EV Crossover Shootout! Jag I-Pace, Mercedes EQC, Tesla Model X and Audi e-tron - Which One Is The Best?

When will those age-raddled dimwits in the century-old car industry get on and do what Tesla has been doing for years? It’s a question that’s been rattling around planet automobile for years. At the Paris Motor Show we got an answer.

You wait years for a long-range, electric, posh, fast SUV to provide an alternative to the Tesla Model X, and then three come along at once. Side-by-side at the Paris show, Jaguar and Audi and Mercedes had their new entries. Jaguar is just beginning to deliver the i-Pace, Audi is taking orders for the e-tron and Mercedes will shortly follow with the production-ready EQC making its public debut here for sale next year.

atc98092 - 10/18/2018 12:22:21 PM

+1 Boost

Not really. When I looked at one, it seemed to compare size and layout wise with the Q5 I owned at the time. Didn't feel/look like my daughter's minivan.

rockreid - 10/18/2018 2:34:12 PM

-9 Boost

You forgot about the Model Y to be revealed March 2019. That is the direct competitor to the iPace and the EV Benz. The Model Y will be to Tesla what the Q5 was for Audi- the blast- the doors open to mainstream America 5 seater vehicle . Model X is a 7 seater optioned size. Expect the Model Y to start around $45-$50k, well below the price of anything close from Germany or Jag.

SanJoseDriver - 10/19/2018 10:17:55 PM

+1 Boost

I hope it looks like the 3, which looks pretty damn amazing. Sometimes less is more... actually most of the time less is more.

dumpsty - 10/18/2018 2:49:36 PM

+3 Boost

The EQC is really slick. The fact that its an EV & doesn't look like some eccentric electric gizmo is a plus.

I still like the Model X - sans the gull-wing doors. I like that it's soooo PLAIN, that it really does get lost in crowd of typical SUVs in traffic.

dumpsty - 10/18/2018 3:02:12 PM

+2 Boost

The biggest problem EV's have are acceptable "common measurements" and conversion factors to better compare operating range estimates for the different vehicles in different markets.

Maybe the biggest factor in determining ranges is that the different automakers have programmed their EV to handle different operating conditions in different ways.

Truthy - 10/18/2018 5:09:00 PM

+2 Boost

yes, the Model Y will "start at $45K - $50 K" like the Model 3 starts at $35K. Look for average transaction price to be closer to $75K.

SanJoseDriver - 10/19/2018 10:19:41 PM

+1 Boost

I think it will be $5k more than the 3 at any given trim level. So ~$55-60k sounds about right.

TomM - 10/18/2018 5:24:31 PM

+3 Boost

When the actual prices are announced - we will be able to compare

The question is whether ANY of them will actually be priced as ICE cars are - for profitability.

I still have yet to see a large market for EVs in general - and since NONE of the ones currently on the market and the low end are priced for profitability - we still do not know what the real size of that market will be when eventually they will have to do that.

SanJoseDriver - 10/19/2018 10:22:44 PM

+1 Boost

The size of the market is the market, at some point having an ICE car will be like owning a horse. There will be no practical reason at all besides collector value. ICE cars will be more expansive and perform worse in every way. Today you pay a premium but the total cost of ownership is a wash, over time you get a better car at a similar cost. In the near future you will get a better car for less.