Best Luxury Electric Cars to Consider as Tesla Alternatives
For Whom/What:
commuting
Requirements:
luxurious interior
good UI
Extra Details:
What are viable alternatives to Tesla? I already own a Model X, and want to switch to another brand now there are so many electric car brands. The interior of Teslas always kinda felt cheap to me, so something more luxurious would be a considering factor.
You should checkout BMW iX (SUV), which is coming out in 2025. My last 3 cars were BMW’s, and their cars are all super well-rounded and classy. BMW has a few different models now (i4,i5,i7,and ix) to choose from, and you can also upgrade them to M-models for extra performance.
If you’re not set on getting an SUV, you should also check out i5 and i7 sedans. i5’s are more affordable (vs. i7), starting at around $67,000 (vs i7’s $105,700 ), but if you can afford it, i7 probably justifies the higher price tag – it is an absolute masterpiece of a luxury car, in my opinion.
Besides luxury, I hear that Tesla cars can have build-quality issues.
All-in-all (except for range), I'd recommend Audi. I've had an Audi Q5 SUV for 9 years now, and it still drives like a brand new car. I've only had to do minor maintenances like changing oil, tires, etc. I keep telling my wife that I'm buying a brand new EV once my Audi breaks down, but that day just won't come! The exterior paint-job is also shockingly durable. It has very little wear-and-tear vs. my other car, which is only 6 years old.
Audi has a few EV models including e-tron sedan, Q4, Q6, and Q8 e-tron SUVs, and I'd say Q8 e-tron SUV (starting $74,000) is probably the most comparable to Tesla X, in terms of price. I really like the new grill design as well as the sleeker exterior on the new Audi's. Also, the interior has multiple screens with varying sizes that add to a more customized and luxurious look. Most importantly, Audi cars are extremely comfortable, and they are my favorite for commuting or going on road-trips.
For a luxury EV, I'd recommend the classic American car brand Cadillac. They finally launched an electric SUV model Lyriq a couple of years ago, and it looks super nice and also has surprisingly descent range of 300+ miles. The designers really did a fantastic job integrating a high-tech/futuristic and luxury aesthetics on their fundamental Cadillac exterior.
Lyriq's interior is also very classy with a high-tech features. First of all, its infotainment screen is 33 inches wide! Despite being so wide, it blends in very tastefully with the rest of the interior. There are dozens of different materials (wood, metal, leather, glassy-buttons, knobs, etc. that stand out individually, but they somehow flow together very tastefully. The starting MSRP is $57,000 USD, which is a fair price for a luxury electric SUV.
There is also the full-electric Escalade (IQ), which just became available to order. Honestly, I'd think Escalade is the last car anyone would make into an EV, but it allegedly has a 3000-pound battery and has a 450 miles of range (is this real?). I am having a hard time believing it, but we'll find out when people start receiving their cars! It also has a 55-inch wide screen and a ton of other features. You could imagine the Escalade IQ is like buying two of Lyriqs and fusing them together (LOL). The price is also rather massive, starting at $130,000 USD. I'm really looking for seeing it in real life though!
There is a very high-quality and luxury South Korean car brand called Genesis, that is less well-known in the west (especially in the US). Their cars are commonly referred to as "Chairman-car" in S. Korea, since many rich corporate executives prefer Genesis cars. They have a few EV options that are incredibly elegant.
If you prefer an SUV, Genesis has an Electrified GV70 that starts around $67k MSRP, and the 2025 model earned a perfect score (10/10) from a car magazine company, Car and Driver. My favorite part of E-GV70 is the elegant combination of their interior design, which consists of patterned metallic trim, leather seats, and nicely compartmentalized tech gadgets. The cherry on top is their Graphic Mood Lighting, which is simply striking during night-time driving.
Genesis also has a large Electrified G80 Sedan, which is a bit more expensive ($74k MSRP), but it definitely has a more elegant exterior than the SUV. Its got that Mercedes S-class vibe (with a much better looking front grill IMO), and it really stands out on the road.
Best Luxury Electric Cars to Consider as Tesla Alternatives
commuting
luxurious interior
good UI
What are viable alternatives to Tesla? I already own a Model X, and want to switch to another brand now there are so many electric car brands. The interior of Teslas always kinda felt cheap to me, so something more luxurious would be a considering factor.
You should checkout BMW iX (SUV), which is coming out in 2025. My last 3 cars were BMW’s, and their cars are all super well-rounded and classy. BMW has a few different models now (i4,i5,i7,and ix) to choose from, and you can also upgrade them to M-models for extra performance.
If you’re not set on getting an SUV, you should also check out i5 and i7 sedans. i5’s are more affordable (vs. i7), starting at around $67,000 (vs i7’s $105,700 ), but if you can afford it, i7 probably justifies the higher price tag – it is an absolute masterpiece of a luxury car, in my opinion.
Besides luxury, I hear that Tesla cars can have build-quality issues.
All-in-all (except for range), I'd recommend Audi. I've had an Audi Q5 SUV for 9 years now, and it still drives like a brand new car. I've only had to do minor maintenances like changing oil, tires, etc. I keep telling my wife that I'm buying a brand new EV once my Audi breaks down, but that day just won't come! The exterior paint-job is also shockingly durable. It has very little wear-and-tear vs. my other car, which is only 6 years old.
Audi has a few EV models including e-tron sedan, Q4, Q6, and Q8 e-tron SUVs, and I'd say Q8 e-tron SUV (starting $74,000) is probably the most comparable to Tesla X, in terms of price. I really like the new grill design as well as the sleeker exterior on the new Audi's. Also, the interior has multiple screens with varying sizes that add to a more customized and luxurious look. Most importantly, Audi cars are extremely comfortable, and they are my favorite for commuting or going on road-trips.
Hope my opinion helps, good luck!
For a luxury EV, I'd recommend the classic American car brand Cadillac. They finally launched an electric SUV model Lyriq a couple of years ago, and it looks super nice and also has surprisingly descent range of 300+ miles. The designers really did a fantastic job integrating a high-tech/futuristic and luxury aesthetics on their fundamental Cadillac exterior.
Lyriq's interior is also very classy with a high-tech features. First of all, its infotainment screen is 33 inches wide! Despite being so wide, it blends in very tastefully with the rest of the interior. There are dozens of different materials (wood, metal, leather, glassy-buttons, knobs, etc. that stand out individually, but they somehow flow together very tastefully. The starting MSRP is $57,000 USD, which is a fair price for a luxury electric SUV.
There is also the full-electric Escalade (IQ), which just became available to order. Honestly, I'd think Escalade is the last car anyone would make into an EV, but it allegedly has a 3000-pound battery and has a 450 miles of range (is this real?). I am having a hard time believing it, but we'll find out when people start receiving their cars! It also has a 55-inch wide screen and a ton of other features. You could imagine the Escalade IQ is like buying two of Lyriqs and fusing them together (LOL). The price is also rather massive, starting at $130,000 USD. I'm really looking for seeing it in real life though!
There is a very high-quality and luxury South Korean car brand called Genesis, that is less well-known in the west (especially in the US). Their cars are commonly referred to as "Chairman-car" in S. Korea, since many rich corporate executives prefer Genesis cars. They have a few EV options that are incredibly elegant.
If you prefer an SUV, Genesis has an Electrified GV70 that starts around $67k MSRP, and the 2025 model earned a perfect score (10/10) from a car magazine company, Car and Driver. My favorite part of E-GV70 is the elegant combination of their interior design, which consists of patterned metallic trim, leather seats, and nicely compartmentalized tech gadgets. The cherry on top is their Graphic Mood Lighting, which is simply striking during night-time driving.
Genesis also has a large Electrified G80 Sedan, which is a bit more expensive ($74k MSRP), but it definitely has a more elegant exterior than the SUV. Its got that Mercedes S-class vibe (with a much better looking front grill IMO), and it really stands out on the road.