TESTED AUDI E-TRONThe all-electric E-tron looks just like a
friendly, familiar SUV from the German
maker... and that’s a very good thing
QWhile the Jaguar I-Pace and
Tesla Model X set out to look
deliberately different, there’s
something ‘Vorsprung Durch
Conventional’ about the styling
of Audi’s latest SUV. Strip things
away, though, and you’ll find electric
motors on each axle and a 95kWh
battery offering 402bhp.QThe I-Pace is a second faster
from 0 to 62, but then the five-seat
E-tron weighs 300kg more. And
it’s plenty quick enough, with
a top speed limited to 124mph.
The smooth, quiet power delivery
makes total sense in an SUV that
glides across the tarmac with
very little fuss.QThat might have something
to do with the foam-lined tyres...
and while you’ll enjoy the silence,
calmness is needed in a cabin with
five screens – two in the centre
console, a full-width dash display
and two more on the doors either
side for the rear-view cameras.
More on that below...QAudi’s Virtual Cockpit UI is the
best in the business, supported by
OLED touchscreens, Alexa voice
commands, Bang & Olufsen
surround sound, and great
smartphone connectivity
including Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto.QPerformance is sluggish in the
most economic driving mode,
but switch to Dynamic and things
become a bit too intense – and the
E-tron really isn’t that sort of SUV.Audi’s reasoning for replacing the wing mirrors is drag reduction. That’s especially
important for electric vehicles, and on the E-tron it can mean as much as four extra
miles of range. Pity, then, that this car’s most innovative feature is its biggest weakness.
Still, in virtually every other area it’s a textbook Audi SUV – one that shouldn’t just
tempt existing customers to go electric, but make them switch without even thinking.Mirror madness
aside, this is just
what an electric
Audi should be
James DayAudi, partner
STUFF SAYS The most innovative SUV in the world, hidden in plain sight ++++,
Battery 95kWh Range 248 miles
0-62mph 5.7secs Top speed
124mph Displays 10.1in and 8.6in
haptic touchscreens Connectivity
Alexa, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB,
Qi wireless chargingQ Couldn’t lever alone
The gear lever is also perplexing
at first, but get used to the
pivoting action and it’s pretty
pleasurable. The paddle shifters
behind the steering wheel control
the regenerative braking rather
than changing gear.Q On reflection, however...
The E-tron is available with
side cameras instead of mirrors.
Sounds cool, but in practice it’s
mystifying. You have to lower
your gaze to a screen in the door
panel, which is unnatural and
takes your attention off the road.from £71,560 / stuff.tv/etronTech specs
Snug life
The myAudi app
keeps tabs on battery
levels and range, and
runs the climate control
so it’s cosy or cool
before you get
in the car.