2023 Audi e-tron Sportback SUV

　　

2023 Audi e-tron Sportback Review

byClint SimoneSenior Reviews Editor

　　Clint Simone has worked in the automotive industry since 2015. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Before joining zzdcar as a senior reviews editor, Clint contributed to Motor1.com and InsideEVs, evaluating mostly electric cars. Clint loves hot hatchbacks more than any other type of vehicle but secretly enjoys driving big trucks when he gets the chance. He would never admit to that.

　　The 2023 Audi e-tron Sportback is the coupe-like version of the brand's all-electric crossover SUV. The Sportback's sloped roofline looks more appealing, but the sacrifice is slightly less space for rear seat passengers. This is the final model year before the car receives an extensive update and takes on a new name, the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

　　

Audi e-tron Sportback EV Insights

Trim:e-tron Sportback Premium S line

　　Premium S line 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $74,000 MSRPPremium Plus S line 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $81,000 MSRPPrestige S line 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $89,300 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.

　　For this year, the Sportback's dual motors provide 355 horsepower or 402 hp when in the temporary Boost mode. With that Boost engaged, the Sportback can hit 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds, according to Audi. That's quick by normal SUV standards but a bit off the pace of the latest dual-motor electric SUVs. The same is true of range. The EPA estimates the e-tron Sportback can go about 225 miles on a full charge, which is less than several of its competitors.

　　Audi's e-tron does offer a comfortable, well-built interior and many appealing standard features. But for the money it's outclassed by the BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and Tesla Model X. Even high-end versions of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are competitive and significantly less expensive. We suggest taking a look at those options first, or even waiting for the updated 2024 Q8 e-tron Sportback, before going with the 2023 model.

　　

Which e-tron Sportback does zzdcar recommend?

Even with the base Premium trim's long list of standard features, we think the Premium Plus trim hits the sweet spot. The midlevel trim includes some desirable extras such as standard ventilated front seats, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, and adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assistance.

　　

Audi e-tron Sportback models

The 2023 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 225 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 push-button start 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 driver assist features for the e-tron Sportback include:

　　Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking (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 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 seatsIt also comes with extra driver assist features, including:

　　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) 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:

　　Upgraded headlights Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) 22-inch wheels Orange brake calipers Black exterior trim Massaging front seats Upgraded leather upholstery Power soft-closing doors Rear window sunshades Multi-color LED interior ambient lighting Intersection assistance (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 4,000-pound towing capacity Towing hitch receiver and seven-pin trailer wiring connector Black Optic package (Premium Plus trim) 21-inch wheels 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

　　zzdcar Latest Audi e-tron Sportback News

　　zzdcar Tested: Electric Car Range and Consumption

　　2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron Review: Big Changes, But Not a Game-Changer

　　zzdcar U-Drags: Audi RS Q8 vs. Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

　　The Refreshed 2024 Audi Q8 Gets a Little Extra Zest