2022 Audi e-tron Sportback

　　

2022 Audi e-tron Sportback Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　The 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback is the sporty version of the regular all-electric e-tron SUV. Its sloping rear roofline adds style, but you sacrifice a little cargo space and rear headroom in the process. You also give up a bit of range. The e-tron Sportback has an EPA-estimated driving range of 218 miles compared to the regular e-tron's estimated range of 222 miles. The difference is tiny, but either way you're on the short end of range for a luxury SUV, as many rivals can boast of 300 miles or more of range.

　　

Audi e-tron Sportback EV Insights

Trim:e-tron Sportback Premium S line

　　Premium S line 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $69,100 MSRPPremium Plus S line 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $78,000 MSRPPrestige S line 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $82,300 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　238 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 202 miles after 8 years.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.

　　

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

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　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

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: This program is a charging agreement between Audi of America and Electrify America. Customers who purchase a new Audi e-tron model (excl. e-tron GT or RS e-tron GT) will receive 250 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of complimentary charging on the Electrify America network. Complimentary charging expires 2 years from date of sale. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

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's dual motors provide 355 horsepower, and that increases to 414 hp when in the temporary Boost mode. Acceleration is brisk, and the Sportback can hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, but Boost mode must be engaged. The separately reviewed e-tron S Sportback produces 496 hp and hits 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. When the juice runs low, it takes about 10 hours to charge the Sportback's 95-kWh battery pack using a Level 2 (240-volt) charger. But if you use a public DC fast charger, a low battery can charge to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes.

　　The e-tron Sportback is an interesting choice for an electric SUV. It's supremely comfortable, has a quiet and well-built interior, and packs many standard luxury, tech and safety features. However, its infotainment system isn't the easiest to use and its short driving range can limit its usefulness for long-distance trips. If those drawbacks are making you consider alternatives, check out the BMW iX, Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, and Tesla Model Y or Model X. Audi's new Q4 Sportback e-tron, which is a smaller electric SUV, is another good choice if you need something with a lower price.

　　

Which e-tron Sportback does zzdcar recommend?

As much as we like the base Premium trim and its long list of standard features, we think the Premium Plus trim hits the sweet spot. The midlevel trim includes a second charging port and upgraded LED headlights, and it adds a little luxury with heated and ventilated front seats. It also includes a Bang & Olufsen audio system and adaptive cruise control with lane keeping for easier highway driving.

　　

Audi e-tron Sportback models

The 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback is offered in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Power is derived from a 95-kWh battery pack and sent to front- and rear-mounted motors, making the e-tron Sportback all-wheel-drive. Power output is 355 horsepower and 414 lb-ft of torque, and the Boost mode increases that to 402 hp and 490 lb-ft for up to 8 seconds. The EPA-estimated range is 218 miles. Feature highlights include:

　　Premium

　　The base Premium trim comes well equipped with:

　　20-inch wheels LED headlights Adaptive air suspension (can adjust the vehicle's ride height and improve ride comfort and handling) Panoramic sunroof Keyless entry and ignition Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel Hands-free tailgate Leather upholstery Power-adjustable, heated front seats Four-zone climate control system 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen Navigation system Digital instrument panel display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Heated, auto-dimming and power-folding outside mirrors Standard safety features for the e-tron Sportback 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 in reverse) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Front and rear parking sensors Automatic high-beam assist Passenger safe-exit system (can prevent passengers from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)Premium Plus

　　The Premium Plus trim adds:

　　Upgraded LED headlights Second charging port (AC only) Heated and ventilated front seats 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system Wireless smartphone charging (might not be included due to chip shortage) Heated rear seatsSafety equipment for the Premium Plus includes:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Traffic sign recognition (detects and alerts the driver to new road signs, including speed limits and stop signs) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the e-tron and its surroundings for tight parking situations)Prestige

　　The range-topping Prestige trim adds:

　　Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Massaging front seats Upgraded leather upholstery Power soft-closing doors Rear window sunshades Multi-color LED interior ambient lighting Intersection assist (warns the driver of cross traffic in an approaching intersection)Optional packages and stand-alone options include:

　　Convenience Plus package (Premium trim) Adaptive cruise control Lane keeping system Surround-view camera system Black exterior trim Tow package (any trim) 4,000-pound towing capacity Towing hitch receiver and seven-pin trailer wiring connector Black Optic package (Premium Plus and Prestige trims) 21-inch wheels (Premium Plus) 22-inch wheels (Prestige) Black exterior trim Orange brake calipers Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) (Prestige trim) Rear passenger-side airbags and illuminated seat-belt buckles

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