Audi e-tron 2021 review: 50 quattro

Very swish. It looks sporty, the angle on the coupe's roof is just right and it almost feels like a sportscar in an SUV body. But did I mention flashy? Especially in 'Catalunya Red', or possibly only in Catalunya Red.

I had people commenting all over the place on how great it looked. Yet, apart from the e-tron badge you wouldn’t know this is an electric vehicle. 

It looks sporty, the angle on the coupe's roof is just right and it almost feels like a sportscar in an SUV body.

Inside looks very much like a regular Audi SUV, with leather seats and steering wheel, a digital dashboard in front of you, and slick design throughout.

There are brushed metallic trims and everything is well styled, but nothing screams 'car of the future' on the inside, which it does on the Tesla Model X SUV (in case you're comparing the two). It does look the money though, and it feels great to drive. 

To all intents and purposes, this is a full five-seater SUV and it comfortably fit my family of four.

I had it charging via power point for a total of nine hours over the seven days I had it.

The front is spacious as it’s a very wide car, so there’s lots of room in between passenger and driver, and there’s enough leg space and head space for taller people. 

The back seat, too, has plenty of room. My two children, aged seven and nine, were very happy in there and it has enough room for me at 161cm (5'3").

There is a good amount of room between my knees and the seat in front, seated behind a taller person’s driving position, so larger people will be comfortable in the back seat also, even for headspace with the sloping roof. 

There's 615L (VDA) of space in the boot, which will fit a double pram or several suitcases.

And the boot is big. A whole 615L (VDA) of space big, which will fit a double pram or several suitcases. There’s also space under the bonnet for charging cables (because it doesn’t have an engine, remember) so you can store those efficiently without them living in the boot full time. 

I’m partial to an electric vehicle because I prefer the lush silence that comes with having no engine, even when you’re heavy on the accelerator or going up a hill.

That just feels so luxurious to me because it’s as though the car is moving with little to no effort. 

The steering is good - not heavy and not light, easy to turn, and the handling is great.

There is relatively instant acceleration from the moment you press on the accelerator (I say relatively, comparing it to any car with an engine, but it’s not as quick off the mark as an upper-spec Tesla).

The steering is good - not heavy and not light, easy to turn, and the handling is great thanks to the low centre of gravity from the battery which is in the base of the car. 

Parking is a breeze thanks to the easy steering. It is surprisingly wide and long so be mindful when choosing your space. There’s a hi-res reverse parking camera with a 360 degree view which certainly helps.

There’s a 10.1-inch multimedia screen and there's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It works well and is an instant gateway to the main apps on your phone so it’s easy to use because it’s the same interface.

It’s not a gamechanger, like the tech in a Tesla, though. Most cars now have CarPlay and Auto and there’s nothing amazing about the tech in the e-tron for a car in this high price category.

There’s a 10.1-inch multimedia screen and there's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

It has a 10-speaker stereo and the sound is good, so turn the volume up.

The Audi e-tron 50 quattro costs $148,100, before on road costs and extras. Audi includes a six-year Chargefox membership which means you can charge for free at any of the many Chargefox charging stations around the country.

You’ll also get servicing and roadside assistance for six years on e-trons and an eight-year/160,000km warranty on the battery as well as the three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on the car itself.

The Audi e-tron 50 quattro costs $148,100, before on road costs and extras.