2019 Audi e-tron Review

We're fans of the e-tron because it is quick in an effortless and unassuming sort of way. It corners with steadfast confidence and stability, and its brakes are more than powerful enough to respond to panic-braking situations. It steers accurately too, but the connection lacks that special something that makes you want to grab the keys and go for a drive for no particular reason.

Our biggest misgiving has to do with the brakes' touchiness, making it hard to stop smoothly in routine driving. Also, Audi has shied away from offering the lift-throttle regenerative braking modes that have proven to make other electric cars fun to drive, and we think that's a missed opportunity.

Wow. Need we say more? The e-tron is one comfortable machine. Its air suspension delivers a sophisticated and stable ride on a variety of road surfaces, and the cabin is oh-so-quiet without feeling like a sensory-deprivation chamber. It's hushed in here, but the background resonance of the cabin gives it a homey feel, if that makes any sense.

Driver and passenger alike will enjoy the comfort and sumptuousness of the seats, and the quad-zone climate control system is powerful enough to keep all passengers comfortable to their personal satisfaction. We don't often find the latter in all-electric SUVs, so it's heartening to see that Audi didn't compromise here.

The Audi does a lot of basic things very well. It is easy to get in and out of because the seats sit at the perfect height and the door openings are nicely squared off. Passengers will enjoy abundant room, and the driver gets the bonus of a great driving position and an unobstructed view.

The controls, on the other hand, are a mixed bag. The drive mode shifter is unique yet intuitive to use, and many of the smaller controls buttons work fine. The problem has to do with the overreliance of touchscreen interfaces for the infotainment and climate control systems. They look stunning but are overly complex.

The Audi e-tron can make you forget that it's an EV. The cargo hold is accommodating and easy to load, and the volume expands nicely when you fold the seats. There's also a small cargo hold under the hood.

You'll find a decent amount of clever storage space inside with the exception of small cupholders. But the e-tron is particularly good when it comes to fitting child safety seats. The e-tron also has a decent tow rating of 4,000 pounds, but fast-charge stations aren't suited to those with trailers. However, you can certainly use the hitch as a mount for a bike rack.

Though we wish the infotainment system had a couple of hard shortcut buttons and maybe a tuning knob, the rest of the setup is great. The navigation maps it displays are exquisite, and the audio system produces excellent sound quality. Smartphones are easy to connect thanks to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the latter even works without plugging in. USBs abound, and even the rear-seat ones can transmit data up front.

As for driver aids, the standard suite of crash avoidance tech includes automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic monitoring and intervention, and lane keeping assist. The optional adaptive cruise control has a lane-centering function that makes freeway traffic even less of a slog.