2021 Audi e-tron Review

　　

2021 Audi e-tron Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Saying the Audi e-tron is an electric vehicle is sort of like saying the iPhone is ... a phone. You get what it is just by seeing the geeky name. But there is more to the 2021 Audi e-tron than just a faux-futuristic self-descriptive name. The 2021 e-tron is one of our favorite luxury electric SUVs, essentially offering all the opulence, comfort and performance you'd expect from something like an Audi Q7 but with the power coming from electrons rather than internal combustion.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

2021 Audi e-tron EV Insights

Trim:e-tron Premium

　　Premium 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $65,900 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $74,800 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $79,100 MSRP

　　

Estimated Range Based on Age

 zzdcar TESTED

　　234 milesThe range for a used 2021 Audi e-tron is estimated to be 234 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 234 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 5 years or 58,000 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

　　$93/mo

　　e-tron

　　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.

　　When the e-tron was introduced in 2019, it had a short list of viable EV competitors. Now however, there are rivals all over the place. Vehicles such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Polestar 2 have debuted. The e-tron also does battle against class heavyweights including the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

　　For 2021, the e-tron starts at a lower price and Audi adds a new Sportback version (reviewed separately), but its biggest improvement is an additional 18 miles of EV range for a total estimate of 222 miles. Is that enough to keep the e-tron competitive in such a rapidly expanding segment? Read our full rating of the Audi e-tron below to find out.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the e-tron drive? We're fans of the e-tron because it is quick in an effortless and unassuming sort of way. However, it corners in a way that makes you plainly aware of its 5,822-pound curb weight. The brakes are powerful enough, but we've found that newer EVs have found a way to bring about more confidence through the pedal itself. Additionally, the maximum regenerative braking setting is too weak to enable true one-pedal driving in which almost all routine stops can be done by easing off the throttle. This cool and fun EV trait is absent here. Not a deal-breaker, but a missed opportunity. Thankfully, the steering is accurate and responsive for everyday driving situations, and it makes threading this EV through traffic easy.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the e-tron? The e-tron is one comfortable machine. Its air suspension delivers a sophisticated and stable ride on a variety of road surfaces, and the cabin is oh-so-quiet without feeling like a sensory-deprivation chamber. It's hushed inside, but the background resonance of the cabin gives it a homey feel, if that makes any sense.

　　Driver and passengers alike will enjoy the comfort and sumptuousness of the seats, and the quad-zone climate control system is powerful enough to keep all passengers comfortable to their personal satisfaction. We don't often find the latter in all-electric SUVs, so it's heartening to see that Audi didn't compromise here.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Audi does a lot of basic things very well. It is easy to get in and out of because the seats sit at the perfect height and the door openings are nicely squared off. Passengers will enjoy abundant room, and the driver gets the bonus of a great driving position and an unobstructed view.

　　The controls, on the other hand, are a mixed bag. The drive mode shifter is unique but took some getting used to, while many of the smaller buttons work fine. But the infotainment and climate control systems rely too heavily on touchscreen interfaces. They look stunning but are overly complex.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? We wish the touchscreen interface had a couple of hard shortcut buttons and maybe a tuning knob, but the rest of the setup is solid. The navigation maps it displays are exquisite, and the audio system has excellent sound quality. There are handy USBs around, and even the rear-seat ones can transmit data up front, a neat trick most other cars can't do. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are here too.

　　As for driver aids, the standard suite of crash avoidance tech includes automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic monitoring and intervention, and lane keeping assist. The optional adaptive cruise control has a lane centering function that makes freeway traffic less of a slog. The forward collision warning system did howl at us more than once when nothing was in front of the car, and we would like a little more refinement from Audi's safety systems.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Audi e-tron can make you forget that it's an EV. Its 28.5-cubic-foot cargo hold is accommodating and easy to load, and the volume expands nicely when you fold the seats. There's also a small cargo hold under the hood.

　　You'll find a decent amount of clever storage space inside with the exception of small cupholders. But the e-tron is particularly good when it comes to fitting child safety seats. The e-tron also has a decent tow rating of 4,000 pounds, but fast-charging stations aren't suited to vehicles with trailers. However, you can certainly use the hitch as a mount for a bike rack.

　　

Range and Efficiency

6.5/10

　　How are the range and efficiency? The all-wheel-drive e-tron Quattro has an EPA-estimated range of 222 miles when equipped with the standard 20-inch wheels like our test car had. We exceeded the EPA's estimate on our standardized real-world EV range test route, traveling 248 miles on a single charge. This indicates the e-tron should meet its range estimates when driven conservatively and in temperate climates, though it offers less range than much of its competition.

　　Efficiency, or how much electricity the e-tron uses when driving, isn't quite as good as in newer EVs. We measured 38.4 kWh used for every 100 miles of driving, which is less efficient than practically every EV we've tested except the Rivian R1T.

　　The e-tron comes with an 11-kW onboard charger that Audi estimates can charge from zero to full in about 10 hours on a Level 2 home EVSE (assuming you've got the right hardware and under optimal conditions). It also has DC fast-charging capability up to 150 kW and can sustain that rate for some time, which can recharge the battery from 0% to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes. Audi provides 250 kWh of complimentary charging (good for two years) on the Electrify America network.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the e-tron a good value? The e-tron is pricey for what you get. Similar features, more advanced driver aids, and far more range can be had for less money these days. However, the e-tron does feel well built, with tight tolerances and a bank vault-like quality to most of the switchgear. Our only problems come down to refinement and the quality of the materials themselves. If Audi paid slightly more attention to its interior materials and refined its driver aids, the e-tron as it stands would be a much better buy.

　　The warranty and roadside assistance coverage are solidly average, and although Audi does provide some free public fast charging, it's less generous than what most of the competition offer.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　Our biggest misgiving is just how vanilla this car feels from behind the wheel. You might think all EVs lack personality, but rivals like the Ford Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Polestar 2 have all found ways to give EVs a real character — especially when you compare them to the e-tron. It might have been one of the first luxury EVs on the market, making it plenty novel in its heyday, but the e-tron is now one of the most vanilla cars on sale. Hey, progress comes at you fast.

　　

Which e-tron does zzdcar recommend?

The addition of a base Premium trim level to the e-tron's lineup this year has made this electric SUV more affordable than in years past. We'd recommend going one of two ways to maximize value: Get either a Premium trim with Convenience package, which will equip the e-tron with many desirable safety features, or go with the Premium Plus trim level, which comes standard with them.

　　

2021 Audi e-tron models

The 2021 e-tron is offered in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Power is drawn 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 to 402 horsepower for up to 8 seconds when the transmission is in Sport mode. Range is estimated to be 222 miles and the e-tron has fast-charging capability up to 150 kilowatts. Highlight features include:

　　Premium

　　This new, lower-price base trim includes:

　　Adaptive air suspension 20-inch wheels LED headlights Leather upholstery Heated front seats Heated steering wheel Panoramic sunroof Four-zone climate control system 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto 10-speaker stereo with satellite radioSafety features for the Premium include:

　　Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)A Convenience package is available with Premium trim. It contains a Black Optic package and a Driver Assistance package with:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front ) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Emergency assist (detects an unresponsive driver and brings the e-tron to a safe stop) Turning assist (detects when a driver is making an unsafe turn across approaching traffic and automatically stops the e-tron) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the e-tron and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)Premium Plus

　　Adds to the standard Premium equipment with the Driver Assistance package detailed above plus:

　　Additional charging port on right side of SUV Matrix LED headlights Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system Wireless phone charging and an onboard signal booster Traffic sign recognition (alerts the driver to new road signs, including speed limits and stop signs)Prestige

　　Includes more luxury with:

　　Dual-pane acoustic glass for a quieter cabin Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Extended leather on dashboard, console and armrests Massaging front seats LED interior lighting Rear window sunshades Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Interior air ionization and fragrance system Intersection assist (warns you of cross traffic in an upcoming intersection)A Towing package is available for all trim levels and gives the e-tron a 4,000-pound towing capacity. Digital matrix LED headlights are an exclusive stand-alone option for the Prestige model.

　　

2021 e-tron Highlights

Trim: PremiumPremium PlusPrestigePremium

　　

Base MSRP	$65,900
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Electric
EPA Electric Range	222 miles
Cost to Drive	$93/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	10 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	28.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	8 years / 100,000 miles