Road test review: Audi e-tron 50

Friday, 16 October 2020

• AUDI E-TRON 50 Advanced

• Base price: $119,500

• Powertrain and economy: Two electric motors, 71kWh battery pack, 230kW/540Nm, Single-speed transmission, 4WD.

• Vital statistics: 4901mm long, 1935mm wide, 1616mm high, 2928mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 660 litres, 21-inch alloy wheels.

• We like: High-quality interior, decent standard kit.

• We don't like: Poor range for the price.

Audi has expanded its e-tron range with the entry-level 50 model. Let’s see if it’s worth saving some money for.

Why is it called 50? Does that relate to anything?

Not exactly. The SUV has more than 50 kilowatts, more than 50 horsepower, more range than 50 kays and a higher top speed than 50kmh. According to Audi, the new two-digit nomenclature classifies a vehicle’s performance level within its model range. The number 50 represents cars with an output of between 210kW and 230kW, while 55 cars have an output of between 245kW and 275kW. Confusing, I know.

**READ MORE:

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**

The e-tron 50 is below the 55 in a few crucial ways. The battery pack is smaller – 71kWh versus 95kWh – which means maximum range is lower. Audi reckons you can get “up to 336km”, according to the WLTP test cycle, but really you’re looking at closer to 260km. That’s a fair bit less but also plenty for around-town driving.

Audi has also reduced the output for the 50 in order to reduce the range hit from the smaller battery. The entry e-tron is making 230kW/540Nm of output, compared to 300kW/664Nm of maximum oomph in the 55 range. That means hitting 100kmh takes 0.4 seconds longer (7.0 seconds against 6.6 seconds) but, being electric, the torque hits instantly.

It still drives well, then?

The 50 isn’t terrible outside the urban cage. It doesn’t feel much slower than the 55 and most won’t really mind the deficit in performance anyway. There’s a bit of wind noise at speed but nothing to really complain about, particularly given there’s no engine sound to deal with. I couldn’t detect the motor whine above around 20kmh, which, incidentally, is when the e-tron will stop emitting an external low-speed hum designed to warn pedestrians.

Pulling the funny horizontal gear lever into Sport sharpens up throttle response nicely… and that’s sort of it, as there aren’t any gears in the transmission to swap between. The e-tron is heavy, weighing around 2370kg, but it handles itself well, with little body roll. Torque split is 40:60, in favour of the rear, and the e-tron 50 is quite a bit of fun through the bends. The steering and brakes could have more feel, though.

The low real-world range is disappointing, given the spec-sheet claims 336km, as it really restricts the e-tron 50 to urban driving. Which, to be fair, is where it will spend most of its time. Plus, there are more and more fast chargers popping up around the country, meaning a long-distance trip is technically possible, albeit with a few charge stops.

Audi says the e-tron 50 can charge at rates of up to 120kW (down 30kW on the 55) on a DC fast charger or 11kW on an AC charger. It’ll take more than a day to fully charge the 50 on a standard home outlet so if you do decide to buy one, I’d recommend looking into an uprated Wallbox-style charger to decrease charging time. It will push the final price up but then you won’t need to buy it again if you decide to buy another EV.

Aside from the drop in power and range, how else does the 50 differ?

Given the only option in the 50 range is the Advanced model, not a huge amount. Advanced means Audi has given the e-SUV a bunch of stuff as standard, like the usual active cruise, lane-keep assist, a rear-view camera, for reversing, a 360-degree camera for parking, more airbags and Milano leather upholstery. Make no mistake, the 50 retains the benchmark interior of its 55 siblings. Everything feels high quality and the twin-spoke (or is it four-spoke?) wheel is lovely.

There are a few optional extras, like different wheels, a better stereo, extra black gloss styling on the body, roof rails, ambient lighting and a panoramic roof but these are nice-to-haves. The core of the e-tron 50 is slightly lesser electrical bits in exchange for a smaller sticker price. Though I would be quite tempted to tick the virtual mirrors box…

Give it to me straight, doc. Is this a good buy?

That really depends on how you craft the list of things your next vehicle should have. The e-tron 50 is set at a remarkably low price for its level of luxury and tech but that real-world range really hurts its value.

That said, there is a fair gap between the $120k e-tron 50 Advanced and the $150.5k 55 non-Advanced, which means Audi could be readying another model to slot between the two, like a 50 S Line.

If you make an occasional long-distance journey and have a family to cart around, I’d recommend looking into the e-tron 50 as a second car to handle urban duties. Roughly 250km of charge with all the creature comforts activated is plenty for city life, especially since stop-start traffic is where EVs tend to shine most.

Any other cars I should consider?

At the price? Not really, at least until the Tesla Model Y dots down. The other electric luxury SUVs (Mercedes-Benz EQC and Jaguar I-Pace) are all around the $140-160k price and the cheaper e-SUVs on the market are below $100k.

The closest competitor in terms of price is the Kia Niro EV Premium/Hyundai Kona Electric Elite. Both are $85,990 and offer a reasonable compromise in terms of luxury levels and performance compared to the e-tron 50.