Etron Cameras
Audi plans to do away with side mirrors on its upcoming Audi e-tron electric SUV, offering optional cameras to replace them, though US drivers will likely be out of luck. The new SUV EV is expected to go on sale later this year, and will use a number of high-tech features – some standard, some optional – to improve efficiency and make the most of the battery’s charge.
One of the most striking of those features will involve bringing a concept car mainstay to a production vehicle. The current Audi e-tron Prototype lacks side mirrors, replacing them with far smaller cameras. These beam a real-time view of the sides of the vehicle to OLED screens integrated into the join of the dashboard and the door trim.
AUDI E TRON NIGHT DRIVE POV AMBIENT LIGHTING & CAMERA MIRRORS by AutoTopNL Subscribe to be the first to see new content! Webcam Controllers: eSP770: Depth Map Controllers: D 3 FS: eDRAM-by-Dies: DRAM Design-and-Die: DRAM Design-and-Die Foundry Service: eSP770 Memory ICs. This vision system is comprised of two cameras, integrated into the sides of the car’s chassis, and two tactile displays inside the doors. The launch of an automobile with the exterior digital rear-view system is a milestone in the automotive industry. In this regard, the Audi e-tron is expected to hit the market in late 2018. Etron Reports the Consolidated Financial Results of Year 2019 - (2020-02-24) Etron Announces Revenue of Jan 2020 - (2020-02-10) Etron Announces Revenue of Dec 2019 - (2020-01-01).
It’s not an unusual idea for concept cars, but no automaker so far has carried them over to a production vehicle. Audi, however, says it does indeed intend to offer them on the production e-tron, albeit as an option. The regular version of the car will have standard side mirrors with normal glass, but the “virtual exterior mirrors” will be a cost option.
The upshot, Audi says, is in efficiency and practicality. For a start the camera nacelles are far smaller than a mirror, reducing overall vehicle width by almost 6-inches. At the same time, they also cut vehicle drag, which helps with efficiency.
Finally, they improve on cabin comfort, since traditional wing mirrors are a key cause of wind noise. Audi says there’ll be three different view settings offered: one for highway driving, another for turns, and a final perspective for parking. All well and good, but sadly US buyers of the e-tron SUV are likely to be left out of the fun.
That’s because US Department of Transportation policy requires two physical side mirrors to be affixed to a new car. Although there has been some chatter of updating the policy – much as it was made mandatory for new cars sold from this year to include a reversing camera – right now there’s no sign of that changing any time soon. Indeed, the US laws are particularly draconian about even the mirrors that can be used. While cars in Europe and elsewhere can have curved sections which help fit more of the exterior scene into view, US regulations forbid anything other than flat glass.
It’s not the first time some of Audi’s enhancements have run headlong into US restrictions. The company began installing laser headlamps on some of its high-end models in Europe several years ago, but the technology was not permitted on cars in the US – despite significantly improving on visibility. Still, Audi’s other tweaks and fettling for aerodynamics on the e-tron should meet with US regulator approval.
The SUV’s adaptive air suspension, for example, can lower by 1-inch at speeds over 74.6 mph, helping cut down drag. The underbody of the e-tron is completely enclosed, while some sections are given golf ball-style dimples which help streamline air flow. Behind the Singleframe Audi grille there are two louvers which can electrically open and close depending on whether the drivetrain and brakes need cooling. If they don’t, closing the grille shut also aids in air flow over the car.
Indeed, you could argue that Audi’s engineers have been fairly obsessive about aerodynamics. Even the wheels and tires have been reworked to cut drag. The 19-inch alloy wheels are flatter, for instance, while the lettering on the tire sidewalls has been etched into the rubber rather than raised up from it.
The result is a drag coefficient of 0.28, which puts the e-tron Prototype at the top of the SUV segment. That may not sound like much, but Audi says a hundredth of the drag coefficient figure works out to just over 3 miles of everyday range.
Story Timeline
The all-electric 2020 Audi e-tron ranks in the middle of the luxury hybrid and electric SUV class. The e-tron offers composed handling, spry acceleration, a top-notch interior, and intuitive tech features, but it has a shorter driving range than most rivals.
Is the Audi e-tron a Good SUV?
Yes, the 2020 Audi e-tron is a good electric SUV. It has a spacious interior with comfy seats, rich materials, and a user-friendly infotainment system. It hustles up to speed confidently and treats passengers to a smooth ride, thanks to its powerful electric motors and adaptive air suspension. The e-tron also comes packed with advanced safety features. In many ways, the e-tron offers all the refinement and performance we’ve come to expect of Audi SUVs, but with a charge port instead of a gas cap.
Should I Buy the Audi e-tron?
The 2020 Audi e-tron is worth considering, especially if you want an electric vehicle that doesn’t advertise its high-voltage hardware. Out on the road, it looks similar to the Audi Q5 or Q8 SUVs. The biggest knock against the e-tron is its limited range of just 218 miles on a full charge. That may be fine for everyday commuting and shorter trips, but it’s not ideal if you frequently pile on the highway miles. If that sounds like you, first check out longer-range electric SUVs like the Tesla Model X, the all-new Tesla Model Y, or the Jaguar I-Pace.
Should I Buy a New or Used Audi e-tron?
Audi launched the e-tron for 2019 as an all-new SUV. Updates for 2020 are limited to the arrival of a Sportback variant, which has a lower coupelike roofline and a slightly longer driving range. Otherwise, the e-tron carries over unchanged.
If you’re only interested in the standard e-tron SUV, you may be able to save money by shopping for a pre-owned 2019 e-tron. Check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts you can find on used vehicles.
We Did the Research for You: 18 Reviews Analyzed
We’ve analyzed 18 Audi e-tron reviews, as well as data points like fuel economy estimates and reliability scores, to help you make the best car-buying decision possible. This 2020 e-tron review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2019.
Why You Can Trust Us
U.S. News Best Cars has been ranking and reviewing vehicles since 2007, and our team has decades of experience in the auto industry. Though we’re passionate about cars, we’re even more committed to providing helpful consumer advice. To maintain objectivity, we don’t accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies.
How Much Does the Audi e-tron Cost?
Pricing for the 2020 Audi e-tron SUV starts at $74,800. The coupelike e-tron Sportback has a slightly higher starting price of $77,300. These prices are on the higher end of the luxury hybrid and electric SUV class.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Audi dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Audi deals page.
Audi e-tron Versus the Competition
Which Is Better: Audi e-tron or Tesla Model Y?
The Tesla Model Y and Audi e-tron each have their advantages and disadvantages, but the Model Y is the better EV. It has a considerably longer driving range – up to 316 miles on a full charge – and it’s supported by Tesla’s widespread Supercharger network. It’s also much less expensive than the Audi, starting at around $53,000. On the other hand, the e-tron is a more luxurious vehicle. Its interior boasts higher-quality materials, whereas the Tesla feels almost spartan and drab. Also, the e-tron rides more comfortably over rough pavement than the stiff-legged Model Y. Ultimately, both SUVs are good, albeit very different, options in this segment.
Which Is Better: Audi e-tron or Jaguar I-Pace?
It’s a similar story with the Jaguar I-Pace. The I-Pace is a better option if you’re concerned with driving range. It offers a 234-mile range on a full charge, while the e-tron goes only 204 miles. (If you opt for the e-tron Sportback, you'll get 218 miles.) The Jaguar is a slightly better value as well since prices start at $69,850, about $5,000 less than the Audi. If you can live with the shorter range, though, the e-tron may be a better choice. Its interior is trimmed with higher-end materials, the infotainment system is less buggy, and there’s more cargo space in back.
e-tron Interior
How Many People Does the e-tron Seat?
The 2020 Audi e-tron is available in SUV and Sportback body styles. Both have five seats. The front seats are supportive and well cushioned, and the wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustments make it easy to find a comfortable driving position. There’s also ample headroom and legroom up front for taller occupants. The rear seats are cushy, and there’s adequate space for two adults to sit comfortably, even with the Sportback’s lower roofline. Another plus: The e-tron provides good front, side, and rear visibility.
Leather upholstery is standard, as are heated and ventilated front seats. Available features include massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and rear sunshades.
e-tron and Child Car Seats
The Audi e-tron has two full sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and an upper tether for the rear middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this Latch system the highest rating of Good for its ease of use.
e-tron Interior Quality
Despite its advanced electric powertrain, the e-tron’s interior doesn’t look or feel much different than Audi’s other SUVs, and that’s a good thing. The styling is crisp and elegant without being showy, and most surfaces are covered with high-end materials. Additionally, the cabin remains exceptionally quiet, with minimal road and wind noise.
e-tron Cargo Space
The Audi e-tron has 28.5 cubic feet of cargo space with its rear seats upright and 57 cubic feet with these seats folded flat. The Sportback variant has slightly less cargo space – 27.2 and 54.5 cubic feet, respectively – due to its lower roofline. These are respectable figures for the luxury hybrid and electric SUV class.
e-tron Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation
The e-tron is equipped with the latest version of Audi’s MMI infotainment system. It consists of a 10.1-inch touch screen in the center of the dashboard and an 8.6-inch touch screen below it. Other standard equipment includes navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, a smartphone charging pad, Bluetooth, two USB ports, HD Radio, satellite radio, 16 speakers, four-zone automatic climate control, and Audi's Virtual Cockpit, which replaces the traditional gauge cluster with a customizable 12.3-inch digital display. Available features include a cabin air fragrance system and ambient interior lighting.
The upper screen controls the radio, navigation, and smartphone integration functions, while the lower screen manages the climate control and vehicle settings. That may sound confusing, but in practice it’s quite intuitive. The graphics are clear, the screens respond quickly, and the menus are easy to understand. Both screens also vibrate subtly so you can tell if the system detected your input; this is known as haptic feedback. The e-tron’s digital gauge cluster (Audi's Virtual Cockpit) is another highlight. It can be configured to display as much or as little information as you want, including the navigation map in rich detail.
e-tron Performance
Eton Camera Driver
e-tron Powertrain: Like a Well-Oiled Machine
The Audi e-tron is equipped with a 95-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors, one powering the front wheels and the other powering the rear wheels. This electric all-wheel-drive system is rated at 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque, and it feels every bit as muscular as those ratings suggest. The e-tron accelerates up to speed quickly – going from zero to 60 mph takes just 5.5 seconds in Sport mode – and it offers tremendous passing power on the highway. The powertrain isn’t brutish, though. Back off the throttle and the e-tron lopes around town swiftly and silently, making for a relaxing SUV to drive day to day.
e-tron Range and Charging: Room for Improvement
The Audi e-tron has an EPA-estimated driving range of 204 miles. In the e-tron Sportback variant, this improves to 218 miles. Even so, these ratings aren’t great when compared to other luxury electric vehicles like the Tesla Model X and Model Y SUVs, which offer up to 328 and 316 miles, respectively.
You can recharge the e-tron at home using a 240-volt outlet or in public using a Level 2 charging station. The latter method charges the battery from zero to 100% in about nine hours. Plug in at a Level 3 public charger for the quickest charge, such as those offered by Volkswagen’s Electrify America initiative. This method can charge the e-tron to 80% in 30 minutes, which equates to about 170 miles of range. The e-tron is included with 1,000 kWh of free charging at Electrify America stations. Currently, there are over 1,900 of these fast-chargers available nationwide.
e-tron Ride and Handling: Pavement Pounder
The Audi e-tron is a very heavy vehicle, tipping the scales at over 5,700 pounds, but it does a fine job of disguising that weight from behind the wheel. The e-tron feels stable and glued to the road when maneuvering around tight turns. The steering is crisp and responsive, and the brakes slow down the e-tron confidently, which isn’t always the case with electric vehicles. The e-tron also benefits from an adaptive air suspension that helps to soak up bumps and dips in the road. The result is a smooth and composed driving experience, albeit not exactly an exciting one.
e-tron Towing Capacity
The Audi e-tron can tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped.
e-tron Reliability
Is the Audi e-tron Reliable?
The 2020 Audi e-tron has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five from J.D. Power.
Audi e-tron Warranty
Audi covers the e-tron with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
e-tron Safety
e-tron Crash Test Results
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2020 Audi e-tron an overall safety rating of five out of five stars. Manhattan grabber driver. The e-tron received five stars in the side crash and rollover tests and four stars in the frontal crash test.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2020 e-tron a Top Safety Pick+. It received the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests, as well as a Good rating for how well its headlights illuminate the road ahead. The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. The e-tron earned the highest rating of Superior for its standard vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention systems.
e-tron Safety Features
The 2020 Audi e-tron comes standard with a surround-view parking camera system, parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a rearview camera, and pedestrian detection.
Available driver assistance features include side collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display with traffic sign recognition.
e-tron Dimensions and Weight
The Audi e-tron is 16.1 feet long, and it has a curb weight of 5,754 pounds.
Where Is the 2020 Audi e-tron Built?
Audi builds the 2020 e-tron in Belgium.
Which Audi e-tron Model Is Right for Me?
The 2020 Audi e-tron comes in two body styles – SUV and Sportback – and three trim levels: Premium Plus, Prestige, and Edition One. We think the entry-level Premium Plus trim in either body style is a good pick for most shoppers. It is well-equipped with standard features and offers the same performance as the higher trims.
Notably, all e-tron models are equipped with the same powertrain, which consists of a lithium-ion battery pack, two electric motors, and Quattro all-wheel drive. This setup provides an EPA-estimated driving range of 204 miles for the e-tron SUV and 218 miles for the sleeker e-tron Sportback.
Audi e-tron Premium Plus
The Audi e-tron Premium Plus trim starts at $74,800 for SUV models and $77,300 for Sportback models. Standard tech features include an upper 10.1-inch touch screen, a lower 8.6-inch touch screen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster (Audi's Virtual Cockpit), navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, HD Radio, satellite radio, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and a smartphone charging pad. Other standard features include leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, an adaptive air suspension, and 20-inch wheels.
Standard safety features include front and rear collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, a surround-view parking camera system, a rearview camera, and parking sensors. The Sportback is a bit better equipped as it also has adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and heated rear seats.
Options for the SUV model include 19-inch wheels, a tow package, heated rear seats, and a Driver Assistance package with adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, and side collision warning. The Sportback model is optional with a Black Optic package, which adds two-tone wheels, a black grille, and black exterior and interior trim.
Audi e-tron Prestige
Pricing for the e-tron Prestige trim stars at $79,100 for SUV models and $83,300 for Sportback models. This trim adds massaging front seats, a cabin air fragrance system, a head-up display, power closing doors, and the contents of the Driver Assistance package. Again, the Sportback model is a bit better equipped. It also has ambient interior lighting and rear sunshades. Most options carryover unchanged.
Audi e-tron Edition One
The e-tron Edition One has an $88,495 starting price, and it is offered only in the Sportback body style. This limited edition trim adds Plasma Blue exterior paint, Monaco Blue leather upholstery, brushed steel accents, and 21-inch wheels.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Audi dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Audi deals page.
Etron Camera Mirror
The Final Call
Though the e-tron can’t match the driving range of its largely Tesla-based competition, there’s still a lot to love about this Audi. It’s dressed to the nines with quality cabin materials. The interior is library-quiet, there’s ample seating space in both rows, and the dual-screen infotainment system is relatively user-friendly. The e-tron also offers commanding acceleration and a well-cushioned ride. It may not upend the luxury electric SUV pecking order, but the 2020 Audi e-tron is still a great option.
Entron Cameras
Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.
Read the full 2020 Audi e-tron review on U.S. News & World Report for more details, photos, specs and prices.