Tesla continues to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) market, as proven once again in a recent Autobahn efficiency and range test conducted by German EV rental company NextMove. The test compared Tesla’s Model S, Model 3, and Model X against the Audi e-tron and the Hyundai Kona Electric. The results made one thing clear—traditional automakers like Audi still have a long way to go to match Tesla’s expertise in EV technology.
The Test Setup
NextMove’s test involved eight electric vehicles, each set up with manufacturer-recommended tire pressure and driven by experienced EV drivers:
- Tesla Model S 100D (19” winter tires)
- Tesla Model X 100D (one with 19” winter tires, one with 20” summer tires)
- Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor AWD (19” summer tires)
- Audi e-tron (one with digital side mirrors, one with classic mirrors, both with 21” summer tires)
- Hyundai Kona Electric (one with 17” summer tires, one with 17” winter tires)
To maintain fairness, strict conditions were followed: cruise control was used only after reaching the set speeds of 130 km/h (81 mph) and 150 km/h (93 mph).
Regenerative braking was disabled.
Heating was mostly turned off.
A standardized 85 km (52.8 miles) test route was used, covering both speed tests.
Efficiency Results: Tesla Takes the Lead
At both 130 km/h and 150 km/h, the Tesla Model 3 emerged as the most efficient EV in the lineup, showcasing its industry-leading energy management. It was followed by the Hyundai Kona Electric (with summer tires) and then the Tesla Model S 100D. Despite being larger and heavier, the Tesla Model X still outperformed the Audi e-tron in efficiency.
Interestingly, while Audi has made efficiency improvements since previous tests, the e-tron remains notably less efficient than the Tesla Model X, especially at lower speeds.
Range Results: Tesla Dominates Again
130 km/h (81 mph) Range Test
- Tesla Model S 100D: 480 km (298 miles)
- Tesla Model X 100D: 409 km (254 miles)
- Tesla Model 3 AWD: 406 km (252 miles)
- Hyundai Kona Electric: 322 km (200 miles)
- Audi e-tron: 301 km (187 miles)
150 km/h (93 mph) Range Test
- Tesla Model S 100D: 428 km (265 miles)
- Tesla Model X 100D: 359 km (223 miles)
- Tesla Model 3 AWD: 358 km (222 miles)
- Hyundai Kona Electric: 283 km (176 miles)
- Audi e-tron: 275 km (171 miles)
What This Means for the EV Market
Tesla’s continued dominance in range and efficiency highlights its technological edge over legacy automakers like Audi. Despite improvements in Audi’s electric offerings, the e-tron still lags behind Tesla in delivering the best balance of power, efficiency, and range.
It’s also worth noting that the Tesla Model X in this test was a 100D model, not the latest “Raven” variant, which features higher efficiency drive units. If newer Tesla models were included, the gap in performance could have been even wider.
The nextmove Autobahn test reaffirms Tesla’s position as the leader in EV efficiency and range. While Audi has made strides in improving the E-tron, it still struggles to match Tesla’s engineering. As EV technology continues to advance, traditional automakers must push harder to compete with Tesla’s innovation and real-world performance.
