Audi This fall Sportback e-tron assessment

The Audi This fall e-tron is a wonderful electrical automobile that provides rivals just like the BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQA a run for his or her cash. It is anticipated to be the model’s second best-selling mannequin general within the UK – electrical or in any other case – behind solely the A3 hatchback. But it surely’s additionally a somewhat conventionally styled premium SUV, so Audi has continued the pattern of introducing extra rakish, coupe-like variations of its household automobiles with this: the This fall Sportback e-tron.

It shares mechanical underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq iV, and it is no coincidence that coupe-SUV variations of each of these, referred to as the ID.5 and Enqyaq Coupe iV, will likely be arriving throughout 2022. Among the many This fall Sportback e-tron’s rivals from exterior the VW Group are the Volvo C40 Recharge, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Mannequin Y and Kia EV6. Audi reckons simply over 15% of This fall e-tron patrons will select the Sportback somewhat than the common automobile – not stunning when you think about that it is rather less sensible than its sibling.

As you may anticipate from a automobile with the Sportback’s sweeping roofline, rear-seat passengers lose 24mm of headroom. Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless sufficient house even for these approaching six toes tall, whereas knee and legroom are as spectacular as they’re within the common This fall. Curiously, there is a acquire in boot capability over the common This fall e-tron: the Sportback sees a rise of 15 litres to 535 with the again seats in place: that’s practically 200 greater than the boot house within the Mercedes EQA.

Sit within the driver’s seat of the This fall Sportback e-tron and also you instantly really feel you are in a extra upmarket atmosphere than what’s supplied within the ID.4 or Enyaq iV. The cabin feels extra plush, with the Sportback’s 10.1-inch central infotainment touchscreen built-in into the dashboard somewhat than perched on high of it. Total, the standard of the Sportback’s inside is excellent, and efficiently justifies its extra premium price ticket – typically round £1,500 greater than the equal This fall e-tron.

The entry-level This fall Sportback 35 e-tron incorporates a 52kWh battery and 168bhp electrical motor. Upgrading to the 40 e-tron grants you a longer-range 77kWh battery and a bit extra energy, whereas the 50 e-tron provides a second motor to the entrance axle for quattro all-wheel drive, however a slight discount in vary.

We have pushed the mid-tier 40 e-tron, which due to a 324-mile vary and slight bump in energy over the entry-level model, is more likely to be the decide of the vary and the very best fitted to on a regular basis driving. It has 125kW speedy charging as customary, which implies a top-up to 80% battery capability from nearly empty is feasible in lower than 40 minutes. In the meantime, a full recharge from empty utilizing a house wallbox will take just a little over 12 hours.

On the highway, the rear-wheel-drive Audi can’t match extra highly effective rivals relating to outright acceleration, but it surely’s fast sufficient. The 201bhp electrical motor offers that acquainted on the spot kick while you put your foot down, and the Sportback continues to tug strongly nicely previous the nationwide velocity restrict.

Our time within the automobile advised a real-world vary of near 250 miles needs to be persistently achievable, based mostly on three miles per kWh reported effectivity in regular driving. Total, the This fall Sportback e-tron feels steady and agile, with a superb quantity of grip on provide.

It’s not essentially the most participating electrical automobile on sale, but it surely makes up for this relating to consolation. The serenity of the cabin is simply damaged while you push the automobile and a small quantity of tyre or wind noise filters in. However the rakish coupe-SUV is ready to stay comparatively flat when cornering, in addition to properly cushioning rougher roads – though admittedly our automobile was fitted with Audi’s non-compulsory adaptive dampers.

The This fall Sportback e-tron efficiently retains the very best qualities of its conventionally formed sister automobile, from the inside high quality to the on-board expertise, to experience consolation and even practicality. And for many who are blissful to pay additional for the Sportback’s rakish roofline and barely sportier styling, the German model’s Mannequin Y rival ticks all the suitable bins. For a extra in-depth take a look at the Audi This fall Sportback e-tron, learn on for the remainder of our assessment.