Audi e-tron Sportback
Style-focused luxury electric SUV comes at a price
“Rarely does the e-tron become firm; there’s always a degree of suppleness to the ride quality”
IF you thought coupé-SUVs were already a niche in themselves, Audi has gone one step further with the e-tron Sportback. This is the first fully electric coupé-SUV to hit the market, and with prices starting from £79,900, it comes with a £4,000 premium over the standard Audi e-tron.
The Sportback line-up mirrors that of its close relative, so there are two versions available. First there’s the 50 quattro, which has a 71kWh battery, a 217-mile range and develops 309bhp. The more potent 55 quattro, which we’re driving here, uses a 95kWh battery for a 278-mile range, and develops a more eye-catching 404bhp.
Something that doesn’t change, regardless of the version you choose, are the compromises you have to make with a Sportback. It’s 4.9 metres long, like the regular model, but there’s around 20mm less headroom in the back, as well as an overall luggage capacity that has dropped by 45 litres, due to the sloping roofline.
The Sportback swallows a total of 615 litres, compared with the e-tron’s 660 litres, and with the rear seats folded down, the Sportback is slightly behind, at 1,655 to 1,725 litres. Is it a price worth paying? To our eyes, the e-tron Sportback is one of the better-executed coupé-SUVs, with a well proportioned, sporty silhouette.
On the move, you won’t be surprised to learn that the Sportback behaves much like the e-tron, despite the new look. The first thing that strikes you is just how calm and quiet the e-tron Sportback is at speed. The initial surge in acceleration is always quite surprising and entertaining, but right after the 5.7-second sprint from 0-62mph, there’s near silence; nothing rattles, shakes or booms.
The steering is smooth and consistent with its weighting, which means the car feels stable and secure on the move. Seven driving profiles are available via Audi’s Dynamic Select button, but rarely does the e-tron become firm; there’s always a degree of suppleness to the ride quality. On the motorway, the e-tron’s air suspension can even drop by 80mm to help the car’s aerodynamics and increase its range.
But weighing in at 2,480kg, this is an extremely heavy car. The battery alone weighs up to 700kg, so instead of choosing to inject the e-tron with any sort of sporting dynamics, Audi has focused on making it refined and soothing to drive rather than truly agile and engaging. In our view, it’s the best strategy to take.
Passengers in the back are a little short changed, however. The 20mm lower roofline is significant; those approaching six-feet tall will feel their heads gently brushing the roof. But overall there is still enough knee and shoulder room to fit three abreast.
Up front, there’s no change over the e-tron. So there’s a feast of digital displays that operate all of the car functions. And as we’ve come to expect from Audi’s latest cabins, everything is beautifully built and long drives won’t become a chore.
Speaking of long drives, it’s something that’s possible, thanks to the e-tron’s rapid-charging capability. Find an ultra-rapid 150kW charger, and the battery can be topped up from 10-80 per cent in 30 minutes. The only trouble is finding one; currently there are fewer than 900 publicly available in the UK, compared with around 27,000 slow, fast and rapid chargers.