Digital dial display sits alongside touchscreens spanning 10.1in and 8.8in
8 APRIL 2 020 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 25
FIRST DRIVES
a combination of firm damping
and fast-acting qualities of the
standard air suspension. Lean isn’t
entirely absent, but the degree of
it is relatively low and sufficiently
progressive so as not to upset the
otherwise respectable balance.
The ability of the quattro four-
wheel drive system and its torque-
vectoring system to individually
apportion power to each rear wheel
helps to provide a decent amount of
pu r c h a s e on smo ot h s u r f a c e s , t o o.
The optional 255/50-profile tyres
worn by our test car deliver plenty
of m id- c or ne r g r ip, a l low i n g y ou
to carry a good deal of speed up to
the apex without any premature
understeer or intervention from
the electronic stability control
system. Thereafter, you can be very
prodigious with the throttle without
causing any deterioration of poise.
In the UK, the E-tron Sportback
c ome s a s s t a nd a rd on bi g 21 i n a l loy s ,
but bu y e r s w i l l a l s o b e a ble t o s p e c i f y
22in wheels as an option. On the
20in rims available in Germany,
the ride is nicely struck, with firm
underlying qualities providing
well-controlled vertical movement.
A further point of note is the
outstanding feel of the E-tron
Sportback’s brake pedal, which is
among the best we’ve come across
in an electric car of any guise.
Despite there being four different
intensities of energy recuperation
available, the feel remains strong
and positive at all times.
Changes over the regular E-tron
to the brake pads, including the
Price £79,900
Engine Two electric motors
Power 402bhp (in Boost mode)
Torque 490lb ft (in Boost mode)
Gearbox 1-spd, direct drive
Kerb weight 2480kg
0-62mph 5.7sec (in Boost mode)
Top speed 124mph (governed)
Battery 95kWh
Range 278 miles (WLTP)
CO 2 , tax band 0g/km, 0%
RIVALS Jaguar I-Pace,
Tesla Model X
AUDI E-TRON SPORTBACK 55 QUATTRO
Quick, quiet and classy electric SUV
builds on the solid foundations of its
upright sibling with sharper handlingAAAAB
E-tron’s rear light bar appears again on the Sportback
AUDI IMPROVES ITS
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
a dop t ion of s of t e r s pr i n gs , h av e
reduced friction, Audi says, eking
out another 1.9 miles of range.
The £79,900 E-tron Sportback
is more driver-oriented than the
£71,520 E-tron, if not quite to the
degree we were led to believe byA ud i w he n r e v e a l i n g it at t he L o s
Angeles motor show last year. The
difference between the two is quite
subtle on pure performance alone.
How e v e r, w it h a mor e s p or t i n g
shape, greater athleticism on more
challenging roads, further improved
refinement and a superb interior
that continues to offer a good deal
of everyday versatility, despite the
coupé redesign, the E-tron Sportback
sets a high standard among the
electric SUV ranks.
It’s certainly one the I-Pace won’t
h av e a n e a s y t i me s u r pa s si n g w he n
we get to put the two side by side
after the lockdown.
GREG KABLE
The E-tron
Sportback
55 quattro’s 95kWh
battery pack can be charged
a t a ra te of u p to 1 5 0 k W a n d fr o m
both sides of the car. Audi claimsth a t c h a r g i n g fr o m 2 0 - 8 0 % of i t s
capacity can take half an hour and
that from 20-100% can take 50
minutes. Drawing on experience
gained from the regular E-tron
55 quattro, Audi has reworked
the cooling system for the battery.
Instead of using two water pumps,
the E-tron Sportback uses a larger
single unit, saving weight, cost
and energy. This key difference
is claimed to contribute up to 1.2
miles of the seven-mile increase
in range that the E-tron Sportback
has achieved over the E-tron.