2020 Audi e-tron Sportback Review

　　

2020 Audi e-tron Sportback Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Audi introduced its e-tron electric SUV for 2019. Now it has followed it up with the 2020 e-tron Sportback. The two models are mechanically identical and mainly differ in styling. Put simply, the Sportback is a regular e-tron with a tapered rear roofline. It looks sleeker than the regular e-tron but has a little less rear headroom and cargo capacity. The e-tron — regular or Sportback version — is one of just a few luxury electric SUVs available.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

2020 Audi e-tron Sportback EV Insights

Trim:e-tron Sportback Premium Plus

　　Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/55 (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $77,400 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD w/55 (electric DD) - $83,400 MSRP

　　

Estimated Range Based on Age

 zzdcar TESTED

　　220 milesThe range for a used 2020 Audi e-tron Sportback is estimated to be 220 miles because electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year, with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 220 miles.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　Estimated battery warranty remaining is 4 years or 44,000 miles for this car.Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.

　　

Charging at Home

　　10 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$4,400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$4,000

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer.

　　For the vehicle to qualify: Price cannot exceed $25,000. Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased. Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted. Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.

　　For individuals to qualify: Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status. Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle. Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle. Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$94/mo

　　e-tron Sportback

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　The e-tron Sportback matches the power output of the standard e-tron at 355 horsepower and 414 lb-ft of torque. A special Boost mode can be activated to increase output to 402 hp and 489 lb-ft, but only for 8 seconds. That was sufficient enough to propel the standard e-tron to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds at zzdcar' test track. The Sportback feels just as lively when given the juice, and we expect it to return similar, if not slightly quicker, times.

　　The Audi e-tron Sportback has many things going for it. We think it's a bit more practical and solidly built than Tesla's Model X with a quieter and more luxurious cabin. But the Tesla certainly has more attractive numbers when it comes to range, performance and price. The Sportback's loss of rear headroom and cargo space isn't a huge compromise. But when combined with a higher price, it's hard recommending it over the more conventional e-tron SUV. Check back for a full e-tron Sportback rating coming soon.

　　

Which e-tron Sportback does zzdcar recommend?

The e-tron Sportback's base trim, the Premium Plus, is the one we'd recommend. It comes with a full suite of standard features, such as heated and ventilated front seats, Audi's 10.1-inch MMI infotainment screen and the Bang & Olufsen sound system. It also matches the Prestige and Edition One when it comes to power and range, so there's not much practical gain in upgrading to the more expensive trim levels.

　　

2020 Audi e-tron Sportback models

The 2020 Audi e-tron Sportback is offered in three trim levels: Premium Plus, Prestige and Edition One. Power is derived from the 95-kWh battery pack and sent to a pair of electric motors. There's one in front and one in back, making the e-tron all-wheel-drive. Maximum output is 355 horsepower with a boost up to 402 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque in Sport mode for up to 8 seconds. Range is estimated to be 218 miles, and the e-tron has fast-charging capability up to 150 kW.

　　Premium Plus

　　The base Premium Plus comes well equipped with:

　　LED headlights Adaptive air suspension (can adjust the vehicle's ride height and improve ride comfort and handling) Leather upholstery Heated and ventilated front seats Panoramic sunroof Four-zone climate control system 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen Bang & Olufsen sound system Wireless smartphone charging Standard safety features for the e-tron Sportback include:

　　Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the e-tron and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Audi Pre Sense Rear (detects a rear-end collision and can pre-tension seat belts) Prestige

　　The Prestige adds more luxury with:

　　Head-up display Massaging front seats Heated rear seats Upgraded leather upholstery LED interior lighting Rear window sunshades Power-closing doors Safety equipment for the Prestige includes:

　　Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Intersection assist (warns the driver of cross traffic in an approaching intersection) Traffic sign recognition (detects and alerts the driver to new road signs, including speed limits and stop signs) Edition One

　　A special edition launch model, the Edition One will only be available in the e-tron Sportback's first year. It adds:

　　Exclusive paint options Orange brake calipers Unique S line front and rear bumpers Two-tone stitched dashboard and headliner Additional option packages are available with all trim levels including:

　　Cold Weather package Heated washer nozzles Heated outboard rear seats Battery preconditioning Tow package 4,000-pound towing capacity Towing hitch receiver and seven-pin trailer wiring connector

　　

2020 e-tron Sportback Highlights

Trim: Premium PlusPrestigePremium Plus

　　

Base MSRP	$77,400
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Electric
EPA Electric Range	218 miles
Cost to Drive	$94/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	10.0 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	27.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / 100,000 miles