Audi is one of the most famous and reputable automakers when it comes to luxury car brands. Due to that, it’s no surprise that the Audi e-tron was a contender for being the EV of the year. However, despite its many good qualities, the Audi e-tron didn’t receive a glowing review compared to other electric candidates. 

Why the Ford Mustang Mach-E ultimately won

EVs are the cars of the future, and they’re all trying to do their own thing. Out of all of those EVs on the market right now, Car and Driver proclaimed that the Mustang Mach-E was the best of them all. The Mach-E won for a variety of reasons. According to Car and Driver, it didn’t get the most range, and it wasn’t the fastest, but it’s the perfect EV for the moment.

The Mach-E beat many other EVs along the way, too. One of the contenders that the Mach-E easily beat was the Audi e-tron. This was an easy contest for many reasons, but it ultimately boiled down to the similarities and differences between the two. Off the bat, both were SUVs, but it’s clear that the e-tron is lagging in many ways.

The Audi e-tron’s issues

The e-tron is an Audi, and as such, it does come with an expensive but luxurious interior. Car and Driver praised the e-tron’s interior, but of course, that luxury will come at a cost. The e-tron starts at about $67,000, which puts it easily in one of the more expensive segments for SUVs. That price tag will pay for electric motors that generate about 402 hp, but the e-tron isn’t actually that quick.

Car and Driver wrote that the e-tron’s “5.2-second run to 60 isn’t terribly impressive,” especially for its price tag. For comparison, cheaper electric SUVs on Car and Driver’s list, such as the Mach-E and the Tesla Model Y, can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Not only is the e-tron slower than its rivals, but its range is also not great.

The Audi e-tron should be able to go 222 miles on a single charge, but in Car and Driver’s 75-mph highway range test, the e-tron only got 170 miles. For comparison, the Model Y is not only cheaper than the e-tron, but it can get 291 miles. That said, Car and Driver praised the e-tron for its fast charging capabilities, which were quicker than the other EVs that it tested.

Other EVs simply got better reviews than the Audi e-tron

However, it’s pretty clear that Car and Driver ultimately didn’t like the e-tron all that much. Car and Driver wrote, “The Audi e-tron doesn’t look like a vision of the future, but maybe that’s the point.” In comparison, many other EVs that were not front-runners in this competition got better reviews from Car and Driver.

For example, Car and Driver said that the Polestar 2 “offers a practical alternative to its more audacious electric competitors.” When it comes to the numbers, it’s clear why the Polestar 2 got a better review than the e-tron. The Polestar 2 starts at about $61,000, has a 408 hp powertrain, can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and has a 233-mile range. All of these numbers are much better than the Audi e-tron’s. 

Additionally, the Polestar 2 wasn’t alone in getting a glowing review. The Volkswagen ID.4 and the Kia Niro EV, for instance, both got great reviews and also cost less than the Audi e-tron.