Comparing Performance of Off-Road Electric Cars: All the Techy Deetz

Off-road electric cars are become ever increasingly popular and as a result, there are a multitude of options to choose from. At first glance they all look incredibly badass, but — like any techy — you want to know what’s under the hood before throwing your hard-earned cash at one.

Summary:

We’ve put together a comprehensive list of key performance stats to help you compare off-road electric cars and get the most techy bang for your buck.

Range

Range is one of the key components in determining the performance of a off-road electric car, as it’s the maximum distance you can travel on a single charge. Of course, the range of each model will depend heavily on the terrain you’re travelling on as well as the weight of the car.

For example, the Tesla Model X can travel up to 455 km on a single charge, but this range can drop to as low as 360 km if you’re driving off-road. Similarly, the Nissan Leaf can travel up to 270 km on a single charge, but this range can drop to as low as 215 km when driving off-road.

• Tesla Model X– 455 km (360 km off-road)
• Nissan Leaf– 270 km (215 km off-road)
• Audi e-tron– 277 km (230 km off-road)
• BMW i3– 260 km (210 km off-road)

Acceleration

Acceleration is another important factor in assessing the performance of off-road electric cars — how fast can you blast off the starting block?

The Tesla Model X is the clear winner in terms of acceleration, boasting a 0 to 100 km/h speed of just 6.0 seconds. The Audi e-tron comes in second with a 0 to 100 km/h speed of 6.6 seconds, followed by the BMW i3 at 7.4 seconds and the Nissan Leaf at 8.4 seconds.

• Tesla Model X– 6.0 seconds
• Audi e-tron– 6.6 seconds
• BMW i3– 7.4 seconds
• Nissan Leaf– 8.4 seconds

Charging Time

Getting back on the road after having your car run out of juice can be a major drag, so it’s important to consider the charging time of off-road electric cars.

The Tesla Model X takes the longest to charge, but is also the fastest on the road – a solid trade-off. The Audi e-tron comes in second, taking about 55 minutes to charge, followed by the BMW i3, taking about 50 minutes. The Nissan Leaf is the fastest to charge at just 25 minutes!

• Tesla Model X– 75 minutes
• Audi e-tron– 55 minutes
• BMW i3– 50 minutes
• Nissan Leaf– 25 minutes

Torque

Torque is the force that pushes you up and over those steep hills, so it’s essential to consider when comparing off-road electric cars.

The Tesla Model X leads the pack, offering a whopping 713 lb/ft of torque. The Audi e-tron comes in second with 454 lb/ft of torque. The BMW i3 offers 350 lb/ft and the Nissan Leaf has a torque of 236 lb/ft.

• Tesla Model X– 713 lb/ft
• Audi e-tron– 454 lb/ft
• BMW i3– 350 lb/ft
• Nissan Leaf– 236 lb/ft

Price

Let’s be real – price is a major factor when it comes to cars and most techy-types have a tight budget. Here’s what you can expect to pay for these off-road electric cars.

The Tesla Model X is the priciest of the bunch, coming in at $92,990. The Audi e-tron is next at $79,900. Piling on from there is the BMW i3 at $46,700 and the Nissan Leaf at $37,495.

• Tesla Model X– $92,990
• Audi e-tron– $79,900
• BMW i3– $46,700
• Nissan Leaf– $37,495

The Verdict

As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when comparing off-road electric cars. Price, range, acceleration, torque and charging time all play a role in determining which car is right for you and your techy needs.

The Tesla Model X offers the best performance overall, but at a high price tag. If you’re on a budget and still want good performance, the Nissan Leaf is a good option. The Audi e-tron and BMW i3 are also solid middle ground options, offering great performance at a slightly lower price point.

Hopefully, this info has helped narrow down your choice of off-road electric car, so you can focus on what’s important — blasting off the starting block and hitting up some gnarly trails.