Standard-setting refinement and a comfy ride make for relaxing journeys
Sloping roofline at rear was taken from the A7 Sportback five-door coupé
24 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 8 APRIL 2 020
Δ the performance further, providing
more responsive tip-in, noticeably
stronger roll-on qualities and greater
overall performance intensity. So
configured, the car has a claimed
0-62mph time of 5.7sec, but from
recent experience with the E-tron,
w e w ou ld n’t b e s u r pr i s e d i f t h at t i me
is a little on the conservative side.
The E-tron Sportback certainly feels
quicker once all that torque is f lowing
freely to each wheel, and the inherent
urgency doesn’t subside until you’re
well on the way to the electronically
limited top speed of 124mph.
For perspective, Jaguar claims
figures of 4.8sec and 124mph.
Satisfaction doesn’t only come
via the accelerative forces at play,
though. An advanced kinetic energy
recuperation system with three
selectable degrees of intensity (in
a dd it ion t o a n aut om at ic s e t t i n g t h at
draws on the sat-nav for topographic
information) also demands a degree
of skill from the driver, in seeing
how much energy can be harvested
under braking and during periods
`
Audi has managed to take acoustic
civility to a whole new level
a
of off-throttle coasting.
In its automatic setting, the system
is amazingly efficient, although it
does take some trial and error before
you fully understand what setting
best suits any particular situation.
Another real strong point of the
E-tron Sportback is its outstanding
refinement. We’ve become used to
the inherent quietness of electric
cars, but Audi has managed to take
acoustic civility to a whole new level.
Rolling refinement, suppression of
road noise and resistance to wind
buffeting are particularly good,
even at motorway speeds. The near-
silent operation of the motors and
power electrics system is excellently
isolated from the cabin too, making
the E-tron Sportback very relaxing to
drive over long distances, especially
in its more comfort-focused mode.
Given the E-tron Sportback’s
outstanding ability to place those not-
inconsiderable reserves to the road,
it’s a pity that its steering doesn’t
offer more feel; the speed-sensitive
electromechanical rack delivers a
reassuring sense of sharpness and
weighting but is lacking in feedback.
Don’t let that shortcoming put
you off, though, because the E-tron
Sportback still offers enough for the
driver to be described as engaging.
It’s capable of stringing together
a series of medium-to-high-speed
corners with excellent resistanceto roll and some proper rear-biased
handling properties.
With the majority of its weight
concentrated low within its platform
and a comparatively low ride height
by SUV standards, it has a very low
centre of gravity and can offer the
s or t of a s s u r e d h a nd l i n g t r a it s t h at
promise to win it wide appeal.
Despite heady levels of weight
transfer under braking and in
tight corners, body movement is
excellently suppressed thanks to
TESTER’S NOTE
The use of an MLB-
derived platform
means the E-tron
Sportback suffers
the same packaging
problems as regular
Audi SUVs. Without
the long bonnet and
bulky transmission
tunnel, it would be
even roomier and
more versatile. GK