The Audi e-tron is an all-electric, luxurious, 4×4, family-sized SUV
Audi e-tron Review
The Audi e-tron is Audi’s first 100% electric car (BEV). It looks fairly similar to a conventional Audi on the outside, but inside it runs entirely on battery power.
It’s well-built, exudes Audi quality, has a decent range, and can accommodate 5 adults and their luggage in comfort.
There are two versions of the car: Audi e-tron 50 quattro and the Audi e-tron 55 quattro. What’s the difference?
The 50 quattro has a 71 kWh battery and the 55 quattro has a larger 95 kWh battery, giving it more range.
Positives
- Audi build quality
- Luxurious inside
- Plenty of room
- 4×4
- Very quiet inside
Negatives
- The 55 quattro is expensive
Audi e-tron Range
Here are details of how far the two versions of the e-tron will go when fully charged:
- The base model ‘50 quattro‘ Audi e-tron has a real-world range of roughly 188 miles on a single charge.
- It’s larger battery brother, the ‘55 quattro‘, has a range of about 244 miles.
To find out the difference between the official WLTP ranges and real-world ranges, please refer to our range guide. Outside temperature, driving style, whether you are going up or down hills, etc., all affect how far your EV will go on a single charge.
Audi e-tron Price
The cost of the two variants of the Audi e-tron is as follows:
- Audi e-tron 50 quattro: from £59,900
- Audi e-tron 55 quattro: from £71,560
Up until recently, both cars benefited from a government subsidy for EVs, but now that support has been withdrawn for cars costing £50,000 and over.
Are these prices competitive? The Tesla Model X (from £87,980) and Model S (from £79,980) both cost considerably more.
Direct competitors of the e-tron are the Jaguar I-Pace (from £65,195), and the Mercedes EQC (from £65,720). As you can see, these prices make the 50 quattro version very competitive in this segment, although its range is lower.
If you have your heart set on an Audi, and can afford it, go for it. Both versions of this Audi electric car are very polished – they only differ in terms of range and power.
Virtual Door Mirrors
You can specify ‘virtual door mirrors’ on your e-tron. These are pretty radical.
Rather than the traditional wing mirrors that we are all used to, among the Audi e-tron’s optional extras are camera-based mirrors.
Actually, they are not mirrors at all, but rather cameras that stick out – facing backwards – which then show you the view on little screens inside the car. Car designers love these camera-based, virtual door mirrors, as suddenly they can create new designs for an item that has been largely static for decades.
Drivers, on the other hand, are somewhat divided about the technology. In the Audi e-tron quattro, the internal screens are placed lower than you would want them and can also suffer from screen glare.
Who is the Audi e-tron for?
This Audi electric SUV is a high performance, luxurious, 4-wheel drive, spacious, 5-seat EV.
Could it be your next family car? Of course. The e-tron is superb. It provides the quality and reliability that Audi is famous for, but at the same time moves you into the electric car experience. You can ferry your family and plenty of belongings around in great comfort. No more smelly diesel to contend with. As it’s all-wheel drive, you know you are unlikely to get stuck in a muddy field or on a snowy road. The e-tron also comes with air suspension which makes the ride very pleasant.
What about charging? If you go on a long trip and need to charge halfway, the Audi e-tron SUV has very fast DC charging built in. With its CCS connector, the charging rates are as follows:
- 50 quattro: 120 kW (DC)
- 55 quattro: 150 kW (DC)
Many public and motorway chargers are currently limited to 50 kW, but more and more charging points are now being upgraded which will allow the e-trons to charge at their full potential.
Will this Audi electric car be bought / leased as a company vehicle? You betcha. The e-tron is highly desirable, and its range on a single charge, especially the 55 quattro, is sufficient to cater for the vast majority of daily trips. If you’re a high-ranking executive and up for a new car, time to take your Financial Director out for a drink.
- If you would like more information about EVs in general, please see our main Electric Cars page.
- For specific details about the Audi e-tron 55 quattro itself, see the main Audi UK e-tron website.
