A close look at a Model 3 competitor | Model 3 Owners Club

In this segment we take an impromptu look at a Model 3 competitor, the Audi A4. How does it measure up?

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[fatboy]

You did not include any driving impressions. In the USA the base A4 is 37k. Apple car play, 270 hp and AWD is standard. Bone stock the base A4 hits the quarter in 14 seconds. I found the A4 an excellent driving car with good power torque and fuel economy. My hope is that the 3 has at least 95% of the A4's driving dynamics. The A4 is one of the best driving all around sedans I have had the pleasure of driving.

[DericTLewis]

Best opening to any show ever. I've been listening to it for quite a while and I have to say I love the acceleration noise and then you just jump right in to the video. Thank you.

[michaelrbodner]

As a former A4 owner, I find the current A4 to be a bit disappointing. The button overload is brutal too!

[Stubrok]

Seems like there was a time when the more buttons the better, times have changed. I love the minimalist design of the 3, quite impressive.

[Jarl_]

This is NOT a technik. Looks like the absolute base model. Being 15-20k less than the model 3 available today and still comes with standard AWD, it's not a competitor. If you want real competition, check out the S4 (or the RS4 in comparison with Model 3 AWD performance). I like the Model 3, but this was a little dishonest...

[jmcafee]

Thank you for this comparison. My wife's 20-year-old Lexus ES300 is being gifted to a family member in a week and we were planning to replace it with a Model 3. As an April 1, 2016 Model 3 reservation holder, I had hoped it would be available by now, but such is not the case. Since we don't know when it will be available in the Midwest, my wife has started looking at the Audi A4. So your video is quite timely, but It only makes me want the M3 even more!!!

[azalru]

Tesla is more advanced like a modern day smartphone.

There's the Tesla app that can turn on climate control, excellent voice commands plays songs in seconds with more functionality later. Just one smartphone key and wallet is more convenient than a keychain.

Tesla has a frunk, nicer glass roof, and Ap2 hardware that does auto lane change. OTA updates for Autopilot, or add features.
Camper mode for sleeping in the car, visiting parks with no idling allowed, sound system you can actually listen to inside a closed garage. Automated charge port that's easier to open than a gas cap.

Audi has a tunnel hump, making the middle seat more cramped than the Model 3 where it sits five people better.

[sapientbudgie]

There are cup holders at the back also. At the front of the arm rest. Push the button:)

[des]

One benefit of physical buttons is that you can feel around for them. You can't do that with a touch screen. I hope future Model 3 updates will allow the user to use the scroll wheels to accomplish a significant number of tasks. Perhaps, in conjunction with voice commands. For example, a user could adjust the A/C using the scroll wheels instead of the screen.

[David-qsii]

I’ve just swapped out of an A6 Avant quattro after 11 years and 210000 miles. The interior was as good as new apart from the driver's footwell carpet. Now enjoying my Škoda Superb Sportline, but missing the 4 wheel drive!

[markussavolainen]

Even though it has “slightly” too many buttons I do prefer the scroll wheel/mouse/what ever and physically buttons more than a touchscreen for one very simple reason: safety.

I don’t need to keep my eyes of the road nearly as long as I would with a touchscreen. It’s much easier to find a scroll wheel and turn it a certain amount without looking, than it would be to find a button on screen while not having any feedback where exactly it is located. And same applies to any physical button vs digital one even if there’s some form of haptic feedback embedded into the touchscreen.

[EVPaddy]

I have an old S6 Avant. Barely use it now since I have the Zoe, but still: The important difference between model 3 and a4 is that there's an A4 Avant!

[JayPase]

Thx for this quick review Trev. The A4 is indeed festooned (good word usage btw) with buttons that all go clickety clack. And I'm glad you brought up #HeadLinerGate again too as that light colored cloth headliner was already dirty !

[DavidSmith-vqcr]

Oh Trev no grease in a Tesla service centre. So headliner safe.

[zoltrix]

Also, that is a very low spec A4 from the looks of it. Normally you expect a much bigger screen and nearly all the 2018 A4s I have seen in Australia have the full TFT instrument cluster.

[corderajones]

Now I see where Tesla was going with the touchscreen in the M3. The Audi is button overloaded, although Tesla did perfect the their interior, I like the idea of the touchscreen for most applications

[murderdoggg]

The 2001 Audi A3 did have the best cup/can holders of all time. Right in front of the A/C vents.

[MurF-A-ZoiD]

Ugly, thank you for review. Model 3 hurry I need you

[mikelieber]

Thanks for doing this video - enjoyed it! and very informative!

[uceid]

Optional Navigation, Optional Backup camera... this is ridiculous.
But, it is no surprise to me, Audi was selling their Canadian navigation update 399$ a few years ago which included ONLY the Canadian update, if you happened to travel to the US and wanted an updated version, it was another 399$.