With the launch of the E-Tron, Audi has dipped its toes into the electric SUV class. It’s pinned as a rival to some well-established vehicles, like the World Car of the Year winner Jaguar I-Pace, Tesla Model X and Mercedes-Benz EQC.
The exterior design is quite restrained, with the only things that give its identity away to those who don’t have a thing for cars being the front grille and side charging ports.
Things aren’t wacky inside either, where users will get the usual digital instrument cluster and two screens in the dashboard that control most functions. Rear head- and legroom, boot and storage spaces are all very good, and the overall impression is that of a luxury SUV – if you can ignore some cheap plastics here and there…
Watch The Audi E-Tron Accelerate To Its Top Speed In The Autobahn
Looking at the spec sheet, it’s evident that a href=”https://www.carscoops.com/2019/04/2019-audi-e-tron-only-has-204-miles-of-range-91-miles-less-than-tesla-model-x/”>the E-Tron is on the sporty side, with the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration taking only 5.5 seconds. That’s thanks to the two electric motors that normally deliver 355 hp (360 PS / 265 kW), and up to 420 hp (408 PS / 300 kW) in Boost Mode. For a vehicle that weighs about 5,500 lbs (2.5 tons), that kind of performance, and the 241-mile (388 km) official range, are pretty impressive.
In the real world, what impresses the most is the comfort, as Audi’s electric SUV has been designed to be a calm cruiser. It’s not as enjoyable to drive as the I-Pace nor as brutally fast as the Model X, but it does strike a great balance between power and comfort.
Despite the good levels of soundproofing, the usual road and wind noise gets inside at highway speeds, which could be annoying. But that’s the “downside” of having a silent powertrain…
These were CarBuyer’s observations during their time with the E-Tron. That’s not all, though, and you can learn the rest by watching the full review right below.