Model Y doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q6 e-tron’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y 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 Q6 e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q6 e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model Y doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Audi Q6 e-tron has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Model Y Premium/Performance.

The Q6 e-tron SQ6 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model Y.

Compared to the Tesla Model Y’s traditional radio, the Audi Q6 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.

Recommendations

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2026 issue and they ranked the Audi Q6 e-tron higher than the Tesla Model Y Premium RWD.

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