Last updated on September 15th, 2021 at 08:51 am
Performance
We all know that the force required to accelerate an object depends entirely on its mass. Depending on the configuration and number of passengers, the Audi e-tron can weigh close to 2,600Kg. That’s nearly half a ton more than a Tesla Model S and almost 200Kg more than a Model X. While the Teslas are limited to 155mph, this Audi e-tron 50 quattro tops out at 118mph. The 0-62 of 6.8 seconds is close to what a Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer would have achieved as a very respectable time in 1978. However, in 2020, a Tesla Model S or X that has been configured for performance, can hit that speed in 2.4 to 2.8 seconds respectively. In other words, while it may feel quick when compared to yesterday’s fossil fuel cars, it’s a slouch when compared to the best electric cars around today.
Handling is something else. It looks like a tank, carries a tank-like amount of weight and the cornering is unsurprisingly unresponsive. Understeer is a big issue and going into any corner with speed will take some getting used to. If you’ve ever driven an old Bentley, you’ll know that it felt an awful lot like driving your sofa down the high street. Audi has managed to capture that feeling perfectly with the e-tron. One last thing worth mentioning is Audi’s peak-performance cap. The engine can deliver maximum power for about eight seconds, before dropping back to a lower power mode.
Running Costs
If you get this car on a two-year lease, you are in luck. The service interval of two years, or 20,000 miles, means that you’re unlikely to need any work before you hand it back. Here at WhichEV, we periodically update our running costs based on average electricity prices in the region. For the start of 2020, we’re working with 14p per kWh, which means it will cost you close to £10 to refill your e-tron at home. This isn't much for 190 miles of driving compared to a petrol or diesel car, but at 5.2p a mile it's on the pricey side when (for example) a Tesla Model 3 is more like 3p a mile. The car also sits in insurance group 50, which is about as high as it can get.
However, if your company buys the e-tron for you, there are still huge tax benefits from zero benifit-in-kind (BiK) as a company car like any EV. Over a three-year period of having the Audi e-tron 50 Quatrro as a company car, a 40 per cent taxpayer would only be looking at a tax bill of £719.88 in total for a car registered in 2020-21, compared to over £10K for a fossil-fuel equivalent, and a 20 per cent taxpayer would be charged half that, although we doubt you'd be receiving this car as a benefit in this earnings tax bracket.
Range
While performance may be a little lacklustre compared to the best in class, it’s the Audi’s range figure that’s really disappointing. The reason for the lack of range is that this is Audi’s first serious attempt at an electric car, so it’s heavy, with early battery technology and a passive regenerative braking system that does you no favours when you’re trying to get every mile possible out of your stored energy.
Our calculations are based on a motorway drive, within the speed limit and in reasonable weather conditions. They show that you’ll get around 160 miles on a full charge. A return trip from London Piccadilly to Manchester Piccadilly is almost exactly 400 miles. You would need three full charges to achieve that distance. The long-distance version of Tesla’s Model X will give you close to 300 miles on a full battery, so one complete charge and a quick one top up should see you complete the same journey. We will be focusing more on a car’s ability to do Piccadilly (London) to Piccadilly (Manchester) in the future. The WhichEV P2P figure will be the number of charges needed to complete a return trip of 400 miles.
Safety
One look at the Audi e-tron tells you that you’re unlikely to come off worst in a crash. Unsurprisingly, it has a five-star NCAP rating and other neat equipment to help you stay safe, including auto emergency braking, lane assist, speed assist and advanced warnings about braking near roundabouts and junctions.
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