2020 Audi e-tron Performance

The 2020 Audi e-tron has good overall driving dynamics. Acceleration is snappy and quiet, and the e-tron glides smoothly over rough roads. It also feels stable around tight turns. The e-tron’s 218-mile driving range is just OK for an electric vehicle, though.

• "Our initial driving impressions revealed that the e-tron was swift and composed. Its snappy acceleration is typical of electric vehicles, and the smooth and quiet ride quality asserted its luxury pretenses. Its stopping system expertly blended its traditional brakes with the obligatory regenerative brakes." -- Car and Driver
• "With front and rear motors capable of delivering a joint 355 horsepower (or 402 hp for eight-second blips in Sport mode) with the ability to shift all of that power to the front or rear wheels, and with a prodigious 95 kWh battery down low beneath your butt, the E-Tron feels capable of powering through any conditions, climatological or roadway." -- Autoblog
• "Pushed hard, the E-Tron's powertrain delivers the same punch and responsiveness as some of the more performance-oriented SUVs, and the chassis feels well planted and has less obvious body roll through corners." -- Motor Trend (2019)

Acceleration and Power

The Audi e-tron has an electric all-wheel-drive powertrain, which consists of a 95-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, an electric motor at the front axle, and a second electric motor at the rear axle. This system is rated at 355 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque, but it can provide up to 414 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque in short bursts when in Sport mode.

Regardless of mode, the e-tron zips briskly and silently up to speed, and it offers brawny passing power. The sprint from zero to 60 mph takes just 5.5 seconds, and – on a long enough runway – the e-tron can reach a top speed of 124 mph.

The e-tron SUV has an EPA-estimated driving range of 204 miles. The e-tron Sportback has a slightly higher range of 218 miles. Ultimately, both ratings fall short of competitors. You can recharge the e-tron’s battery pack at home or at a public charging station. It takes about nine hours to fully charge the battery using a 240-volt home outlet. A DC fast-charging station can replenish the battery to 80% in 30 minutes, which equates to about 170 miles of range.

• "This substantiality, and quietude, also denies the E-Tron a sense of speed. 60 mph feels like 40, and the fact that it takes just 5.5 seconds to reach that rate feels oddly unbelievable. Not because it feels slower, but because the speed doesn't build in a familiar way." -- Autoblog
• "As with rival EVs such as the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X, the e-tron benefits from acceleration that is smooth, silent and swift." -- Edmunds (2019)
• "Super quick is how I would describe the Audi e-tron. Tipping the throttle in, the vehicle’s immediate torque shoves you back into your seat. If you keep the power on, you’ll stay there until early expressway speeds. Passing power at 70 mph is quick too, just not as surprising as the initial launch. There’s no wheelspin to speak of, due to the one-motor-per-axle powertrain. It just has that single-speed transmission though, so there are no breaks in the action." -- Autoweek (2019)

Handling and Braking

The e-tron is an enjoyable SUV to drive. Its adaptive air suspension filters out most bumps and dips in the road comfortably, resulting in a smooth and relaxing ride. This system also helps to mitigate body roll around turns, giving the e-tron a stable and buttoned-down feel. The steering is snappy and responsive, and the brakes confidently bring the e-tron to a stop.

• "This perception of permanent plantedness may be due, in part, to its nearly 5,754 pounds (!) of curb weight. It plows through and out of corners like a magnetic earthmover. It moves along and through things, always with eerie silence, as though you are the center of gravity." -- Autoblog
• "The e-tron can rail through turns like a sporty sedan, without sacrificing ride quality. Small road imperfections are absorbed with little notice. Even on unimproved dirt roads, it still feels like a luxury SUV." -- Edmunds (2019)
• "We found the e-tron’s steering far better than expected. It is precise, quick and linear. There was no latency or even much play. Turn the wheel even a bit and the wheels took immediate action. In this respect it felt more like a sports car from Audi’s cousin Porsche." -- Kelley Blue Book (2019)