Audi E-tron Review: Accomplished Electric SUV That Is Different But Not Too Much

E-tron SUV is fairly big and when you see it, you like the stance along with the overall proportions. It is a proper Audi of course while being nothing too radical but has enough to make it standout

Audi E-tron Review

New Delhi: Electric cars are coming in thick and fast which signals how a small shift can be seen with EVs in the near future. Audi has been teasing its electric offering for a long time and now finally the e-tron electric SUV is here. There are two versions and it depends on what you fancy while the car we have here is the upright standard SUV while the Sportback has a coupe-like roofline.

The e-tron SUV is fairly big and when you see it, you like the stance along with the overall proportions. It is a proper Audi of course while being nothing too radical but has enough to make it stand out plus showing people you do not have a Q7 but an electric Audi. In other words, it is different, but not too much. Up-front you get a large grille which is typically Audi while the superbly designed digital Matrix LED headlamps are a nice touch.

You can also see the futuristic-looking wheels (20-inch along with orange brake calipers) while the rear has a clean look along with tail lamps which cover the entire width of the car. Overall, the e-tron looks cool and everywhere we went, everyone wanted to take a second look at this car- also helped by this unique colour.

The interior is also typically Audi which means it has dual screens which occupy the major real estate in the centre along with the fully digital dials. Audi first started putting virtual dials in their cars so they are masters at it. The design and quality is superb and that is what you expect. The touch screens are all nice to use and have great touch response but you do need to shift your attention a bit to do minor things- something with all button-less cabins these days.

That said, there is a haptic touch and you do soon get used to it. Space is impressive and around "big SUV" standards with the rear seat having plenty of legroom/headroom. Equipment includes soft close doors, four-zone climate control, 16-speaker audio system, ambient lighting, wireless charging, heads-up display and a panoramic sunroof.

To drive is where the e-tron fun begins. Being electric means there is no noise and that means the refinement is top-class along with a fairly absorbent suspension. Since EVs are all about pin-drop silence, the e-tron makes a noise to warn pedestrians-something all EVs might have in the future! The ground clearance is also excellent and the e-tron feels much smaller to drive in traffic. It is very quick as you expect and this 55 Quattro version puts out 408 hp and 664Nm in its fastest setting (with a 95 kWh battery). Put your foot down and the e-tron will shame sports cars and what is even more impressive is the tight handling which makes you forget that you are driving an EV. The best thing about the e-tron is the comfort and the ease. In the city, comfort mode is more than enough for quick overtakes and a stress drive driving experience and even efficiency mode are fast enough. Dynamic mode brings out all the power but is too quick for city use. 

Range was showing 418km on the display while driving it fast/city traffic along with a short highway run gave it a range of around 360km which is impressive. A full test soon will reveal more when we have the car for a longer time but you barely need to charge the e-tron once or twice a week for a normal commute. Like all EVs there is regenerative braking and you can control that via paddles behind the steering wheel. I was shocked at how smooth it is and it is not too fast or jerky.

Audi will give you an 11kW charger and that will charge the car in under 9 hours (to reach 80 percent). A 22kW charger will do that in 4.5 hours while a DC fast charger will lower the time to just 30 minutes (150kW). With electricity prices even at their highest, the savings over a petrol car are huge.

The e-tron is a competent SUV at first and what we liked the most is that it is usable with the suspension being raised and that makes it an EV suited to our roads. It also offers more than enough range, is spacious and well equipped along with looks which make it stand out- although not too much. In short, the e-tron is the most convincing EV yet in the luxury space. Prices would be out on the 22nd.

What we like: looks, range, practicality, ride, performance, comfort

What we do not like: EVs are still expensive