8 Top Tesla Model S Competitors

The Tesla Model S may be the most well-known luxury EV, but others like the Mercedes-Benz EQS and the Porsche Taycan aren’t to be ignored.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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The Tesla Model S is a pretty singular vehicle, and real competition for it is frankly hard to come by. But out-of-this-world EVs like the Audi e-tron GT, Porsche Taycan, and BMW i7 offer similar levels of luxury.
Zero to 60 in a lung-compressing 2 seconds. Up to 1,020 horsepower under the hood. A range of 405 miles. Remember when electric cars were kind of a joke? Well, no one’s laughing at the Tesla Model S. If you’re considering joining the proud league of Model S owners, you might be curious as to what other options are out there. 
There are other choices to consider, but they’re all in the range of six and seven-figure supercar territory. Just like everything on these machines,
Tesla Model S car insurance costs
can get a bit extreme as well. But if you’re not afraid to dream a little bigger, come along with
Jerry
, the
car insurance
broker app, as we take a peek at some truly exquisite vehicles — and how to get an insurance policy that’s big on coverage but easy on your budget. 

1. Porsche Taycan

Starting price: $88,150 to $188,850
Selling points: Killer acceleration, drives like a Porsche
Weak spot: Only one charging port, cramped interior
The Taycan is advertised as “the pure expression of a
Porsche
electric sports car”. An unmistakable profile, exceptional performance, and race car bloodlines are all at the forefront in the Taycan. 
Its 227-mile range isn’t as impressive as that of the Model S, but once you’ve squeezed yourself behind the wheel, you’re not likely to care. The drive is confident, controlled, and fast. Zero to 60 acceleration time here is slightly more than the Model S, so hang on tight. 
The options and technology are plentiful and luxurious: Massaging and heated seats, four-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The panoramic glass sunroof comes with variable light control, which allows you to toggle between levels of opacity depending on how much sun you want, or how much you want to be seen.
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2. Audi e-tron GT

Starting price: $106,395 to $145,395
Selling points: Gorgeous futuristic looks, exciting driving experience, fast charging
Weak spot: Rivals have better range 
Audi
has made it crystal clear that it’s all in on electric cars, and the e-tron GT family is its top-tier offering. There are three trim levels of the GT available, from the base Premium Plus to the top level RS. Even the lowest trim level has more than 500 horsepower, though, and all models feature Audi’s Quattro All-Wheel Drive technology. 
Recycled leather materials in the interior make the design both luxurious and eco-friendly. And there’s no shortage of posh features like heated and cooled seats, massaging seats, and stylish ambient lighting. It technically seats five, but that might be a challenge in the real world. The rear seat is a little on the cramped side, and some reviewers found it difficult to get in and out of. 

3. Lucid Air

Starting price: $89,050 to $180,650
Selling points: Unprecedented range, incredible performance
Weak spot: Controls are a little cumbersome to some 
Depending on who you ask, the number one luxury EV around right now isn’t a Tesla — it’s the Lucid Air. If you’ve never heard of this startup out of California, take note: its top range is an EPA-estimated (and Tesla-beating) 516 miles, and it’ll make 0 to 60 in a fierce 2.6 seconds. Although it’s a new company, the CEO of Lucid worked as an engineer at Tesla, Lotus, and Jaguar, so Lucid’s not exactly a babe in the woods when it comes to performance EVs. 
Lucid has a larger and more comfortable back seat than many rivals, and the panoramic glass roof makes the interior feel as airy as the name suggests. If this all sounds too good to be true, there might be a grain of truth to that. Persistent supply-chain issues have forced Lucid to scale back production several times in 2022, so they might be a little hard to come by. 

4. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Starting price: $99,150 to $191,450
Selling points: Great acceleration, insane horsepower, lots of space
Weak spot: Average range, steep price tag 
Everything that’s fabulous about the before-mentioned Taycan is here in the
Porsche
Taycan Cross Turismo as well: A thrilling ride, breathtaking acceleration, and Porsche luxury. And with a maximum of 1,111 horsepower, you’ll certainly be able to give the Model S a run for its money. 
The bonus points? The Cross Turismo has more space in the back seat and in the cargo area, making it a far more functional choice for those who want a family-minded Porsche. If you’re one of those people who think that a Porsche wagon is utter blasphemy, you’re going to want to look away. But if you want pure Porsche driving for the whole fam, this is the ride for you. 

5. Mercedes-Benz EQS

Starting price: $102,310 to $131,0500 
Selling points: Ridiculously fancy
Weak spot: Less range than Tesla and Lucid
The EQS’s spacious cabin is awash in state-of-the-art features and top-of-the-line touches. Its back seat is roomy thanks to its longer wheelbase and features massaging seats and heated neck and shoulder areas. Up front, you have the option of what Mercedes calls the Hyperscreen: a wall-to-wall glass panel that encompasses the infotainment system. 
The range here is around 350 miles, which is impressive, but not the best out there. The maximum cargo space is a nice 63 cubic feet, thanks to the practical and eye-pleasing swooping hatchback design. If you want everything that makes a
Mercedes-Benz
great combined with some of the best EV (and regular) tech out there, then the EQS class is a clear winner. 

6. Lotus Evija

Starting price: $2,300,000 (estimated)
Selling points: An all-electric hypercar god
Weak spot: Not a car for those of us that live in the real world
The Lotus Evija (pronounced eh-VIE-ya)  is capable of almost 2,000 horsepower, and Lotus claims it’s the most powerful production car on the market. This is EV technology and sports car engineering pushed to its limit, and while deeply impressive, it’s completely impractical and unaffordable. 
The Lotus is capable of top speeds of more than 200 miles an hour — it’s a legitimate racecar. But if you’re hoping to somehow get your hands on one, be forewarned: only 130 are being produced, and while they’re being sold in the U.S., they’re not street legal here. Dream big.

7. BMW i7

Starting price: $119,300 
Selling points: Limousine-like luxury
Weak spot: Less range than top rival Mercedes
Not to be outdone by Mercedes-Benz,
BMW
will bring its all-electric flagship executive sedan to the U.S. market in fall 2022. This is a full-sized sedan and definitely larger than some others on this list, but BMW’s commitment to luxury, comfort, and performance is here in copious amounts.
With 536 horsepower under the hood and the ability to go 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds, the BMW i7 should be a blast to drive. Or if you prefer, the deeply comfortable back seat is an ideal place to be chauffeured around in quiet luxury. 

8. Mustang Mach-E

Starting price: $44,995 to $66,095
Selling points: Spacious, quick, and athletic
Weak spot: But still not as much fun as a classic Mustang
The
Mustang Mach-E
is not only an all-electric Mustang, but it’s also a crossover, so it checks a lot of boxes when it comes to performance and functionality. The maximum range of 300 miles is strongly competitive, and while some might scoff at the idea of a Mustang crossover, it certainly broadens its appeal. 
With 29 cubic feet of storage behind the back seats, up to 60 cubic feet with the seats down, and a ton of safety and driver assistance tech available, the Mach-E is fun, functional, and in the realm of affordable. 

Tesla Model S vs. the competition

For the cold hard facts, check out this side-by-side comparison of the Telsa Model S and some of the competition.
Model
Price range
Driving range
Maximum seating capacity
Level 2 charging time
Maximum horsepower
0-60 mph time
Tesla Model S
$106,440 to $137,440
405 miles
5 seats
8-12 hours
1,020
2 seconds
Porsche Taycan
$88,150 to $188,850
227 miles
5 seats
12 hours
750
2.4 seconds
Audi e-tron GT
$106,395 to $145,395
238 miles
5 seats
9 hours
637
3.6 seconds
Lucid Air
$89,050 to $180,650
516 miles
5 seats
13 hours
1,111
2.6 seconds
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
$99,150 to $191,450
TBD
5 seats
12 hours
750
2.4 seconds
Mercedes-Benz EQS
$102,310 to $131,050
350 miles
5 seats
11 hours
516
4.1 seconds
Lotus Evija
$2,300,000 (estimated)
250 miles
2 seats
NA
1,972
under 3 seconds
Mustang Mach-E
$44,995 to $66,095
300 miles
5 seats
8-10 hours
480
3.7 seconds
BMW i7
starting at $119,300
300 miles
5 seats
10 hours
536
4.5 seconds
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