Why Are Used Audi e-trons Selling For Nearly 50% Off MSRP?
The used electric vehicle space is uncharted territory for consumers and many dealerships. Why? EVs are so new that, frankly, there aren’t many used models for sale compared to ICE vehicles. Furthermore, it’s much easier to price internal combustion engine vehicles appropriately. We’re still learning about electric vehicle depreciation and battery degradation over extended periods of time. The Audi e-tron electric SUV is being sold as a used model for half of its MSRP and under. So, what gives?
Why are Audi e-trons being sold so cheap?
A used SUV price of $35,000 may sound like a lot, but that’s less than half of the e-tron electric midsize SUV’s starting MSRP. Could its astoundingly high starting price be part of the reason why it’s depreciating so much? In part, yes.
There are several Audi e-tron models listed for sale on TrueCar with prices of $35,000 and under. In fact, there are over 33 total listings of e-trons within that $35K price range. So, this isn’t a one-off listing or a private seller practically giving away an electric SUV. Instead, this is a clear indication that the Audi e-tron is hardly worth its inflated starting price as a new model. It’s worth even less once it racks up some miles.
GoodCarBadCar.net claims that Audi has only sold 1,525 e-tron models in the United States in 2023. Compare that to the 5,369 models sold back in 2019, and it isn’t hard to notice a serious sales slump. That’s a decrease of around 71% in 2023. It’s a decrease of about 81% from the e-tron’s best-selling year in 2021.
The 2019 Audi e-tron has an MSRP of $75,795. If drivers are selling the electric midsize SUV for less than half of that, they’re trying to get rid of it fast. The e-tron is facing one of the worst depreciation rates in the EV space. Let’s explore why.
Everything wrong with the Audi e-tron
A quick Reddit search proves that several users claiming to be e-tron owners have issues with the electric SUV, specifically citing the 2019 model year as problematic. CarComplaints.com doesn’t have many complaints listed against the e-tron, but some of the few listed are severe.
The worst Audi e-tron problem listed on CarComplaints is a suspension failure on the 2019 model. This is yet another instance of the 2019 model’s reliability being criticized. Additionally, Consumer Reports gave the 2019 e-tron a low overall reliability score. In-vehicle electronics and the SUV’s electric motor are listed as problem areas.
Efficiency and driving range are also huge issues with the e-tron nameplate. The real-world driving range for used e-tron model years is around 200 miles in ideal conditions. Factor in high driving speeds and temperature fluctuations, and that could put a serious dent in this EV’s driving range.
Audi e-tron problems
- Reliability issues
- Range and efficiency problems
- High cost of ownership as a luxury midsize electric SUV
Should you get a used Audi e-tron?
It’s tough to recommend the Audi e-tron after learning about all the issues e-tron owners are facing. The sudden surfacing of so many cheap used e-tron models is also concerning. Additionally, many private sellers still want to get as much of their money out of a sale as possible, so even used prices could be inflated compared to the used e-tron’s true market value.
All reliability and range issues aside, one man’s trash is often another man’s treasure. A consumer could get a used e-tron for a heavily discounted price and be perfectly happy with it. But it’s difficult to cosign the luxury midsize electric SUV as someone who often hears the perils of EV ownership.
