Audi e-tron 2020 Review

In recent years, the Malaysian market has seen more and more electric vehicle options, but pure electric SUVs from luxury brands remain a niche choice — consumers either prioritize practicality or value brand prestige, with few models striking a balance between the two. The Audi e-tron, the brand’s first purely electric SUV, aims at the "luxury + practicality" niche market with its 2020 public version. The main purpose of this test drive was to evaluate whether it strikes a balance between luxury and practicality in daily use and whether it has sufficient competitiveness compared to models in the same segment.

In terms of exterior design, the 2020 e-tron public continues Audi's signature sturdy style, but its details reveal its identity as an electric vehicle. The front features a closed octagonal grille, with the edges and internal trims made of chrome, giving it a distinctive look; the flanking headlights use LED light sources, providing clear visual effects when lit and sufficient illumination at night. The side profile of the car shows smooth lines without the exaggerated waistlines typical of traditional combustion-engine cars. The chrome trimming around the wheel arches and the 19-inch multi-spoke wheels ensure the side profile doesn't look too plain. At the rear, the standout feature is the LED light strip spanning the width of the back, which has high visibility when lit at night. The silver skid plate below the rear bumper adds a touch of SUV ruggedness. Overall, the exterior design leans towards a mature and stable style, avoiding overly aggressive elements, making it suitable for the aesthetic preferences of most family users.

Sitting inside, the luxurious feel of the interior is the first highlight. The dashboard adopts a symmetrical design, with large areas covered in soft-touch materials that feel refined to the touch. The trim on the door panels and the upper dashboard includes wood grain accents, enhancing the premium vibe. The central control screen measures 10.1 inches and is responsive, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for convenient everyday use. Below it is an 8.6-inch touch screen used to control the air conditioning and vehicle settings. With fewer physical buttons, the interior looks more streamlined. The seats are made of genuine leather, with the front seats supporting electric adjustment and heating functions. The backrest and seat cushion offer good support, ensuring comfort even on long drives. In terms of space, the car has a wheelbase of 2928mm, with a front-row headroom of one fist and three fingers and a rear-row legroom of two fists and a headroom of one fist. Even passengers up to 1.8 meters tall can sit comfortably in both the front and back rows. In terms of storage space, the front central armrest box and door side pockets are quite spacious, enough to fit items like phones and water bottles. The trunk has a standard capacity of 660L, and when the rear seats are folded down, it expands to 1725L, making it more than enough for transporting large luggage.

In terms of performance, the 2020 e-tron public is equipped with a dual-motor setup for the front and rear, producing a combined system output of 300kW and a maximum torque of 664Nm, paired with a single-speed transmission. During daily driving, power delivery is swift; pressing the accelerator pedal at the start gives an immediate response, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.7 seconds. In actual experience, when overtaking and pressing the accelerator firmly, the power reserve is abundant, making overtaking easy. There are three driving modes: Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic. In Comfort mode, power output is smooth, suitable for daily commutes; in Dynamic mode, power response is more aggressive, suitable for occasional spirited driving. As for the suspension, the car features independent five-link suspension both at the front and rear, with tuning geared towards comfort. When going over speed bumps or uneven roads, most vibrations are absorbed, ensuring passengers inside feel minimal jolts. When cornering, body roll is well-controlled, and the steering is precise with no noticeable slack, making for a very stable driving experience.

As an electric vehicle, range and power consumption are key points. The official NEDC range of the 2020 e-tron public is 470km. During this test drive, which covered a total distance of 200km including city roads, highways, and rural roads, with an average speed of 60km/h and the air conditioning set to automatic mode at 24°C, the displayed range consumption was 220km, achieving about 90% of the rated range, which is quite commendable. In terms of power consumption, the total consumption was 19.2kWh/100km, which is not much different from the official figure of 18.1kWh/100km. For daily use, if mainly for city commutes, the power consumption may be even lower. Regarding charging, using a DC fast charging station to charge from 20% to 80% takes about 40 minutes, while slow charging with a 7kW home charging station takes about 10 hours to fully charge, which can meet daily charging needs without any problem.

During the drive, the comfort details were well executed. In terms of noise control, wind noise and tire noise were relatively low during highway driving, and motor noise was almost inaudible, allowing the interior to remain quiet. The energy recovery system has three adjustable levels; at the maximum recovery level, releasing the accelerator pedal will decelerate the vehicle significantly, resembling the braking feel of a fuel vehicle. At the lowest recovery level, the coasting distance is similar to that of a fuel vehicle, which is easy to adapt to. As for seat comfort, the rear seats have a moderate backrest angle, sufficient cushion length, and are comfortable for long-duration sitting. The rear row also features independent air conditioning vents and USB charging ports, catering to the needs of rear passengers.

Overall, the 2020 Audi e-tron public's core advantage lies in its balance of luxury and practicality. Compared to vehicles in the same class, such as the Mercedes EQC and BMW iX3, it offers more interior space, a higher range achievement rate, and an interior luxury feel that is on par with competitors. Although the price has not yet been announced, based on the overseas version and pricing of models in the same class, it is expected to offer good value for money. It is very suitable for families that value luxury and require spacious interiors, or for consumers who frequently go on long trips and have specific range requirements. If you're looking for a luxurious electric SUV that can meet daily commuting needs and handle long-distance travel, the 2020 e-tron public is worth considering.