2023 Audi e-tron

The Audi e-tron, a midsize two-row luxury electric SUV introduced in 2019 and Audi’s first all-electric production vehicle, leads the German automaker’s goal to reach 20 all-electric models in its global lineup by 2025. It is an excellent example of the automakers’ style, boasting a clean, modern SUV shape packed with useful technology ensconced in an elegant interior. The Sportback variant has all that too, but its coupe-like roofline takes away some of the regular e-tron’s utility in service of a more athletic profile, just as on the gas-powered Q5 Sportback.   

Audi hasn’t dramatically upgraded the e-tron (yes, that is how Audi spells it) since its introduction, though for 2023, it—like other automakers—continues to wrestle with chip shortages and choked-up supply chains, leaving the e-tron pretty much unchanged for another year. Its two body styles—conventionally upright SUV and rakish Sportback—each offer three trim levels. Both styles have Premium ($71,895 and $75,095 for Sportback) and Premium Plus trims ($78,895 and $82,095), while the e-tron tops out with the Chronos trim ($88,090) and the Sportback with the Prestige trim ($90,395). A performance-oriented e-tron S debuted last year, and we’ll review it separately once we test one.

The e-tron’s electric rivals include the smaller Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model Y crossovers, BMW’s more expensive iX, and, available near the end of 2022, the all-wheel drive (AWD) version of the Cadillac Lyriq. Although considered a compact, the Genesis GV60 offers nearly as much passenger space, goes farther, charges faster, offers similarly luxurious appointments and costs appreciably less.

Audi offers the e-tron with a single all-wheel drive electric powertrain that can hit 60 mph from standstill in 5.4 seconds, which by the standards of the Tesla Model Y and GV is a bit on the slow side even it would have been considered rocketship fast for an SUV a few years ago. The e-tron’s 222 miles of range (218 for the Sportback) were also good in 2019 but less competitive now, with the iX and Model Y both offering more than 300 miles on a charge and most other competitors above 250. The world of EVs moves very quickly.

The e-tron, 193 inches long and just over 76 inches wide, is fractionally smaller than the iX and Lyriq, but it is distinctly mid-pack in leg- and headroom, and closer to its compact competitors. Cargo room is a similar story. It has the third-largest bay behind the seats in its class but is mid-pack for total cargo area with the rear seats folded down. On the up side, it leads its class for towing capacity at 4,000 pounds. 

Under the new federal EV tax credit plan, the e-tron is ineligible because it isn’t assembled in North America. Even if Audi relocated manufacturing (which isn’t likely to happen), the $80,000 cap for crossovers would take it out of contention. The e-tron is showing its age as new competitors enter the segment, and while it’s still arguably one of the best equipped and nicest looking of the luxury electric crossovers and has a solid infotainment system and screen arrangement, others offer longer range and more power, some with lower prices.

Performance: 10/15

The e-tron and the curvier e-tron Sportback are equipped with electronic all-wheel drive and front- and rear motors that combine to deliver 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque through a single-speed EV transmission. If more oomph is needed, a Boost mode unleashes more electrons for an 8-second surge of 402 hp and 490 lb-ft.  

That’s good for a zero-to-60 mph dash in around 5.4 seconds, better than both the front-drive Cadillac Lyriq and AWD Tesla Model Y, equal to the Genesis GV60 AWD and a few tenths of a second slower than the I-Pace. If getting there faster than you’ll ever really need is important, the segment-leading Model Y Performance can leap from stop to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and the GV60 Performance in 3.7.

Audi engineered the e-tron for comfort and it delivers, but its standard air suspension system firms up in dynamic drive mode for a taut, responsive driving experience. There’s also off-road mode to increase ground clearance for mild dirt and gravel toad adventures; all-road mode to improve traction on snow and ice; efficiency mode for maximizing range; and auto mode when you can’t be bothered (unlike individual mode for those who really like to customize things).    

Range, Energy Use & Charging: 8/15

All e-trons use a 95 kWh battery pack that can deliver an EPA-estimated range up to 222 miles for the SUV and 218 miles for the heavier Sportback. All competitors offer more, from 234 miles for the I-Pace to 318 miles for the Model Y and 324 in the iX. 

The e-tron’s EPA-estimated fuel efficiency is the gasoline equivalent of 78 mpg city, 77 mpg highway and combined 78 MPGe. The heavier Sportback loses 1 MPGe in each category. Efficiency is better than any conventionally powered midsize crossover, but it’s near the bottom of its electric competitors, besting only the I-Pace’s 76 MPGe combined. The e-tron devours 43 kW for every 100 miles of travel (44 kWh/100 miles for the Sportback) versus an average 37.4 kWh per 100 miles for its competitive set. 

E-tron buyers receive free charging on the Electrify America network up to 250 kWh over two years. The e-tron can get from 10% to 80% on fast chargers in 40 minutes. The Lyriq and Model Y need 30 minutes, while GV60’s super-quick system needs only 18 minutes. For home charging on a Level 2 system, the e-tron has an 11 kW on-board charger that replenishes a depleted battery in about 10 hours. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 15/15

The e-tron—both body styles—boasts a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The nonprofit insurance group gave the e-tron top marks in every crash test and a “Superior” rating for its safety systems. NHTSA awarded five stars for side-impact and rollover safety and four stars for forward-collision safety.

Advanced safety and driver assistance technology included as standard equipment includes front and rear collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, fear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitor and automatic high beams.  Top trims get adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and a top-view 360-degree camera. The base trims can have the same with a $3,500 Convenience Plus package.

Comfort & Room: 11/15

True to its Audi DNA, the e-tron sports a positively posh interior with lovely modern details throughout. Seats are supportive and comfortable and the multi-level climate system keeps occupants content at their individual comfort levels. The Chronos and Prestige trims’ massage seats turn a long drive into a mini-spa day.

It is easy to get in and out of the e-tron, which has wide door openings and plenty of headroom, even with the Sportback’s rearward sloping roofline. Legroom is a generous 40.8 inches up front and 39.1 inches for rear passengers, but the class-leading Model Y and the Lyriq each have more. Headroom is adequate although the front measurement of 38.1 inches trails all the competitors and is almost 3 inches less than in the Model Y. 

Infotainment: 15/15

All e-trons get a 12.3-inch driver information screen, one of the largest in the industry. It is complemented by a pair of touchscreens—10.1 inches on top for the infotainment system and 8.8 inches below for climate and comfort controls—that cascade down the center stack.

It’s a pretty standard Audi layout and works well although the touchscreens are dwarfed by Lyriq’s giant 33-inch monoscreen (infotainment and driver information combined). It’s also bested as well by the Model Y’s 15-inch screen, but the Audi’s user experience is better thanks to its more conventional setup. The Tesla routes all functions and visuals through the single screen, which can be distracting and confusing. 

Touchscreen image quality is excellent, as is the sound from both the base trim’s 10-speaker audio setup and upper trims’ 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound systems. Smartphone connection is simple and wireless in the top trims, and there are lots of USB ports including two in the back that can transmit data to the infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Audio are standard and connect wirelessly in the top trims. A Wi-Fi hotspot is available with an Audi Connect subscription.

Unfortunately, like the Tesla Y, the infotainment system is overly dependent on touchscreen controls, which requires the driver to shift attention from road to screen far too often. The system is fairly intuitive, but there’s a steep learning curve to mastering it.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

The e-tron has the second-largest cargo bay in its segment at 28.5 cubic-feet behind the second row, sufficient for up to eight carry-on bags and trailing the two-row Model Y by a scant 1.5 cubes.

Total cargo area expands to 56.5 cubic-feet when the rear seats are folded, trailing both the Lyriq’s 60.8 cubic-feet and the Model Y’s 72.1 cubic-feet. The Sportback’s sloping roof cuts its total cargo area to 54.5 cubic-feet. The iX, only two inches longer than the e-tron on the outside, boasts 35.5 cubic-feet behind its rear seats and 77.9 with them folded.

In addition to a spacious trunk, the e-tron is equipped with copious in-cabin storage including door bins with bottle holders, a glove box and center console compartments. 

The e-tron has a smallish 1.2-cubic-foot frunk (front trunk). It’s typically used to carry charging cords, but can hold other stuff. Tesla leads the pack with 4.1 cubic-feet in the Model Y’s frunk. The I-Pace’s is just under 1 cubic-foot and the Lyriq doesn’t have one. 

The e-tron leads its class for towing, with a rating of up to 4,000 pounds. A tow package is a $750 option. The Model Y, at 3,700 pounds, is next in tow capacity, then the Lyriq at 3,500 pounds. The I-Pace isn’t rated to tow, and BMW hasn’t rated the U.S.-model iX either. 

Style & Design: 9/10

If “look at me” is your thing, the e-tron isn’t for you. There’s nothing about the classically styled crossover that shouts “electric” or that grabs attention as it sits in a crowded parking lot. That’s not a bad thing, though. A little understatement, especially in the luxury classes, delivers a message of quiet competence, and on that score the e-tron delivers quite well.

Its signature profile and large grille do let the word know that it is an Audi, and if you need to stand out just a little, the coupe-like upper contours of the e-tron Sportback may do the trick. The optional Black Optic trim package (standard on the e-tron Chronos and Sportback Prestige trims) also adds a bit of pop and sparkle with orange brake calipers and glossy black exterior trim pieces.  

Inside, the design is standard Audi, with a large and easy-to read digital instrument panel and stacked touchscreens cascading down the center of the dash.

Is the 2023 Audi e-tron Worth it? Which e-tron is the Best Value? 

The e-tron isn’t as sporty as Jaguar’s I-Pace, as sleek as Cadillac’s Lyriq nor as roomy as Tesla’s Model Y, but it combines power, comfort, utility and decent driving dynamics in a luxury EV at a price that isn’t eye-watering—unless one of the $7,900 “Audi exclusive” paint colors calls to you. 

The e-tron—exclusive of the performance e-tron S—comes in several trim levels. The base Premium ($71,895 including destination and $75,095 for the Sportback) is the best combination of features, utility and price—even with desirable options like the $750 Tow package or $3,500 Convenience Plus kit (bird’s eye view camera, adaptable cruise and lane keeping assist). 

The $78,895 Premium Plus trim ($82,095 for the Sportback) incorporates the Convenience Plus driver assistance features and has an available $2,400 Black Optic package that adds 21-inch wheels and a few exterior trim features.

The SUV-styled e-tron’s $88,090 e-tron Chronos trim has all from Premium Plus (including Black Optic) and adds dual-pane acoustic glass, a head-up display and interior upgrades. The Sportback’s top trim is the $90,395 Prestige. It has all of the Chronos upgrades plus 22-inch alloys. The big wheels require narrow sidewall performance tires that reduce efficiency and harshen ride quality.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Audi e-tron?

The e-tron is aligned in insurance pricing with most of its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of just over $3,000, though this averages all 50 states. A Jaguar I-Pace owner might pay $3,100 per year, while the Tesla Model Y is $3,144 and the new Cadillac Lyriq is $2,500. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.