Tiff Needell Compares the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC

At the moment, the Audi e-tron has only a couple of main competitors. There’s the Tesla Model X and the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Considering that the EQC is the newer of those two competitors and the one most similar to the e-tron, it’s the one that takes the Audi on in this new video from Lovecars.

In it, we get to see the legendary Tiff Needell drive both the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC, alongside co-host Paul Woodman.

Both cars are extremely similar; they both have dual-motor powertrains, all-wheel drive, 402 horsepower and just over 200 miles of range. They both charged quickly (150 kW for the Audi and 110 kW for the Mercedes) and they’re both as heavy as mountains made of plutonium. So which car is better to drive?

Well, they’re actually both quite different. The Mercedes-Benz EQC feels lighter on its feet, with less body roll, sharper steering and an even softer ride. The Audi e-tron feels a bit heavier, with more roll and a slightly stiffer ride. The Benz is also quieter. However, it seems as if the Audi e-tron has the better cabin and more impressive technology, even if the latter is a bit fussy.

Needell seems to be a bit noncommittal on both, though. He isn’t the biggest fan of electric cars to begin with but he’s really not in love with either of these cars, though he does seem to prefer the Mercedes-Benz for its styling and its steering. In the end, though, when pressed to choose one or the other, he again goes with a noncommittal answer and chooses the Jaguar I-Pace, as it’s faster and more fun to drive.

After Needell’s rather fence-sitting answer, Woodman does provide a real answer but it honestly wasn’t the one I was expecting. Both of these SUVs are quite good but they both also have a long way to go.