AGOURA HILLS, Calif. — The Audi This fall E-Tron doesn’t appear to get the eye it in all probability deserves. Maybe as a result of it seems to be a lot like different small Audi crossovers, it blends into the gang and is falsely assumed to be just like the Mercedes EQB – the electrical model of an ICE automotive. It isn’t. The This fall E-Tron is constructed on a devoted electrical platform (dubbed MEB, it’s shared with the ID.4 and different electrical Volkswagens), and advantages because of this. Its distinctive, high-quality, space-efficient inside boasts a giant again seat for its dimension and plenty of intelligent storage. The driving expertise can also be simply as refined as you’d count on from an Audi.
At the least that was our take, however apparently, there was sufficient demand for instant enchancment that the 2024 Audi This fall E-Tron sees an uncommon mid-model-year replace addressing quite a few key mechanical areas. And no, apparently it isn’t a 2024.5 mannequin yr.
A brand new rear motor (a completely excited synchronous machine one to be actual) is optimized for better thermal administration and due to this fact effectivity, leading to a complete system output enhance of 40 horsepower over the previous This fall 50 E-Tron (the rear-drive This fall 40 E-Tron will get not one of the updates about to be described and stays unchanged at 201 hp). The rechristened This fall 55 E-Tron now produces 335 hp and hits 60 mph in 5 seconds flat. That’s 0.8 seconds faster than earlier than.
However, wow, does it really feel faster than that, as Audi has tuned the throttle to thwack you with torque on the slightest contact of your proper foot. It’s most noticeable in Auto and Dynamic modes, however even with the slightest little bit of preliminary throttle mush in Consolation mode, it springs to life with the eagerness of a terrier that simply noticed a squirrel. Pull out of the pre-school car parking zone, BAM. Gentle goes inexperienced on the on-ramp, BUH-BYE. But, it in the end jogs my memory of the VR6-powered 2000 Jetta I as soon as owned. I recall studying a evaluation of it on the time that stated engineers clearly tuned the throttle to make the torquey engine really feel extra highly effective than it was, as as soon as you bought out of that preliminary hit, the facility band proved to not be as strong because it initially appeared.
That’s simply meant as an remark relatively than a criticism. I’d a lot relatively drive a automotive keen to maneuver and that trusts you to be even handed with the throttle than the lackadaisical nature of most automobiles as we speak. In addition to, you’ll be able to at all times set it for the Eco mode if it’s over-caffeinated to your tastes.
Now, apparently, “lackadaisical” can be how some deemed the unique This fall suspension and steering tuning (even when we didn’t), so Audi injected a few of that excited terrier DNA into them too. The result’s steering, specifically, that at all times feels engaged, no matter mode, and keen to show in. Along with the taut suspension, there’s an virtually sizzling hatch power in regards to the This fall 55 E-Tron when driving round city. Between that and the go-get-‘em throttle response, I might see house owners unintentionally making enemies of the native constabulary.
However then I drove the This fall in my standard testing playground of the Santa Monica Mountains. Much more so than the motors revealing themselves to be not fairly as juiced up as its preliminary response wanes, the chassis’ energetic character round city proves to be a veneer when you really begin to push it. In brief, the This fall 55 E-Tron feels sporty, however isn’t. That sizzling hatch power disappears because the This fall all of the sudden feels just like the tall and really heavy crossover it’s (4,850 kilos to be actual). The steadiness management got here on early and sometimes within the preliminary phases of my mountain drive with out apparent cause. I then did one thing I principally by no means do: I turned off stability management, or relatively, lowered the reins to the minimal quantity the automotive permits. Certain sufficient, there was no extra hyper-nanny stability intervention, however there have been a few “whoa there” moments from the rear finish, normally when delivering, that speaks to some uncommon chassis dynamics afoot.
Finally, although, too many automobiles are the precise reverse of this example: dynamically succesful, however you’d by no means guess it by the best way it responds to your inputs. Avoid technical mountain roads (“Um, that gained’t be an issue,” says nearly each potential This fall E-Tron purchaser), and this positive looks as if the superior trade-off.
Audi additionally lowered brake pedal journey, however that simply makes me surprise how lengthy it was earlier than. It’s nonetheless awfully lengthy and gradual, and doesn’t appear consistent with the eagerness of the opposite main controls. The revised, sporty-feeling suspension may yield a relatively uneven journey on the freeway, not less than when paired with this tester’s optionally available 21-inch wheels. It seems like a automotive with a brief wheelbase, which isn’t fairly true, however its wheelbase-to-length ratio is principally the identical because the Q5. Most EVs have for much longer wheelbases than an SUV of comparable size.
Along with efficiency beneficial properties, the brand new motor additionally pairs with an also-new battery pack. Its capability stays 82 kilowatt-hours however new chemistry and mineral content material leads to quicker charging speeds, from 150 kW to 175 kW. That is nonetheless under many luxurious EVs. Vary additionally improves from a just-not-enough 236 to a just-acceptable 258. It’s in all probability simply psychological, however crossing the 250 barrier positive makes a distinction. That stated, you’re nonetheless getting the identical vary as a Kia Niro EV whereas automobiles of comparable or decrease costs can cross the 300-mile threshold and cost at a quicker price.
There aren’t any adjustments inside, however that’s simply superb as a result of this stays a terrific inside by way of each high quality and performance. The 11.6-inch touchscreen is far nearer to the driving force than standard (notice the way it juts rearward and is canted towards the driving force) and its distinctive haptic suggestions will not be solely appreciated from a performance standpoint, however additional enhances the general notion of elevated high quality. There are additionally nonetheless buttons for the local weather controls and different important capabilities; no cost-cutting display screen takeover right here.
Storage can also be wonderful, with good cupholders and a number of bins within the heart console, plus an obtainable vertically-mounted wi-fi cellphone charger with a clip to maintain your cellphone in place. All doorways have distinctive diagonal bottle holders, that are an excellent thought, however can be higher executed if padded ultimately as bottles are likely to rattle round on their hard-plastic lining. Backseat area is beneficiant for a small SUV, whereas my earlier This fall E-Tron baggage check confirmed it may well maintain extra stuff than each the rinky-dink Q3 and surprisingly small Q5. Decrease the dual-height cargo ground and chuck the inflexible cargo cowl, and all six check baggage will match – albeit simply barely and with better issue than many EV crossovers from each luxurious and mainstream manufacturers.
Regardless of all these mid-model-year updates, the value is unchanged. Nice information! The bad-ish information is that the This fall E-Tron nonetheless ain’t low-cost. The all-wheel-drive 55 E-Tron begins at $56,395 (together with vacation spot) and goes as much as $65,290 with choices just like the $7,000 Status bundle you see right here, which stuffs it with a wealth of tech and luxury goodies that will be obtainable on cheaper mainstream-brand EVs. You even have so as to add $3,000 if you happen to’d desire the This fall’s Sportback physique model. Conversely, you can attempt to discover a rear-drive, 201-horsepower This fall 40 E-Tron, which begins at $50,995, but it surely acquired not one of the updates talked about above. That looks as if a more durable worth capsule to swallow.
As at all times, selecting a luxurious automotive just like the 2024 Audi This fall E-Tron comes right down to how a lot you worth the inside high quality, the added refinement and ritzier model. Assuming you’re OK with that, then, the revised This fall’s day-to-day performance together with its energized around-town driving expertise makes for a pleasant automotive for commuting and errand working. Contemplating the standard EV use case the place a second, not less than partially gas-powered automobile exists for longer journeys or common household hauling (or heck, possibly mountain highway ventures), it looks as if a spot-on proposition. Plus, with the expanded vary and faster charging, it’s much more able to going far afield if crucial.
