New BMW iX3 vs Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q6 e-tron: are German SUVs too expensive? 

Mat Watson is putting the all-new BMW iX3 up against its rivals from Tesla and Audi to find out if BMW’s most important car in decades is good enough to topple the competition.

The new BMW iX3 has caused quite a stir, because it’s the car which will decide BMW’s future. It uses an all-new collection of parts which will underpin all of its future models, so there’s a lot of pressure on this car to impress.

To find out if it does, I’m going to test it against the Tesla Model Y and the Audi Q6 e-tron. I’ll compare their designs, interiors, check out their technology, see how practical they are and take them for a drive to see which one is best.

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BMW iX3 vs Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q6 e-tron: prices and deals

Let’s start with the prices. The Audi I’m testing here costs just over £66,000, but you can save £7,000 on this car through Carwow at the time of writing. That puts the price down to £59,200, and you can lease one for around £770 per month.

This Tesla Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive costs £51,990, and lease prices through Carwow start from £720 per month.

The BMW iX3 I’m testing costs just under £59,000, and it’s the most expensive to lease by far at close to £970 per month. It is a very new model though, so come more competitive lease deals and Carwow savings will start to trickle through over time.

Right now though, the Tesla is the most affordable car here.

BMW iX3 vs Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q6 e-tron: design and desirability

Let’s start with the way these cars look, because if you’re spending this much on a premium electric SUV then you’ll want it to stand out.

From the front, the BMW certainly turns heads. The vertical kidney grilles and sleek black light panel make it look much more imposing than the Tesla or Audi, but from the side things are less impressive. It just looks a bit blobby and generic from this angle, and while the rear lights are cool I’m not sold on the back either.

For the Tesla Model Y it’s the other way around. I love the rear light design with the LED strip projected onto the tailgate, and from the side it has a more sporty-looking sloping roofline than the BMW. The front end is a bit more plain though, with just a simple light bar which mimics the bonkers Tesla Cybertruck.

I think the Audi has the best side profile, which is helped by the fact this is the Sportback version with a sloping roofline. It looks the most expensive thanks to the complex creases, and I think it has the best rear end as well. The front is a bit too fussy though with its massive fake grille.

Ultimately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You can make up your own mind on which car looks the best, but for me it’s a tie between the Tesla and the Audi.

BMW iX3 vs Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q6 e-tron: interior and technology

The interior is even more important than the exterior, because this is where you’ll spend all your time. In this department, the Audi is my least favourite of the three cars.

It feels okay in terms of quality, although some details like the sliding cover for the cupholders feel downright nasty. I also don’t like the massive curved bezel around the infotainment screen, but on the plus side it is at least pretty easy to use.

The BMW looks much more modern inside, mostly thanks to the Panoramic iDrive display. It’s a massive head-up display running the entire width of the windscreen, and while a lot of the information on it is pretty pointless, such as your elevation above sea level, having your speed in your direct eyeline is brilliant.

The large central touchscreen is also bright and responsive, and quality is good throughout with the exception of some scratchy plastics on the lower dashboard and door cards.

Surprisingly, the Tesla feels the most high-quality in some respects. It may not be quite as solid as the BMW, but you get padded materials on every surface, even those lower down. The touchscreen is also the best of the bunch, although I’d prefer to have my speedometer in front of me rather than in the middle. I also don’t love having the gear selector on the screen.

Despite this, I’m giving the interior win to the Tesla. The BMW iX3 may have a more interesting-looking cabin design, but the Model Y’s tech is easier to use and the material quality is better for the price.

BMW iX3 vs Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q6 e-tron: space and practicality

It’s another win for the Tesla on the practicality front as well, because it’s easily the most spacious inside. There’s plenty of room for three people in the back, and it has loads of legroom.

The BMW is good for two rear passengers, with ample knee and headroom, but it gets a bit tight with three in the back. The Audi feels the most cramped thanks to the sloping roofline eating into headroom, although this is improved by going for the SUV version over this Sportback.

Boot space is an interesting story. On paper, the Tesla is the biggest by miles. It has 822 litres of space, compared to 520 litres in the iX3 and 511 litres in the Audi. What really matters though is how much you can actually fit.

I managed to squeeze eight carry-on-sized suitcases into the boot of the BMW, but I got nine into both the Audi and the Tesla. That’s surprising seeing as the Audi has the smallest capacity.

Then there’s the front boots. I couldn’t get a suitcase into the nose of the BMW, the Audi just about accommodated one and the Tesla swallowed one with ease. So it’s close between the Audi and the Tesla in terms of luggage space, but the Tesla edges it.

BMW iX3 vs Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q6 e-tron: range and driving

In terms of range, the BMW iX3 goes the furthest on a charge. This car has a claimed range of 497 miles, but I was seeing 326 miles in the real world. The Tesla has an official range of 391 miles, and I managed to get 300 miles from it during my tests. So the Model Y did get much closer to its claimed range.

The Audi comes last though, with a claimed range of 374 miles and a real-world figure of 285 miles.

Out on the road, I found the BMW iX3 to be the most refined at motorway speeds. It’s the quietest at 70mph, followed closely by the Audi. The Model Y lets in the most wind and road noise, and it also has the firmest suspension. The BMW does the best job of soaking up bumps in the road.

What surprised me was the handling on a twisty road. The BMW has really accurate steering, and it does a great job of hiding its weight, but I found the Tesla to feel more agile through the bends. This is mostly down to the quicker steering, which makes it feel darty when you turn in.

The Audi has an ace up its sleeve as well. Because it’s the only rear-wheel drive car here, you can get the tail out around corners like a proper hooligan. This makes it the most fun car here.

Overall though, I think the Tesla wins this category. It gets the closest to its claimed range, making it the most efficient, and it also has the best all-round visibility.

BMW iX3 vs Tesla Model Y vs Audi Q6 e-tron: Mat’s final verdict

So then, which of these cars is best? Well I’m going to put the Audi in last place. It’s a perfectly fine premium electric car, but in this company it just seems a bit old-fashioned.

The BMW is a brilliant choice. It’s great to drive, packed with tech and it has the longest range. Plus, as polarising as the design is, you can’t deny that it does stand out.

However, I don’t think it feels £7,000 more expensive than the Tesla Model Y, and the Tesla is also significantly cheaper to lease. This leaves me with one conclusion.

Winner: Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is packed with tech, good to drive, efficient and hugely practical. It’s also the cheapest car here by far, and that’s why it wins this test.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.