A recent freshening added Q8 to the E-Tron name and a bigger battery for a competitive 285 mile range over the original 220 mile range, as well an increase in horsepower from 355 to 402. The DC fast charger acceptance rate is now increased to 170 kW.
The E-Tron is Audi’s first electric vehicle, and looks like a conventional luxury SUV. It doesn’t consume fossil fuel and doesn’t have any tailpipe emissions. We love its smooth acceleration, vault-like quietness, plush ride, and impeccably luxurious cabin. However, its typical $80,000 price tag means this advanced vehicle doesn’t come cheap, although its running costs are low.
The 2019 Audi E-Tron we tested had an EPA-rated range of 204 miles, and took us a long 13 hours to fully charge the 95-kWh battery from about five percent charge on a 240-volt/32 ampere charger. DC fast chargers outlets in public places can get the battery to 80-percent charge at a quicker rate, making long trips a bit more manageable. Range now has been boosted to 285 miles.
Driving the E-Tron is a treat. Its electric motors silently propel the SUV forward in a smooth, dignified manner without the head-snapping lunge off the line we’ve experienced in some other electric vehicles.
But make no mistake, if a driver needs a quick getaway, a forceful push on the accelerator provides plenty of power from the electric motors immediate power.The standard air suspension delivers a superb ride and masks every bump and dip in the road. In this regard, the E-Tron is far superior to the Jaguar and Tesla Model X. But this 5,800-pound luxury SUV doesn’t corner as nimbly as those rivals.
The cabin is extremely quiet, and the comfortable seats and high-quality, luxurious trim pamper passengers. It has a roomy rear seat and a roomy cargo area.Although the two touch screens that house most of the controls may seem daunting at first, in reality it turns out that interacting with audio, phone, and navigation systems is quite logical. This is partly due to the screens haptic feedback, which provides a sensation of an actual button and thus confirms a choice. The gear selector might be a hurdle initially. While it’s a neat design element, it takes some time to get used to operating it.
The E-Tron has a finicky motorized door covering its charging port that doesn’t always open or close at the first push of the button.
Forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW) come standard. The driver assist features that come standard in the E-Tron are adaptive cruise control, lane centering assistance, lane keeping assistance, lane departure warning, and blind spot warning. Traffic sign recognition comes with the Premium Plus and higher trims.