The 2019 Audi E-Tron SUV Debuts With a $75,000 Price Tag, Max Towing Capacity of 4,000 Pounds

The E-Tron has been teasing us for as long as we can remember. In fact, the SUV was being used in comparisons before we even had any concrete details about it. After spotting it in camouflage all this while, the automaker has finally decided to showcase it to the public, and the car is unmistakably an Audi. Now, has the E-Tron lived up to the expectations and the hype?

Did Audi Clone One Of Its Previous SUVs?

The 2019 Audi E-Tron did not get the step-brotherly treatment whatsoever. The SUV reeks of Audi’s DNA all around the body; I mean this in a good way. Audi didn't try to make it look futuristic or sophisticated by any means; which, for some reason, has been the market trend for EVs... cough, iNEXT, cough... A keen observer will notice that the front looks like the Q3, and the rear like the Q8. The front looks smart overall, and the only thing I would grouch about is the chrome grille. You don’t get chrome accents in the grille; you get grille accents in the chrome. For someone who prefers a sportier appearance and less bling, this is a major turn-off.

On the sides, Audi has given the E-Tron additional slats that break the monotony of the sheetmetal. Some of the creased panels are made of aluminum, too, such as the hood, doors and rear hatch. This helps reduce the weight drastically, thus resulting in improved efficiency. The 255 mm wide, 20-inch wheels look quite big and fill the wheel wells well (interesting wordplay!).

At the rear, Audi has given an elongated taillight that adds a little ‘back to the future’ effect. Perhaps, this is just to please the people who would complain about the car looking too ordinary for their taste. The sharply raked windshield at the rear may remind you of the Evoque – small glass area on a fairly big body. Instead of exhaust pipes, the E-Tron gets slates on the bumper. In my opinion, fake pipes would have looked better.

A Luxurious Cabin That Will Make You Smile Everytime

Again, the interior is typical Audi. Step inside, and you’ll be impressed by the spacious cabin. From the looks of it, the steering wheel could have been a little meatier. An instrument panel behind it houses Audi’s Virtual Cockpit instruments. One interesting thing is the small screen located on both the front doors. They display what the outside rear view cameras show. Funky!

2019 Audi E-Tron Performance

Let’s talk about the most important thing - The E-Tron's Performance. While the rest of the aspects have been taken from other Audis, this is where the E-Tron differentiates itself. The E-Tron is an absolute beast under sheep’s clothing. Mainly, the E-Tron runs on the rear motors, but the front motors come into play only when more power is demanded, or driving conditions require additional traction.

The electric beast comes with seven driving modes in total, but we’ll focus on these two for now – Normal mode, where the estimated output is 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque, and the Overboost mode where the power bumps up to 402 horses and 490 pound-feet of torque. The normal mode can be activated for 60 seconds straight, whereas the overboost function can turn this SUV into a mad beast for 8 seconds.

The general perception is to not strain electric crossovers with heavy duty stuff that the combustion-engined SUVs are capable of, but the E-Tron is here to change that. This vehicle can tow up to 4,000 pounds when equipped with the proper towing package!

What Powers The E-Tron?

Now, let us talk about the Mitichondria that powers this beast. The E-Tron is offered with a 95-kWh battery pack that is placed in the floor between the motors. Thanks to this placement, the E-Tron boasts 50:50 weight distribution and a low cetner of gravity. Audi claims that it will have 500 charging stations in place by July of next year. It will also support 150 kW DC charging, allowing it to recharge 80-percent of its usable range in 30 minutes. An EPA rating is not yet available, but the WLTP range rating for this SUV is 248 miles on a full charge.

Under The Belly

This allows for some mild off-roading, but what’s the point of off-roading when you don’t hear the engine grunt and roar while breaking the shackles and letting itself free from the clutches of the abstract roads?! Well, that’s too poetic. Getting back to the E-Tron, it gets disc brakes on all the four wheels with regenerative breaking.

Take Your Pick

The E-Tron can be availed in three different trims – Premium Plus, Prestige, and First Edition trim. Being an entry-level model, it is actually quite well-equipped.

The Prestige trim is priced at $82,795 and features a head-up display, massage seats, power door closers, adaptive cruise control, and park assist, amongst a whole host of other features. The top-end, First Edition model, starts at $87,695 and rides on 21-inch wheels, with orange brake calipers, and night vision.

The Audi E-Tron will hit the roads in the second quarter of 2019. And. Audi is accepting orders with a refundable $1,000 deposit right now. If you want to detail your car, a configuration tool is also available to design the E-Tron in your preferred manner before placing a deposit.

Our Take

The Audi E-Tron has all the bases covered. The all-roundedness of the car will please all sorts of customers; vertically and horizontally. If we had to pinpoint on the cons of the car, we would say it’s the pricing. The SUV is a little overpriced; not for what it’s offering, but just in terms of competition. The Tesla Model X seems like a value-for-money proposition when compared to the E-Tron for what it offers. Perhaps, Audi could have offered another trim below the Premium Plus in a bare-bones avatar to boast a lower starting price.

Even though its main rival is the Tesla Model X, the one to take the beating here is the BMW iNEXT, and to an extent, the Jaguar i-Pace as well. The delayed launch of the iNEXT is going to adversely affect Audi’s German compatriot. These were our initial observations and thoughts before we review the car in full-depth. What are your thoughts on this Electric SUV from the Audi stable? Let us know in the comments section below.