Luxury carmakers Audi and Mercedes-Benz committed themselves to a carbon-neutral future by launching their newest electric vehicles in a form of, you guessed it, crossovers in the form of the first-ever Audi e-tron and the first-ever Mercedes EQC. Both crossovers are representatives of a carbon-neutral future and by first impressions, they are somewhat promising to get your hands on, but before jumping through the electric crossover bandwagon, let's look at the whys and the X-files on these electric luxury crossovers making a huge impact to the electric car craze.
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| 2020 Mercedes EQC |
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| 2020 Audi e-tron |
Both the Audi e-tron, starting at 69,100 Euros plus on-road costs, and the Mercedes EQC, starting at 71,281 Euros plus on-road costs, are electric crossovers emerged in an era where electric cars are surging the motorways in response to most but not all of the world governments' all-out efforts to curb CO2 emissions within the next few decades and they really are in tune with the times.
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| 2020 Mercedes EQC |
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| 2020 Audi e-tron |
Starting on the design, the first-ever Audi e-tron crossover is actually based on the current-generation Q3 crossover with some fake grilles on it like most electric cars possess and although questionable to look at, the e-tron is all business at the signs of motoring-related times. The EQC, meanwhile, is different in every single way and not reminiscent of existing Mercedes SUVs in the lineup because the folks wanted to give their electric crossover some originality that sets them apart from the rest and judging from its Sportage-esque rear view and the front face inspired by concept cars from their secret stash, the EQC is all about statement done right.
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| 2020 Mercedes EQC interior |
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| 2020 Audi e-tron interior |
On the inside, these two electric crossovers are heavily dominated with loads of tech in the dashboard to toy with unless if you don't want to overdo it to conserve its remaining battery charge on the trip back home, of course. Although they have room for five people onboard, the question is who's got more room? Annoyingly, it's the Audi that has more room than the Mercedes thanks to is larger dimensions compared to the EQC, meaning it has better legroom and better boot space compared to the EQC and looks like the Audi's got a point for that.
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| 2020 Audi e-tron |
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| 2020 Mercedes EQC |
Now we get to know more about the performance these electric crossover delivers and starting with the Audi, the highest system output generated from two electric motors is 408PS of power and 664Nm of torque, making it capable of going 0-100kph in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 200kph. The EQC, meanwhile, generates a similar power output compared to the Audi but it has 44Nm more torque compared to the e-tron. Although its 0-100kph time is 1.5 seconds faster compared to the e-tron, its limited top speed is equivalent of an average Japanese passenger car on the road so therefore, both these electric crossovers are stalemates in the performance side.
Brushing off the the performance side, both crossovers possess mild driving feel because of the weight it carries like most electric cars to day but because the EQC is a tad lighter compared to the e-tron, handling one is like trying to win the Battle of the Bulge by all means necessary. Although not recommended to be taken on track duty because the bulge it carries will upset the drivers' arms, these crossovers feel right at home on the city and on the outside world thanks to its quietness and comfort these crossovers posses. Speaking of quietness, these crossovers are equipped with the most well-known driver aids known to man and machine, in case someone never heard of them coming through the pedestrian lane by the second.
So, which would you pick for your car collection? The roomier but stale-looking e-tron or the rather small, quick, and light EQC? The choice is yours.
Photo: Daimler AG/Audi AG
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