Audi prices E-Tron SUV from $137,700

AUDI’S first-ever pure-electric vehicle, the E-Tron, has touched down in Australia this week ahead of showroom sales beginning in September – and the German premium brand has revealed it will offer a comprehensive range starting from $137,700 plus on-road costs.

Slotting into the popular medium-size SUV segment, the E-Tron will be offered at launch with six variants across two body styles – wagon and Sportback – and two powertrains, with two limited-run First Edition variants also available.

From the E-Tron 50 wagon at the entry level, Audi’s ground-breaking new model line pushes up to $146,700 plus on-roads for the more powerful and longer-range 55 version and on to $159,600 for the 55-based First Edition wagon.

The athletic-looking Sportback chimes in at $148,700 for the 50, attracts an equivalent $9000 increment for the 55 powertrain (at $157,700) and similarly requires a further $12,000-plus outlay for the First Edition that tops the range at $169,950.

The special edition will be limited to just 70 examples in Australia across both body styles, while all full-time model grades will be available at launch.

The pricing of the E-Tron pits it squarely against its European rivals, namely the similarly sized Mercedes-Benz EQC400 – available in a single spec only, from $137,900 – and the smaller Jaguar I-Pace, which ranges from $124,100 to $146,000.

Audi Australia expects the 55 to be the most popular powertrain choice in Australia, accounting for about 70 per cent of overall sales, and while the company would not disclose sales targets this week for its all-new zero-emissions contender, the senior management team did confirm it had secured around 100 pre-orders ahead of first deliveries in September.

The more powerful E-Tron 55 is powered by a pair of electric motors, with a 125kW unit mounted to the front axle and a slightly more powerful 140kW motor at the rear.

The car-maker’s signature quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system has been taken to new levels in the E-Tron, with fully variable torque distribution at a level not yet seen on combustion-engined Audis.

Both motors combine to produce 265kW/561Nm, which can be increased to 300kW/664Nm for up to eight seconds through a Boost mode function.

Energy is stored in a floor-mounted 95kWh battery made up of 432 cells and weighing 715kg, which allows for a reported range of up to 400km on the WLTP test cycle.

The sprint from standstill to 100km/h can be mown down in 6.5 seconds, while on the charging side, going from five to 80 per cent charge takes 30 minutes when using a fast-charging station, up to 45 minutes to reach 100 per cent.

Completing a full charge at home using the 11kW onboard charger takes around nine hours.

The charging system in the E-Tron, known as CCS (Combined Charging System) is the same system used by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ford and the Volkswagen Group.

The more affordable E-Tron 50 variant is less powerful, relying on a 71kWh battery, a total output of 230kW/540Nm and an estimated driving range of 300km.

The smaller battery allows for a weight saving of 120kg, and can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes on a 120kW fast charger.

A new regenerative braking system will be offered on the E-Tron, which can be adjusted to three different stages of force through the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Dimensionally, the five-seat E-Tron is slightly larger than the Q5 medium SUV, with its 2928mm wheelbase measuring 9mm longer than the Q5 and placing it in direct competition with the likes of the Mercedes EQC.

Luggage volume is measured at 660 litres in the wagon and 615L for the Sportback, with both offering an extra 60L at the front of the vehicle for storing charging cables.

Adaptive air suspension comes as standard, while braked towing capacity is pegged at 1800kg across the range.

From the outside, the E-Tron has been optimised to be as aerodynamic as possible, with the front grille louvres able to be opened and closed as needed.

Australian examples will be available with the option of virtual camera side mirrors that project images onto small OLED display screens just below the A-pillars, with Audi claiming superior low-light and poor-weather visibility.

The E-Tron is the first Audi vehicle in Australia to be offered with the new camera tech, which comes as a $3500 option.

Other standard exterior features include LED lighting front and rear including an LED tail-light strip that runs across the width of the vehicle, 20-inch alloys (21-inch on Sportback), colour-coded bumpers, aluminium roof rails, electric tailgate and heated/folding exterior mirrors.

Inside, specification is matched between 50 and 55 variants, with the wagon scoring Milano leather upholstery, four-way seat lumbar adjustment, front seat heating, dual-zone climate control with auxiliary air-conditioning, aluminium trim, ambient interior lighting, leather-clad steering wheel, silver headliner, dual 10.1-inch and 8.6-inch screens with haptic feedback, wireless Apple CarPlay and ‘Audi connect plus’ capability, wireless phone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-speaker sound system.

Opting for the Sportback adds Valcona leather upholstery, sports seats, illuminated S badging on door sill trims and a head-up display.

A full suite of active safety features will run to autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, surround-view cameras, lane-departure warning and eight airbags.

Opting for the First Edition brings a wealth of features such as 21-inch alloys in five-arm turbine design, orange brake callipers, black exterior styling package, virtual exterior mirrors, matrix LED headlights, 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system, S Sport front seats with Valcona leather, four-zone climate control, a head-up display, S-line interior package, leather trim on the dashboard and door armrests, and colour interior lighting package.

Other option packages include the ‘Premium plus’ package which bundles much of the kit from the First Edition for $9700 on the wagon and $6700 on the Sportback.

The wagon can also be ordered with a $2950 premium interior package, which includes sport front seats, Valcona leather upholstery and leather dash and door trim.

Audi is partnering with charging network provider Chargefox to provide E-Tron buyers with a six-year subscription, while also offering six years of servicing and roadside assistance.

The battery also comes with an eight-year/160,000km warranty, with all 42 dealers nationwide able to service the E-Tron.

2020 Audi E-Tron pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs