Business Car trailblazers Audi e-Tron First production EV from Audi, the e-Tron is desirable, practical and good to drive.
Martyn Collins
Audi’s future is EV, like every other manufacturer on the build-up to the 2030 ICE engine ban – but their first production model arrived back in 2019 – the e-Tron. Driving the renamed, facelifted version of this car - the Q8 e-Tron (see P34), made us realise what a significant model the e-Tron was – despite only being on sale for four years.
We all know Audi’s reputation for luxury, quality, and technology – well the e-Tron’s job was to be all of that and be powered by electricity as well. Being an SUV and falling between the Q5 and Q7 in terms of size, the e-Tron was practical, as
front, rear and boot space are impressive. On top of being spacious, the e-Tron’s interior boasted the quality level expected of the four-rings badge and there’s all the technology expected of a modern EV – most obviously with the two dashboard- mounted touchscreens. The 10.1in screen at the top controls the radio, phone and sat- nav controls. With the smaller 8.6in one controlling the climate control. Interior stowage also impresses – you could almost lose your mobile phone in the centre console it’s so big and deep.
Outside, the e-Tron is best described as attractive but not distinctive. In the first instance it just looks like a bigger Q5 – which seems unadventurous. Go for the
more attractive S-Line spec, and you get a body kit, 21in alloy wheels and clever matrix LED headlights – which make this Audi EV stand out more. The curvier ‘Sportback’ is the better looking of the two big Audi EVs in our opinion, and you only have to sacrifice a bit of boot space, plus rear headroom is unaffected.
Available in three distinctive versions, the e-Tron range starts with the 230kW 50 Quattro; with 71kWh it still packs a 313hp punch and boasts a 6.8 sec 0-60mph acceleration time. The range then moves up to the 300kW 55 Quattro with 95kWh, 408hp and the 0-60mph acceleration time trimmed to 6.6 seconds. At the top of the range, is the 370kW S Vorsprung Quattro
95kWh Rocketship, with 503hp and 0-60mph acceleration in just 4.5 seconds. Suspended on air suspension, sportiest ‘S’ aside, the e-Tron is more about comfort and refinement. However, despite weighing more than 2.5 tonnes, this Audi is still a decent handler. With Quattro four- wheel drive as standard, the grip is good, and the steering is reasonably precise. Even models fitted with the largest rims don’t really affect the ride comfort. The e-Tron S is a real rocketship, the way it forces you back into the sports seats when accelerating hard is an eye-opener – but the range drops equally quickly! The elephant in the e-Tron’s room, is its efficiency. Considering the premium prices, we can’t help feeling this Audi EV should be going further on a charge. Choose the 50 Quattro, and Audi claim it has a 198-mile range. However, in reality 150 miles is closer to the mark. If range is what you’re after, then the 55 Quattro is a safer bet, with its 254-mile figure – although again in practise it will be closer to 200 miles. Even the 503hp e-Tron S claims 223 miles, although this again is closer to 200 in the real world and how you use all that performance.
Despite production of all e-Tron models being suspended in 2020, due to supply chain issues, this doesn’t make the e-Tron more sought after than other EVs. Reliability problems are generally few, and prices start at the more affordable level of £30,000 for an S Line 50 Quattro with 26,000 miles at an independent dealer.
50 | May 2023 |
www.businesscar.co.uk
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