2019 Audi e-tron - Better than a Tesla Model X?

The Audi e-tron brings all-electric driving to shoppers in the market for a German luxury crossover.

Shop for the 2019 Audi e-tron on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/yd1Pl

If you’ve ever seen an Audi SUV, then you’ve seen the 2019 e-tron. Aside from its special, mostly closed grille and unique polished metallic body detailing, the e-tron’s styling draws from the same design used to create the Audi Q3, Q5, Q7, and Q8. This is not a bad thing. In fact, the e-tron possesses greater balance and more panache than its quad-ringed SUV siblings.

Two versions are available: Premium Plus and Prestige. Prices start at $74,800, plus a destination charge of $995. Unless you can’t live without premium leather upholstery, more comfortable seats with a massage function, a cabin air ionization and fragrance system, a higher-tech version of Audi's Virtual Cockpit instrumentation, a head-up display (HUD), and rear side-window sunshades, then you should stick with Premium Plus trim and save yourself $7,000.

Our test vehicle had Prestige trim, optional 21-inch wheels, extra-cost Antigua Blue paint, and a Cold Weather Package containing heated washer jets, heated rear seats, and upgraded cabin heating and battery pre-conditioning. All in, it cost $83,090, including destination.

With an EPA-rated 204 miles of maximum driving range and an acceleration time of 5.5 seconds to 60 mph, the Audi e-tron struggles to compete with the standard-bearing electric SUV in the class, the Tesla Model X. But do you really need to spend the extra ten grand to get the Tesla’s 328 miles of range and 4.4-second zero-to-60 time?

Everything about the Audi e-tron is high-tech, from its electric powertrain to its triple-screen setup for instrumentation, infotainment, and climate controls.

Some of the technology is brilliant, such as the Audi Virtual Cockpit and the natural-language voice-recognition system. Some of the technology is distracting, like the flat and featureless dashboard displays that collect too many fingerprints. And some of the technology is frustrating, like the HUD that’s invisible to polarized sunglasses and the sometimes schizophrenic advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS).

For more information on the 2019 Audi e-tron, read Chris’ full review on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/yd1P0

Presenter: Chris Wardlaw
Cinematographer: Dan Sharp

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