Compact crossover SUVs are hugely popular. They’re large enough to handle SUV-like tasks, but they’re not oversized. And in terms of electric luxury crossovers, the 2021 Audi e-tron stands head and shoulders above the rest. However, the 2021 e-tron isn’t perfect. And although this model makes customers pay extra to get every safety feature and driver assist, it’s still an excellent electric crossover SUV. 

The best EVs on the market right now

The EV market is growing larger every year. Nowadays, you can find multiple options in multiple segments, and you have some tough choices to make. That’s why Good Housekeeping created a list of the best EVs in each class for the 2021 model year. This list has some surprises and a few expected results. For example, the Tesla Model 3 took home the win in the sedan category. Similarly, the Chevy Bolt won in the compact car category.

On the other hand, the Polestar 2 won in the luxury sedan category. The luxury sedan segment is pretty popular among EVs, so the Polestar 2’s win is significant.

As far as subcompact SUVs go, the Kia Niro EV won in the non-luxury segment, while the Volvo XC40 Recharge won in the luxury segment.

Finally, the Ford Mustang Mach-E won in the non-luxury compact SUV segment. And the Audi e-tron won in the luxury compact SUV segment.

Why is the 2021 Audi e-tron the best electric luxury SUV?

According to Good Housekeeping, the Audi e-tron is the German automaker’s first attempt at producing an EV, and Audi did an excellent job.

It has a high starting price of about $66,000, but Audi took the time to make the 2021 e-tron as luxurious as possible for that price point. The interior is spacious, comfortable, and well-designed. That’s precisely why the e-tron provides such a smooth and quiet ride.

That said, this EV gets only 222 miles on a full charge. That’s not great.

But the Audi e-tron makes up for that drawback with a high-tech interior. For example, it boasts two touchscreens and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The touchscreens are stacked one atop the other, and the larger one measures 10.1 inches, while the smaller one is 8.6 inches.

The e-tron also comes standard with most of Audi’s advanced safety features. They include automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning, Audi says. However, buyers must pay extra for adaptive cruise control.

How Good Housekeeping determined the winners

Good Housekeeping took a holistic approach to creating its list. The publication considered various factors that might matter to consumers. GH test-drove the cars to ensure that they could perform the fundamentals well. And this is where the e-tron excelled, with Audi’s signature driving dynamics. 

However, Good Housekeeping also ensured the EVs it tested functioned well for day-to-day driving. For example, the cars had to be comfortable for people of all heights and sizes. And creature comforts, such as the HVAC system, should be easy to use. In addition, GH installed child car seats in each model to determine ease of use.

And overall, the 2021 Audi e-tron came out ahead in its segment.