Audi e-tron

There aren't many electric SUVs on the market, but the ones that exist are all pretty darn good. That's certainly the case with the Audi e-tron, which boasts a smooth ride, impeccable cabin materials and plenty of premium features among its positive attributes. Audi is further enhancing the e-tron's appeal for 2022 with a new performance-oriented e-tron S trim level.

The e-tron S has an additional motor, bringing the total to three for this all-wheel-drive SUV. Combined output is 429 horsepower, which can be temporarily increased to 496 hp. Audi estimates that the e-tron S can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds using launch control. (The standard 355-hp model does 0-60 mph in as little as 5.5 seconds.)

If you're tired of being smoked by Teslas at a freeway on-ramp, the e-tron S might justify its considerable price increase over the regular e-tron. But there's still the issue of the e-tron's range, which falls short of expectations. Check out our test team's Expert Rating for a full rundown of the e-tron's hits and misses.

Which e-tron does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Audi e-tron is an all-electric midsize SUV sold in a number of powertrain configurations and trim levels. The standard e-tron is all-wheel-drive and is powered by two electric motors (one at the front, one at the back). Maximum output is 355 horsepower and 414 lb-ft of torque, with a boost to 402 horsepower and 490 lb-ft for up to 8 seconds when the transmission is in Sport mode. This e-tron is available in Premium, Premium Plus and Chronos Edition trim levels.

The new e-tron S features an additional rear-mounted electric motor and a combined power output of 429 horsepower and 596 lb-ft of torque, or temporary boosting to 496 hp and 717 lb-ft. The e-tron S is sold in Premium Plus and Prestige trims.

Regardless of the powertrain chosen, both e-tron variants are powered by a 95-kWh battery pack. Range estimates vary from 181 miles to 222 miles, depending on configuration, and the e-tron has fast-charging capability up to 150 kilowatts.

e-tron Premium The base e-tron Premium starts you off with:

• 20-inch wheels
• Adaptive air suspension (adjusts for ride height, ride comfort and handling stability)
• Hands-free liftgate
• Panoramic sunroof
• Digital instrument panel
• Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Four-zone climate control system
• 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• 10-speaker audio system
• Navigation system

The Premium's advanced safety features include:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

In contrast to other Audis, the e-tron has a relatively light set of optional features. For the Premium, you can add:

• Convenience package
• Black-painted exterior styling elements
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front )
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Emergency assist (detects an unresponsive driver and brings the e-tron to a safe stop)
• Turning assist (detects when a driver is making an unsafe turn across approaching traffic and automatically stops the e-tron)
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the e-tron and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

• Towing package
• Tow hitch
• Seven-pin tow connector
• 4,000-pound towing capacity

e-tron Premium Plus The midtier Premium Plus adds:

• Convenience package (minus the black-painted exterior trim)
• Additional charging port on right side of SUV
• Matrix-design headlights
• Configurable ambient lighting
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
• Wireless phone charging and an onboard signal booster
• Traffic sign recognition (alerts the driver to new road signs, including speed limits and stop signs)

The Premium Plus is also available with a pair of packages:

• Black Optic package
• 21-inch black-painted wheels
• Black-painted exterior styling elements
• Orange brake calipers
• Towing package

e-tron Chronos The new Chronos trim effectively takes the place of the Prestige trim from last year's e-tron. It's essentially the same trim, but it's available in exclusive Chronos Gray paint. Features include:

• Black Optic package
• Upgraded headlights
• Dual-pane acoustic glass for a quieter cabin
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
• Extended leather on dashboard, console and armrests
• Massaging front seats
• Rear window sunshades
• Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
• Intersection assist (warns you of cross traffic in an upcoming intersection)

The Towing package is also available with the Chronos trim.

e-tron S Premium Plus Features for the base trim for the e-tron S are largely the same as those for the e-tron Premium Plus. Optional extras include:

• Individual Contour Seat package
• Upgraded front seats with ventilation and massage
• Premium leather upholstery
• 21" Black Optic package
• 21-inch black-painted wheels
• Black roof rails
• Black-painted exterior styling elements
• Configurable ambient interior lighting
• Towing package with 3,300-pound towing capacity

e-tron S Prestige The elite Prestige trim for the e-tron S adds:

• Dual-pane acoustic glass for a quieter cabin
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
• Configurable ambient interior lighting
• Rear window sunshades
• Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
• Intersection assist (warns you of cross traffic in an upcoming intersection)

Prestige options include:

• 22" Black Optic package
• 22-inch black-painted wheels
• Black roof rails
• Black-painted exterior styling elements
• Upgraded headlights
• Individual Contour package
• Towing package