2023 should not be an easy year for Tesla. After having left it to wipe the plaster of the electric market, the traditional manufacturers decided to make its skin.
Indeed, if most of them have bet on good big SUVs for their first 100% electric vehicles, the time seems to have come to seek out the Californian manufacturer on its favorite terrain, that of sedans.
While the Model S and Model 3 seemed untouchable so far, the new productions of Mercedes, Volkswagen and some Chinese manufacturers with long teeth could reshuffle the cards. The hunt for Tesla has already started will you tell us? Admittedly, Audi with the e-tron RS, Mercedes with the EQS and Porsche with its Taycan have already worn the first banners, but we are talking about luxury cars, the price of which easily exceeds 100,000 euros. The new generation of sedans, the one that should hit the road at the end of 2022 and in 2023, will have, in addition to its intrinsic qualities, the advantage of competing with Tesla on the price aspect. Especially since, for a few weeks, Tesla no longer has the benefit of a particularly attractive price. Now that the small sedan is no longer eligible for the full-time ecological bonus, its price of 53,490 euros makes it more vulnerable.
Here are the five electric sedan models best equipped to tease the Tesla Model 3:
Mercedes EQE: the little brother of the EQS plays the luxury card
Hard to find more methodical than the brand with the star in its electric strategy. After concentrating its efforts in its most premium model, the EQS, Mercedes opts for runoff and converts the rest of its range to electric. As such, the EQE has everything of a mini EQS, in terms of size of course, but also performance.
Better yet, the electric E-class has all the arguments to go hunting on Tesla land and much more. With the signature driving pleasure of Mercedes sedans, a higher level of finish than Tesla, one of the best infotainment systems on the market and nearly 700 km of autonomy, the EQE combines the strengths. Its price, on the other hand, brings it closer to the Model S than the Model A, which could lead some future buyers to wait for an electric version of the C-class (which unfortunately will not be the excellent EQXX concept).
Its main strength : a mini EQS
His greatest weakness : its price (79,300 euros)
Nuisance potential for Tesla : 8/10
Ioniq 6: the most serious rival?
What if it was the most serious competitor to the Model 3? Hyundai’s electric sedan has been making headlines for some time now. Even before its formalization at the end of June, it was a scarecrow for the Model 3. Since its manufacturer unveiled its design and technical characteristics, the rivalry has only become more obvious. With its 239 kW (325 hp) engine, its torque of 605 Nm and its 0 to 100 km / h in 5.1 seconds, it promises to be more efficient than the Tesla Model 3 propulsion (6.1 seconds). It should also exceed it in terms of autonomy. Indeed, with its impressive drag coefficient (Cd of 0.21) and its 77 kWh battery, the Ioniq 6 aims to cover more than 600 km on a single charge. This is again 100 km better than the entry level at Tesla. And what about the fast charging capability. The Ioniq 6 can support 400 V and 800 V loads. With a 350 kW terminal, the battery goes from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes. It’s simple, to be able to compete with Tesla, you have to look at the Long Autonomy version, the closest in terms of technical characteristics. This one is sold for 62,490 euros, all the same.
There are obviously no prices announced yet on the Hyundai side for this electric sedan, but since an Ioniq 5 is trading from 46,500 euros, it is hard to imagine the Korean going beyond this price level. In fact, the Ioniq 6 already appears to be the most serious rival to the Model 3.
Its main strength : value for money
His greatest weakness : none
Nuisance potential for Tesla : 10/10
Volkswagen Aero/ID.7: the wagon gets electrified
We already know a lot about Volkswagen’s future sedan. And yet, the official presentation of the Aero concept took place only last June. Volkswagen’s first 100% electric sedan seems ready to give birth to a Passat! Indeed, the ID. Aero which will probably be renamed ID.7 when it is marketed. In fact, considering its measurements, the German electric sedan could be put more in opposition to the Tesla Model S. It is its price positioning that risks confronting it with Tesla’s entry-level (probably in its Performance finish) .
Indeed, the ID.7 will have the advantage of taking up an architecture already well known to the VW group, the famous MEB, the limits of which it will push back to the maximum. Thus, the motor and battery parts should reserve few surprises (the 77 kWh block could be the only one in the game). On the other hand, the work of the engineers of VW seems to have concentrated on the consumption of the vehicle. It already claims 620 km of autonomy, a very interesting performance that it obtains thanks to its drag coefficient of 0.23. Aerodynamic, efficient and probably less expensive than other German electric sedans, the ID.7 is a serious challenger.
Its main strength : a very coherent whole
His greatest weakness : its platform which is beginning to date
Nuisance potential for Tesla : 7/10
NIO ET7: the surprise challenger
In this list of contenders, NIO is arguably the least known of the five, but not the least ambitious. The Chinese manufacturer has just landed in Europe, more precisely in Norway and should expand to the Old Continent in the coming months. Its launch model on this side of the globe is the ET7, an electric sedan with an amazing price/quality ratio.
Indeed, for 3,500 euros more than the entry-level at Tesla, the ET7 offers a technical sheet… worthy of the Model S. Motor of 480 kW (653 hp), torque of 850 Nm and battery ranging from 75 kWh to 150 kWh, for a minimum of 550 km of autonomy… the Chinese electric sedan clearly has no shortage of arguments. Finally, the only weak point of the ET7 is the lack of reference of NIO in our regions. This is undoubtedly what risks penalizing her in her match against Tesla. Unless the quality/price ratio ends up convincing the skeptics.
Its main strength : his price
His greatest weakness : unknown to the general public
Nuisance potential for Tesla : 7/10
Audi A6 e-tron: a unique style
After having multiplied more than reason the number of 100% electric SUVs in its catalog, Audi is finally attacking sedans. The brand with the rings took its time, but its first livery, with the A6, should be worth its weight in peanuts. Developed on the group’s new platform, PPE, like the Porsche Macan, it relies on 800 V technology which would allow it to go from 10 to 80% battery in less than 20 minutes.
In addition to solid technical arguments, the Audi A6 e-tron can also count on a particularly worked style, breaking with its thermal version. Finally, if Audi’s electric sedan in its classic version were to be too soft to attack Tesla, it could count on solid reinforcements in the months following its marketing with a station wagon version and a sports version, the RS. . The Audi A6 e-tron is expected sometime in 2023, without further details.
Its main strength : his sportsmanship
His greatest weakness : its very late arrival on the market
Nuisance potential for Tesla : 8/10