Used Audi e-tron review (2018-2023)

Driving position 

The driving position in the Audi e-tron is a masterclass in making a high-tech EV feel instantly familiar, like a trusty pair of jeans or wellies.  

Unlike many electric rivals that opt for a minimalist, one large screen concept, Audi has stuck to its guns with a driver-centric cockpit that wraps around you.  

You sit in a commanding position that is higher than a saloon but slightly lower than a traditional SUV like a Q7.  

This lower centre of gravity makes the car feel planted and secure rather than tippy when you're navigating a tight slip road. 

Audi’s legendary ergonomics are on full display here. The centre console is high and substantial, featuring a unique, fixed handrest with a thumb-operated gear selector that feels more like a throttle quadrant from a private jet than a traditional shifter.  

Everything, from the dual-stacked haptic touchscreens to the climate controls, is angled toward the driver.  

It creates a sense of unison with the machine that is often missing in the sterilised, screen-only interiors of newer competitors. 

The seats themselves are a highlight, especially if you step up through the range. These offer power-adjustable side bolsters and thigh extensions, allowing drivers of all sizes to find a comfortable fit.  

Whether you’re a six-foot-plus driver needing extra leg support or someone smaller looking for a clear view over the bonnet, the range of adjustment is vast.  

Combined with the standard four-way power lumbar support, it’s a cabin designed to stave off fatigue during those 200-mile stints between charges. 

Visibility is generally excellent, though the thick D-pillars do create a bit of a blind spot over your shoulder. However, Audi’s 360-degree camera system is so crisp that it effectively solves any parking anxiety. 

Tech and features 

Audi e-tron trims 

– Technik 

– Sport 

– S line 

– Black Edition 

– Vorsprung 

The technology suite in the Audi e-tron feels less like a Silicon Valley experiment and more like a sophisticated evolution of the modern luxury car.  

The centrepiece of the experience is the dual-stacked MMI Touch Response infotainment system, which splits duties between a 10.1-inch upper screen for navigation and media, and an 8.6-inch lower screen dedicated to climate controls.  

While the centre screens handle the logistics, the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit remains the undisputed star of the show.  

Audi’s digital gauge cluster is still the benchmark for the industry, offering a crisp, high-resolution layout that can be toggled between traditional dials and a massive, full-screen satellite map directly in front of the driver.  

Having 3D topography and crystal-clear navigation instructions directly in your line of sight makes the driving experience feel exceptionally high-tech without being overwhelming.  

For those who opt for the later 2021+ models, the system was upgraded, which brought significantly faster processing speeds and the convenience of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Beyond the screens, the e-tron is packed with way more tech. The available Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System is specifically tuned to take advantage of the EV’s silent cabin, creating an acoustic environment that rivals high-end home theatres. 

Even the lighting tech serves a dual purpose, with the Matrix LED headlights being capable of masking out oncoming traffic to prevent blinding other drivers while maintaining full high-beam brightness everywhere else.  

In some markets, these lights can even project a light carpet onto the lane ahead of you to show exactly where the car’s width lies.  

It is this attention to detail, using technology to solve real-world driving stresses rather than just adding digital clutter, that defines the e-tron’s character. 

Electric motors and power 

Audi e-tron performance stats 

Power: 313hp to 503hp 

0-62mph: 4.5 to 6.8 seconds 

Top speed: 124mph 

Driven wheels: All-wheel drive (AWD) 

Now, the e-tron’s powertrain line-up follows Audi’s familiar (if slightly confusing) tiered badging system.  

Whether you are looking at a used 50, a 55, or the top-spec S model, the core experience is the same. 

The entry point for the UK market was the e-tron 50 quattro. With 313hp and a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds, it was never intended to be a drag-strip hero.  

Instead, it was tuned for effortlessness. In the real world, this is the version most commonly found on the used market; it feels punchy enough for darting into roundabouts or merging onto the M1, though it lacks the top-end shove of its more expensive siblings. 

Stepping up to the e-tron 55 quattro brings a significant jump in capability. While its nominal output is 360hp, it features a unique Boost Mode. By knocking the gear selector back into ‘S’ and flooring it, you unlock a temporary surge of 408hp for eight seconds. This drops the 0-62 mph sprint to just 5.7 seconds and makes overtaking a breeze.  

For a car weighing over 2.5 tonnes, that level of acceleration feels genuinely surprising. 

At the top of the hierarchy sits the e-tron S, a model that remains a bit of an engineering marvel.  

It was the first volume-production EV to use a tri-motor setup – one electric motor on the front axle and two on the rear.  

This allows for a massive 503hp and a staggering 973Nm of torque in boost mode, resulting in a 0-62 mph time of just 4.5 seconds.  

More importantly for British B-roads, those twin rear motors provide active electric torque vectoring; they can vary the power sent to each rear wheel independently, effectively pushing the car into corners and helping it feel far more agile than its substantial weight would suggest. 

It’s a bit like an elephant wearing rocket-powered rollerblades. 

Handling and ride comfort 

The way the Audi e-tron moves on the road is perhaps its best trait of all.  

While some electric SUVs feel like high-riding gadgets, the e-tron feels like a substantial, heavy-set luxury car that has been engineered to iron out the creases of Britain’s infamously patchy road network.  

This is largely thanks to the standard-fit adaptive air suspension, which provides a level of wafting ability that few rivals can match. Think Rolls-Royce on a budget. 

On a typical UK motorway, the e-tron is exceptionally serene. The air suspension works in tandem with the car’s massive 2.5-tonne kerb weight to crush road imperfections, staying level and composed even over expansion joints and high-speed undulations.  

Even when you turn off the dual carriageway and onto a more technical B-road, you can switch the Drive Select into ‘Dynamic’ mode, which drops the ride height and tenses the dampers.  

While this doesn't turn the e-tron into a nimble sports car, it does a remarkable job of masking its bulk, keeping body roll in check and giving you the confidence to maintain progress through a series of corners. 

The steering is light and precise, which makes it a doddle to thread through narrow village streets or navigate a tight multi-storey car park.  

However, like many EVs, it is somewhat short on feel. You won’t get much feedback through the wheel about what the front tyres are doing. It’s a setup designed for ease of use rather than edge-of-the-seat engagement.  

Ultimately, the e-tron prioritises comfort above all else. Whether you’re dealing with the scarred tarmac of a London suburb or the undulating crests of the Peak District, the car remains unflappable.  

Boot space 

Audi e-tron boot space: 

• Boot space: 660 litres 

• Incl. Rear seats folded: 1,725 litres 

• Front boot (froot): 60 litres 

When it comes to boot space, the e-tron is a tale of two body styles: the standard SUV and the sleeker Sportback.  

If you opt for the conventional SUV, you get a very generous 660 litres of space with the seats up. The square, vertical opening means you can stack suitcases or a large dog crate right to the roofline without much drama.  

Fold the rear seats down, and that expands to 1,725 litres, turning the e-tron into a genuine premium removal van for those occasional trips to the tip or IKEA. 

The Sportback version loses 45 litres of usable room due to the sloped rear roofline, bringing boot capacity down to 615 litres. 

While that’s still more than enough for a weekly family shop or a few sets of golf clubs, the real compromise is in the vertical height. If you often carry tall or boxy items, you’ll find the Sportback’s rear glass gets in the way far sooner than the SUV's.  

With the seats folded, the Sportback offers 1,665 litres of total volume. 

By comparison, the Jaguar I-PACE has a 656-litre boot, and the Polestar 3 has 484 litres. 

And if you need a little bit more space, the e-tron has a 60-litre front boot (froot) to store smaller items, such as charging cables. 

Rear seats 

The rear-seat experience in the Audi e-tron feels less like the back of a car and more like a high-end executive lounge.  

Because the car was built on a dedicated electric platform, there is no bulky transmission tunnel running through the centre of the floor.  

This flat-floor design is a revelation for anyone sitting in the middle seat, as they no longer have to straddle a hump in the carpet, making the e-tron a genuine five-seater for adults.  

Legroom is plentiful, easily rivalling the Audi Q7, and even with a tall driver up front, those in the back can stretch out with ease. 

If you opt for the standard SUV body style, headroom is generous enough for even the loftiest passengers. However, if you've fallen for the sleeker lines of the Sportback, there is a minor tax to pay; the sloping roofline clips a bit of the overhead space.  

While most adults will still find it perfectly comfortable, anyone over six feet might find their hair brushing the headlining.  

To offset this, Audi has carved out the rear bench with a slightly deeper base, which helps drop your seating position just enough to claw back some of that lost clearance. 

For families, the e-tron is exceptionally well-thought-out. The ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats are hidden behind clever flip-down plastic covers, meaning no more digging around between the seat cushions to find the anchor bars.  

There's also the inclusion of illuminated seatbelt buckles on many models; they glow with a soft white LED light at night, making it incredibly easy for children to buckle themselves in or for parents to find the clip when leaning over a bulky child seat in a dark car park. 

Storage solutions 

The interior storage of the Audi e-tron is a bit of a mixed bag. Because there’s no gearbox or driveshaft to contend with, Audi’s designers were able to get creative with the centre console.  

It features a bridge design with a piece of trim for the gear selector and a handrest that arches over a storage area. This is a handy spot for a handbag, a small tablet or a pouch of snacks, keeping them within reach but off the floor. 

The door bins are a highlight, particularly in the front. They are deep and lined with a soft felt-like material to stop your water bottles from rattling – a small but vital detail in a car that is otherwise silent.  

You’ll easily fit a one-litre bottle in each door, and there’s still room left over for a folded-up umbrella or a high-vis vest.  

The glovebox is fairly standard; it’s air-conditioned to keep your chocolate from melting on a summer road trip, but it is largely consumed by the car’s thick manual and the onboard fuse box. 

Audi e-tron dimensions 

• Height: 1,629mm 

• Width: 2,189mm (incl. door mirrors) 

• Length: 4,901mm 

• Kerb weight: From 2,500kg 

Safety 

Safety is a cornerstone of the Audi e-tron’s appeal, and it arrived on the UK market with a glowing five-star Euro NCAP rating.  

In the event of a collision, the car’s massive 2.5-tonne weight is managed by a high-strength steel safety cell and a battery housing designed to deflect impact energy away from the cabin.  

Occupants are protected by a comprehensive array of airbags, including front, side, and curtain coverage, while the rear outer seats and front passenger seat feature child seat mountings as standard.  

This makes it one of the most reassuring electric SUVs for families, scoring a particularly high 91% for adult occupant protection in independent testing. 

Audi e-tron: electric range, battery and charging 

Range: Up to 255 miles 

Battery size: 71kWh or 95kWh 

Max charging speed: 150kW 

Charge port location: Front left 

Charge time (AC): 14 hours at a 7kW home charger 

Charge time (DC): 10-80% in 30 mins using a 150kW charger 

Efficiency: 3.0mi/kWh (claimed) 

Charging cost: From £4.97 

The entry-level Audi e-tron 50 uses a 71kWh battery, which offers an official WLTP range of up to 193 miles. However, for most drivers, the 55 quattro is the more desirable choice; its larger 95kWh pack bumps that official figure up to about 249 miles.  

If you opt for the triple-motor e-tron S, expect that range to take a hit in exchange for its massive performance, especially if it’s sitting on the larger 22-inch alloy wheels. 

In the real world, it’s best to be realistic about those numbers. On a mild British spring day, a 55 quattro will comfortably manage 200–210 miles of mixed driving.  

However, our damp, chilly winters are less kind. When the temperature drops toward freezing, that heavy kerb weight and the energy required to heat the vast cabin can see the range dip closer to 160–170 miles on the motorway.  

While that is more than enough for the average UK commute, it does mean that you need to plan longer journeys a bit more carefully. 

The e-tron's secret weapon, however, is how it handles a charger. While many newer EVs boast higher peak speeds that drop off almost immediately, the e-tron 55 is famous for its flat charging curve.  

It can pull its maximum 150kW from a rapid charger and hold that speed almost all the way to 80% charge. In practice, this means a 10% to 80% top-up takes just under 30 minutes.  

The smaller-battery 50 model is capped at 120kW, but because the battery is smaller, its 10-80% charge time is roughly the same. 

For home charging, most UK owners will use a standard 7kW wall box, which will fully replenish a 55 quattro overnight in about 13–14 hours (or 10 hours for the 50).  

If you’re lucky enough to have a three-phase supply at a workplace or at home, many e-trons come with an 11kW or even an optional 22kW onboard AC charger, significantly cutting down top-up times. 

Reliability 

Despite being a high-tech pioneer, the e-tron is built with traditional Audi sturdiness.  

It has fewer moving parts than a TDI or TFSI engine, meaning there’s less to go wrong.  

Most owners find it a remarkably dependable daily driver that shrugs off the British weather thanks to its robust quattro hardware and tank-like build quality. 

The real hero of the e-tron's longevity is the battery’s thermal management. Audi was conservative with how much of the battery you can actually use, keeping a large buffer to protect the cells.  

The result? High-mileage examples are showing minimal range degradation, which makes it a much safer used buy than many rival EVs that push their batteries to the absolute limit. 

If you want to keep your used electric car in tip-top condition, you can book it in for a dedicated EV cinchService where all the vital battery components are checked for added peace of mind.