Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI vs. Tesla Model 3 Base
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI and Tesla Model 3 Base contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI and the Tesla Model 3 Base.
When we compare the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI's and the Tesla Model 3 Base's specifications and ratings, the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI has the advantage in the area of resale value. The Tesla Model 3 Base has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI's and the Tesla Model 3 Base's specifications and ratings, the Tesla Model 3 Base is a better car than the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI.
Pricing: A used 2024 Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI ranges from $45,194 to $57,488 while a used 2024 Tesla Model 3 Base is priced between $29,319 to $37,315.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI loses 47.9 percent of its value and the Tesla Model 3 Base loses 57 percent of its value. This means the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI retains 9.1 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Tesla Model 3 Base.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI’s base engine makes 261 horsepower, and the Tesla Model 3 Base base engine makes 271 horsepower. The quattro Premium 45 TFSI is rated to deliver an average of 27 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 505 miles. The Base is rated to deliver an average of 127 miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe), with a highway range of 272 miles.This gives the Tesla Model 3 Base the advantage in fuel efficiency and the Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI the advantage in maximum range. The quattro Premium 45 TFSI uses premium unleaded, and the Base uses electricity.
Safety Ratings: The Tesla Model 3 Base has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
56235 - 59985
Starting MSRP:
55600
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
48163
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
31800 - 79900
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
38990
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
47030
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
38990 - 52200
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
52036
Price Range:
45194 - 57488
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
47204
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
30035 - 91536
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
32978
Price Range:
29319 - 37315
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
41906
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
36868 - 51073
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
28
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
20600
# Good or Great Deals:
7
Audi A5 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.8 / 10
Reliability:
7.6 / 10
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Tesla Model 3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.3 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi A5 quattro Premium 45 TFSI
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
11.6
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
10.9
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
8.5 - 19.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.001
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Tesla Model 3 Base
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.6847923173713162
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.7
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.2 - 16.4
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
184.07897964940872
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
21.7
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
10.0 - 184.1
Audi A5 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 4Ranking
1 out of / 4Ranking
4 out of / 23Ranking
9 out of / 23Ranking
9 out of / 23Ranking
9 out of / 23Ranking
11 out of / 23Ranking
12 out of / 23Ranking
22 out of / 23Tesla Model 3 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 23Ranking
1 out of / 20Ranking
2 out of / 35Ranking
3 out of / 23Ranking
4 out of / 29Ranking
4 out of / 23Ranking
5 out of / 23Ranking
5 out of / 23Ranking
7 out of / 35Ranking
8 out of / 35Ranking
8 out of / 35Ranking
11 out of / 23Ranking
17 out of / 35Ranking
17 out of / 23Ranking
20 out of / 35Available Body Styles
Convertible
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Electric
Other Audi A5 Trim Levels
quattro Premium Plus 45 TFSI, quattro Prestige 45 TFSI
Other Tesla Model 3 Trim Levels
Long Range, Performance
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
8 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
261 hp @ 6300 rpm
Torque:
273 foot-lbs @ 4200 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.065 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
271 hp
Torque:
310 foot-lbs
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.070 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
24 / 33 / 27
MPGe:
Not applicable
Range (city/hwy):
367 / 505 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Battery Size/Capacity :
Not applicable
Maximum Charging Rate:
Not applicable
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
Not Applicable
Engine Configuration:
Not Applicable
Number of Cylinders:
Not Applicable
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not applicable
MPGe:
127 / 125 / 127
Range (city/hwy):
272 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Electricity
Battery Size/Capacity:
50 kWh
Maximum Charging Rate:
10.5 hours (240V)
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Satellite radio:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
Available
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Standard
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
Standard
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.3 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.3 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
33.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
46.9 inches
Cargo Space:
9.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
83.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.3 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.2 inches
Cargo Space:
24.1 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3990 lbs
Width:
79.9 inches
Height:
54.5 inches
Length:
184.9 inches
Wheelbase:
108.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3891 lbs
Width:
82.2 inches
Height:
56.7 inches
Length:
185.8 inches
Wheelbase:
113.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.4 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
245/40R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/45R18
Exterior Colors
Black
Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Navarra Blue Metallic
Gray
Chronos Gray Metallic / Daytona Gray Pearl Effect
Green
District Green Metallic
Red
Progressive Red Metallic
White
Arkona White / Glacier White Metallic
Silver
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Solid Black
Blue
Deep Blue Metallic
Gray
Stealth Gray
Green
Not available
Red
Ultra Red
White
Pearl White Multi-Coat
Silver
Quicksilver
Interior Colors
Beige
Atlas Beige
Black
Black
Brown
Okapi Brown
Gray
Rock Gray
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
White
Black and White
