Audi e-tron Review 2023

If you want the most practical electric SUV you can get, then no it isn’t. You’ll be wanting a Tesla Model X. If you want the sportiest one there is, you’ll want the Jaguar I-Pace, and if you want the one with the snazziest infotainment system, it’s the Mercedes-Benz EQC. 

If, however, you want your electric SUV to feel more like a luxury limousine, with incredible interior quality, generous cabin space, lots of luxury toys, superb refinement and a comfortable ride, the Audi e-tron is definitely the electric SUV for you.

There are two versions of the Audi e-tron available, the 50 and the 55, which have different power outputs. We haven’t tried the weaker 50 yet, so we don’t know if it’s appreciably different to drive than the 55, but with 312PS, we reckon it’ll probably be rapid enough for most. 

All versions of the Audi e-tron are well equipped, so we can’t see all that much sense in venturing too far high up the model range. Whichever power output you choose, stick with the most basic trim.

Not so long ago, all-electric premium SUVs didn’t exist at all, but buyers now have several to choose from, albeit ones that vary quite a lot in size. The Audi e-tron’s closest competitors in that regard are the Jaguar I-Pace and the Mercedes EQC. 

The Jag is designed to be the sporty one of the bunch, while the Mercedes is a more sensible, relaxed choice. The Audi, meanwhile, is more like a luxury car that happens to also be an electric SUV plus it’s also appreciably bigger. Bigger still is the Tesla Model X. It’s also quite a bit more expensive but can be had with seven seats.

You’d expect any Audi - even an electric one - to deliver cabin quality worthy of the four rings, and the e-tron doesn’t disappoint. Every surface is dense and lustrous, while even the panels tucked away in the lower reaches of the cabin are of a uniformly high quality. 

If anything, the way it’s all assembled is even more impressive: every panel fits together with pin-point precision. If you hear squeaks or rattles, it’s more likely that you’ve left a mouse and a snake in your glovebox, rather than your car being responsible.

The different versions have slight differences in interior styling and the nature of the - and amount of - leather on show. But essentially, all Audi e-trons feel like proper luxury cars. And importantly, they feel every bit as posh as the Mercedes EQC, which is also very impressive on this score, and considerably posher than the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X.

As we’ve already discovered, the Audi e-tron’s centre console has two screens. The 8.6-inch one on the bottom handles the air-conditioning system, while the top one - measuring 10.1-inches - takes care of pretty much everything else.

It all looks great and delivers a really high-tech feel to the cabin. And as touchscreens go, it’s pretty good. The graphics are really sharp and the responses are lightning quick, so you won’t be left waiting for the screen to catch up with your inputs. 

However, the sheer amount of functions to find your way through can be rather bamboozling. And like with any touchscreen, it’s more distracting to use than traditional knobs and buttons, because you have to concentrate so hard on hitting exactly the right part of the screen.

All the functionality you’d expect is covered, though, including navigation, DAB radio, Apple Carplay/Android Auto and wireless phone charging. There’s also a clever function that lets you precondition the car by turning on and setting the climate control through your smartphone before you even get in. 

Upgrade to the Audi e tron Vorsprung model, and this functionality is extended: you can also switch on your heated seats and your window de-icers. The Vorsprung also gets cameras to replace the door mirrors.

The Audi e tron dimensions are 4.9m long and over 1.9m wide, which makes it bigger than some seven-seat SUVs despite only seating five. Even so, the e-tron can’t live with the Tesla Model X, which is considerably bigger and is available with a seven seat layout. 

Compare it with other electric SUV rivals such as the Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC, though, and things look a lot rosier. The front seats have plenty of space, as front seats usually do, but the rear of the cabin is roomier than in both its main rivals, with a shade more legroom and headroom. 

There’s enough shoulder space to fit three across the rear bench, too. Whoever’s in the middle pew will have to put up with a narrow seat with rather firm cushions, but there’s more foot space than in most cars thanks to a rear footwell that’s almost flat.

The Audi e-tron's 665-litre boot is roughly the same size as the Jag’s and bigger than the EQC, so most families will be content with the amount of cargo space they get. The rear seats also drop in a 40/20/40 configuration (more versatile than the Jag’s 60/40 split) allowing you to boost your cargo capacity, but the backrests lie at a slight angle, leaving you with a sloped load area. There’s an annoying lip that you have to lug heavy items over, too.

There are two versions of the Audi e-tron, known as the 50 and the 55. We haven’t yet tried the 50 with its power output of 312PS, but we’ve had a shot in the 55, which has a maximum of 408PS. That’s identical to what you get in the Mercedes EQC, and slightly more than the Jaguar I-Pace.

There is a difference, though. While the other two cars have that power on tap the whole time, the Audi only delivers it when you stick the drive selector into S mode - and then only for bursts of a few seconds at a time. Otherwise, the output drops to 360PS, which extends the car’s 0-62mph time from 5.7 seconds to 6.6 seconds. It should also prolong your battery’s useful lifespan, though, so it’s probably worth it.

And even then, the performance is pretty brisk and instantaneous, whether you’re getting away from the mark or putting your foot down on the move. The single-gear arrangement also means your progress isn’t made staccato by pesky gearshifts.

Because electric motors are much quieter than those that run on petrol or diesel, most electric cars are considerably quieter than their combustion-engined counterparts. Even by these standards, though, the Audi e-tron takes things to another level. You hear barely a whistle from the motors, and despite having fat tyres, there's barely any road noise, either. 

Wind noise is also fabulously well contained, and that’s whether you have the regular door mirrors or the substitute cameras that you get on the Audi e tron Launch Edition. This really is a very quiet, serene way to get about.

There are small variations in range figures between various trim levels, but official figures for the Audi e-tron 50 stand at a maximum of 191 miles, whereas the 55’s maximum figure is 252 miles. The 55’s maximum is about the same as the Mercedes EQC’s, but both are behind the Jaguar I-Pace.

Remember, too, that these are laboratory figures - and as such, are not ones you should be relying on in the real world. In perfect conditions, we reckon you can expect a maximum of around 200-220 miles from the 55, but if it’s cold or your journey involves lots of stopping and starting, then you’ll get a lot less - maybe 150 miles.

The uninitiated might have questions over the crash safety of an electric car: How does a battery behave in an impact? Will it burst into flames? That sort of thing. 

Well, you can take solace from the fact that batteries are very stiff structures that are usually built into the chassis of the vehicle, so with many EVs crash safety is actually excellent. If you need proof, the e-tron’s five-star Euro NCAP rating should help provide it. 

All Audi e-trons come with automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, on top of all the usual airbags and electronic aids to maximise traction and stability. The Launch Edition also comes with a cross traffic alert system (that prevents you pulling out into the path of traffic) and a semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control system.

It's a bit early to tell just how reliable the Audi e tron is. Although it's been on sale since 2018 it's also an expensive EV, so the number of examples sold and out on the roads is still quite small.

On the one hand Audi's reputation is middling, being placed 32nd out of 52 brands in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, but there is also the fact that EVs have fewer mechanical parts to go wrong.

Whichever version of the e-tron you pick, it won’t be cheap to insure. Some sit in group 49 for insurance, but most sit in group 50, which is the priciest group there is. Still anyone wealthy enough to consider buying an e-tron has probably got enough cash to insure it, too.

There was a time when EVs were exempt from all sorts of taxes, VED included. For some EVs, that continues to be the case, but because all versions of the e-tron cost more than £40,000 when new, they’re all subject to a temporary surcharge. So, between years two and five of your car’s life, you’ll pay annual tax of £355. After that, though, your tax bills drop back down to zero. Happy days.

As the luxury limousine of electric cars, even the entry-level Audi e-tron needs to come with enough creature comforts to make its occupant feel spoiled. As such, Technik trim comes with air suspension, two-zone climate control, leather upholstery, cruise control, LED ambient lighting, keyless go, heated front seats and a powered tailgate, not to mention all the infotainment and safety kit we mentioned earlier. 

Audi e tron Sport models add front sports seats and more USB sockets (some in the rear), but not much else, while S line cars add very little other than a few styling upgrades. 

The Audi e tron Launch Edition car gives you those cameras that replace the door mirrors, along with a panoramic roof and electric steering adjustment. Oddly, though, those trim levels only apply to the 50 model. The 55, meanwhile, comes in either basic trim or Launch Edition trim.

At the top of the tree is the Audi e tron Vorsprung, which gets massive 22-inch alloy wheels, sports front seats and a spectacular B&O audio system, but it is also very expensive.