The Audi e-tron all-electric SUV - the best 4x4 EV?

The statistics for July 2022 are now available from SMMT and it does make for some interesting reading for the automotive industry as a whole. Amidst production issues created by parts and microchip shortages, not to mention increasing list prices and reducing discounts, operating in the new vehicle sector for sale or lease is becoming increasingly difficult.

Almost across the board, registrations were down compared to the same time in 2021, with the overall net result being circa 10% down on registrations. But, offering a glimmer of hope, registrations for EVs was a little more positive with 12,243 being registered in July (some 10% more than last year). However, the top-10 list did not feature any of the main EV options, which is stark change from previous months. That being said, for year-to-date in 2022, an amazing 127,492 vehicles have been registered, which is nearly a 50% increase from last year!

Audi e-tron - what’s the difference between the battery options?

The Audi e-tron has been one of the UK’s favourite electric SUV and crossover options, having launched into the UK and Europe around May 2019. Only a year later the German manufacturer launched their Sportback alternative to the estate model. But one of the key questions the e-car lease experts receive is “which battery size should I get?” and “what’s the difference?” The UK’s electric car lease customers, personal and business, are now having to contend with new facets and wording which EVs are now displaying. The two most common abbreviations are:

kWh - the kilowatt hour, or kWh, is used to denote the battery size on every electric vehicle. As we use CAP data, which is a data provider used throughout the finance company world, this will appear in the title description of the vehicle. However, as part of our “Living with your …” vehicle guide, we supply two key references - 1) the battery capacity 2) the usable capacity which is dedicated to the propulsion of the vehicle. This is very important to note, as CAP use the overall battery on the vehicle, whereas the usable battery is what is used by your EV for ascertaining range and charging times/costs. In general, the bigger the kWh on a vehicle, the bigger the range will be (as there are more batteries being utilised). This is akin to CC on a combustion vehicle; and
kW - the kilowatt is used to denote the battery power, in the same way that bhp or ps is adopted in the combustion world. While we are all still getting familiar with the use of kW, it’s useful to note that most websites will often provide a conversion for you to utilise as part of understanding the ability of your new BEV. The higher the kW, the more power the vehicle has and therefore the more comprehensive your 0 - 62 time will be. The literal conversion is that 1 kilowatt is equivalent to 1.34 mechanical horsepower (bhp) or 1.35 metric horsepower (ps). Where customers do get confused is in those instances where the kWh will be the same on an EV but the kW will be different. Essentially the battery will be configured to prioritise power over range in these situations. Again, that is not uncommon with combustion options where the same engine has varying outputs.

With the Audi e-tron estate, being the most popular derivative, it’s useful to analyse the key aspects of each option and use that to understand which battery configuration is best. Do consider, that the bigger the battery, the more expensive the EV will be - this is a fundamental cost which needs to be reviewed carefully. Unless you have an unlimited budget within the e-tron line-up you can choose:

50 Quattro - this 71 kWh battery, or 64.7 kWh usable battery, has a 230 kW power output (which is equivalent of 308 hp). In terms of range, this equates to 150 miles in colder climates with warmer climates providing 195 miles (FYI - warmer weather increases the efficiencies of an EV battery). Performance on the “50” allows for 0 - 62 times of 6.8 seconds and 118mph top speeds. In terms of charging, the 11 kW AC max allows for 7 hour 0 - 100% times and the 120 kW DC rapid charging allows for 25 minute charging sessions. In terms of efficiency this has a combined 370 Wh/mi and a vehicle fuel equivalent of 109 mpg.

55 Quattro - this 95 kWh battery, or 86.5 kWh usable battery, has a 300 kW power output (which is equivalent of 402 hp). In terms of range, this equates to 195 miles in colder climates with warmer climates providing 255 miles (FYI - warmer weather increases the efficiencies of an EV battery). Performance on the “55” allows for 0 - 62 times of 5.7 seconds and 124 mph top speeds. In terms of charging, the 11 kW AC max allows for 9 hour 0 - 100% times and the 155 kW DC rapid charging allows for 26 minute charging sessions. In terms of efficiency this has a combined 384 Wh/mi and a vehicle fuel equivalent of 105 mpg; and

S - this 95 kWh battery, or 86.5 kWh usable battery, has a 370 kW power output (which is equivalent of 496 hp). In terms of range, this equates to 170 miles in colder climates with warmer climates providing 220 miles (FYI - warmer weather increases the efficiencies of an EV battery). Performance on the “S” allows for 0 - 62 times of 4.5 seconds and 130 mph top speeds. In terms of charging, the 11 kW AC max allows for 9 hour 0 - 100% times and the 155 kW DC rapid charging allows for 26 minute charging sessions. In terms of efficiency this has a combined 444 Wh/mi and a vehicle fuel equivalent of 91 mpg.

As you move up through the battery specifications / configurations there is a cost impact. For example, an S Line 50 Quattro will start at around £69,000 compared to the £79,000 for a 55 Quattro. Spend at least £89,000 to get your S e-tron. In pure leasing terms, this will add £150 - £300 per month onto your contract, so weighing up your needs and requirements from an EV perspective also needs to be reviewed in conjunction with any financial parameters.

And is the e-tron the best SUV EV to lease?

The question for our leasing customers is whether or not they would choose this over the BMW iX, the Mercedes EQC (or upcoming EQS SUV), the Genesis GV70 or the upcoming Tesla Model X. The UK is almost certainly a nation with an inherent obsession for crossover, SUV and 4x4 type cars.

It therefore comes as no surprise that many manufacturers have used these platforms, in all sorts of sizes, to grow their various brands. With growing pressures on household economics, we may become a household of just one car. This will mean that the EV must be spacious enough for passengers / families coupled with a style and substance we now demand of our vehicles.

Audi E-tron Estate 230kW 55 Quattro 95kWh Black Edition 5dr Auto [C+S] (Pure Electric Vehicle)

In terms of the car shown, the Audi E-tron Estate 230kW 55 Quattro 95kWh Black Edition 5dr Auto [C+S] (Pure Electric Vehicle), this is based on the following configuration:

Metallic - Mythos black
Valcona leather – Rotor Grey with anthracite stitching + front sports seats
Dark matt brushed aluminium inlay
21" 10 spoke rotor gloss anthracite black diamond cut audi sport alloy wheels
Mode 3 / Type 2 Charging Cable (Public Charging & home wallbox charger – Fast charging)

Audi-E-tron-Estate-230kW-55-Quattro-95kWh-Black-Edition-5dr-Auto-[C+S]-Electric-Car-Lease-Best-Deals