Striking a chord

Although the official launch date for Australia is early next year, the Audi e-tron is winning plenty of  friends amongst the international press as it’s rolled out around the world. As more journalists get to drive the vehicle in real world conditions, the blend of technology and practicality has struck a chord with a group that is notoriously hard to please. Indeed, the e-tron continues to impress the motoring writers in what is an emerging yet fiercely competitive automotive segment – and one with far reaching implications on future mobility. 

Creating electric vehicles that can deliver on expectations in the real world is no small challenge for vehicle manufacturers and approaches and technology varies greatly. Far from being a trend, e-mobility is here to stay, but only for those who can truly make it work for both the customer and the environment.

In other words, it’s important to ‘get it right’ from the outset and the overwhelming majority of reports give the Audi e-tron the thumbs up.

Of course there is no shortage of online publications and blogs all expressing an opinion on a whole range of things, so to get at what the experts think, it’s important to go straight to the respected sources.

Take Road & Track for example, where Máté Petrány said in his first drive feature: 

“The 2019 Audi e-tron makes switching to electric a no-brainer. Audi's electric offensive starts with an impressive car offering utility, super-fast charging, and the smoothest possible driving experience.”

“The e-tron is a well-rounded luxury SUV that barely shows off its electric nature.”

Ian Kuah had a similar experience when he sampled the e-tron in Abu Dhabi, taking in highway driving at speed as well as getting off the road altogether and out into the sand. Writing for CARBUZZ, he approached the first drive with an appropriate amount of scepticism but seemed to emerge from the experience suitably impressed that the e-tron was on the money.

“After the build up of anticipation created by the various events this year that revealed the Audi e-tron’s design and technology, there was always a chance that the actual driving experience might be an anti-climax.

“But this is Audi we are talking about, and the e-tron exudes every hallmark of the world-class design and build that we have come to expect from the marque with the four rings.”

Kuah, a self confessed sceptic where electric vehicles are concerned, also conceded:

“… the e-tron felt so well sorted it even managed to convince this sceptic just how well rounded and mature an EV can be even at this relatively early stage of the electro-mobility game.”

Sampled in everyday driving and on the B-roads of Yorkshire, Curtis Moldrich of Car Magazine likewise found that driving the e-tron represented a a very real taste of the future of automobiles, as opposed to a novelty:

“In many ways, the e-tron is just like any other Audi, inside and out – but that’s what makes it exciting. It’s an SUV you can imagine slotting easily into your everyday life, with more charging options, and packages easing you over the ever-shrinking hurdles of EV ownership.”

Indeed that sentiment that it was important to judge the e-tron against other cars in general and not just against other EVs came through loud and clear. The majority felt that it was important that an electric vehicle be a practical and working consideration that people will embrace.

On those grounds, Eric Adams over at Gear Patrol out of the US was likewise impressed, calling the e-tron ‘a great car’ and praising its driving dynamics regardless of whether he was looking to drive conservatively or just put his foot down.

“The e-tron is a silky-smooth and almost disconcertingly quiet family hauler, always ready for a quick bit of acceleration and eager to help you maximise your driving efficiency as you instinctively stretch out the battery. Or ignore that instinct, as I did, and just thunder down the road as fast as you please. I had a hard time detecting any range penalties based on driving style, and that’s to the car’s credit, as well as its engineering." 

“Audi managed to use electric propulsion as a starting point for luxury, not a free pass. It tightened up the chassis, the road noise and the construction to ensure that this would be a serene driving experience, and they succeeded. The fact that it’s also a practical and usable car, as well as fun and quick, is simply gravy.”

So there you have it. A taste of what you can expect when the brand’s first all-all-electric model makes its debut Down Under and you’re able to ‘write your own reviews’ once you’ve sampled the Audi e-tron on Australian roads. Roll on 2020.