2020 Audi e-tron Sportback Review

The e-tron Sportback matches the power output of the standard e-tron at 355 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. A special Boost mode can be activated to increase output to 402 hp and 489 lb-ft, but only for 8 seconds. That was sufficient enough to propel the standard e-tron to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds at Edmunds' test track. The Sportback feels just as lively when given the juice, and we expect it to return similar, if not slightly quicker, times.

This is a heavy vehicle and it weighs nearly 3 tons. Yet Audi has done a nice job of making the e-tron Sportback move with surprising athleticism. This is partly due to the electric motors for the front and rear axles that can shunt power around to enhance the e-tron's handling balance. Another contributing factor is the low-slung battery pack, which helps maintain a low center of gravity.

If there's one improvement we'd like to see, it's the e-tron's braking. The brakes themselves lack a bit of finesse at low speeds, and the system defaults to low-level regenerative braking at every power cycle. Many EVs provide the option of one-pedal driving, but with the e-tron you still need to press the brake at some point during a stop.

The e-tron Sportback, like its more practical counterpart, is one of the most comfortable electric vehicles on the market today. It's supremely quiet inside the cabin, and its adaptive air suspension delivers a sophisticated and stable ride on a variety of road surfaces.

The front seats provide ample long-distance cushioning and support, and optional heated, ventilated and massage functions further expand that level of comfort. The standard quad-zone climate control system is powerful enough to keep all passengers comfortable to their personal satisfaction.

Audi conjures up some of the best-looking interiors in the industry. The drive mode shifter doubles as a palm rest and is unique yet intuitive to use. We also like that the dual-touchscreen layout is clean, modern and responsive. Alas, the touchscreens can also be distracting to use because you'll frequently have to take your eyes off the road to interact with many of the e-tron's features and settings.

One drawback to the e-tron Sportback's sleeker roofline is the loss of some head clearance compared to the regular e-tron. That makes it a little trickier when climbing in and out of the rear seat. Headroom front and back is also about an inch less. The cabin is spacious otherwise with ample legroom, and it's pleasingly easy to see out of.

The Audi navigation system is one of the best in-car systems with its satellite map displays, both on the center screen and within the driver's instrument cluster. The optional 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system produces excellent sound quality, and smartphones are easy to connect thanks to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the latter working wirelessly. USB charge ports are plentiful, and even the rear-seat ones can transmit data up front.

The e-tron Sportback's standard driver aids include mostly collision avoidance features. The optional adaptive cruise control with lane-centering function is one of the better-tuned systems around and eases the burden of driving in congested freeway traffic. Also optional is an excellent 360-degree surround-view camera system. The added tech features are reason enough that we'd recommend upgrading to the Premium Plus trim.

We're not sold on the whole coupe-like SUV trend permeating German brands. The trade of practicality for style (which is debatable) runs counter to why most shoppers buy SUVs in the first place. That said, the e-tron Sportback retains a fairly sizable cargo area of 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, just 1.3 cubic feet smaller than the standard e-tron. The rear seats are split into 40/20/40 sections and fold forward to further increase cargo space. There are seat-mounted releases but none in the cargo area.

The e-tron gives you decent storage options in the cabin with a good-size glovebox, door pockets, a shelf between the seats down by your shins, and a configurable center console. The retractable cupholders are a bit small and clumsy but that's our only real complaint.

The Sportback is capable of towing up to 4,000 pounds when equipped with the optional tow package ($750), but towing anything close to that limit will significantly affect range.

Audi increased the usable amount of the 95-kWh battery pack by 3 kWh compared to the 2019 model, giving all 2020 e-trons 86.5 kWh for regular use. This bump provides a small range increase but maintains a buffer that helps preserve the life of the pack.

The EPA estimates the e-tron Sportback will travel up to 218 miles on a full charge. The EPA also expects it will use 44 kWh of energy for every 100 miles traveled. These range numbers won't grab many headlines, but it'll be more than enough for most owners day to day.

On Edmunds' real-world EV-specific test route, on which we employ settings and a driving style that we think most EV owners will employ, our Sportback test vehicle made it 199 miles on 80% battery charge. An 80% charge is what Audi recommends for daily use. If we had fully charged the battery, we estimate our e-tron would have been able to go about 238 miles. Effectively, we think you can consider the EPA's range estimate to be a little conservative.

Our observed efficiency was 38.2 kWh used per 100 miles. Remember that unlike mpg numbers, the lower the kWh number, the better. For comparison, our testing of a Tesla Model Y Performance resulted in an efficiency of 28.4 kWh/100 miles.

Though most charging will likely be done at home overnight, the e-tron Sportback has DC fast-charging capability. Using a 150-kW charging station, Audi says the e-tron can add about 174 miles of range in just 30 minutes.