2022 Audi e-tron Pros vs Cons

The 2022 Audi e-tron is a great example of a luxury electric SUV. It has a great balance of price, features, performance, and capacity, and it's a strong contender in a competitive segment of the auto market. It's not a flawless vehicle, but it has a lot to offer. Read on to learn about the most important pros and cons of the 2022 Audi e-tron.

What's New for 2022?

The e-tron launched in 2019. 2020 added the Sportback model type, 2021 added on the Premium trim as well as increased the range of the vehicle to 222 miles. The 2022 model swaps out the Premium trim for the Chronos Edition trim. In terms of features, performance, and other aspects, the model years all have the same characteristics.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2022 Audi e-tron – The Pros

1. Engine Power

The e-tron is a compact or midsize SUV, depending on how you size them, but its engine is rated for 355 horsepower. That's quite a lot for a vehicle of this size, and it makes for a real kick, giving you plenty of power on tap. You will easily manage hills and high speed merges and overtakes, and it makes the SUV that much more fun to drive when you can feel the motor pushing. It's still quiet like other electric vehicles, too, even when you start to push the drivetrain to the limit.

2. Handling

The e-tron does not exactly feel sporty, but it does have a composed ride between the steering and the brakes that gives it a distinct identity on the road. When paired with the drivetrain, the e-tron always feels under control, and you get an enjoyable and comfortable drive that is sure to make a good impression. That feeling of control stays no matter the speed, so whether it's hurrying down the highway or squirming through city traffic, the e-tron stays relaxed. That translates to good feelings both for the driver and the passengers.

3. Smartphone Connectivity

While it is becoming more popular, software to connect the car's interface to smartphones is still not present in every vehicle. The e-tron comes with the three biggest and most popular choices-- Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Between the three of those, you can connect just about any smartphone and take full advantage of the music, navigation, and other features. This is available on all trims of the e-tron, so there is no need to upgrade in order to use your smartphone features, and you can do it all seamlessly with USB or Bluetooth.

4. Tech Features

In addition to the smartphone connectivity, the e-tron has plenty of other appealing tech features as well. It comes with an infotainment system called MMI that uses dual touchscreens to control the navigation, audio, climate control, satellite radio, and more. Optional add-ons like wireless charging are available, but the base trim really contains just about everything that you would want. It's an impressive set of features for an SUV, and on top of that, the layout and the interface is extremely well designed. It is not hard to find the controls and the tools for whatever you need in the moment.

5. Seating and Comfort

There are several reasons to like the interior of the e-tron, and the seating is one of the big ones. Every trim level of the e-tron comes with leather upholstery. The front row is very roomy and comes with power and heating for both seats, and options include a ventilation and a massaging feature. The rear row has optional heating, and also has plenty of space. The seats themselves are supportive and relaxing, making long drives comfortable for the driver as well as for the passengers. It's a pleasant and comfortable riding experience.

6. Driver Assistance

Driver assistance or automated safety features have emerged as one of the most important new types of features among all vehicle types, but especially family SUVs. The e-tron comes with a generous suite compared to other rivals in this class, from forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking to rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and more. There are also optional features like lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.The features provide great value and help the e-tron's proposition to be a high-end all-purpose electric SUV for families.

7. Interior Quality

The inside of the e-tron is a study in polish. From the materials to the vision angles, the positioning of the interfaces, the shape of the space, and the paneling, the e-tron is an SUV with an interior that has been designed with care and attention to detail. Luxury is about more than just throwing a bunch of expensive materials at a vehicle platform-- it's about the details in design that make for a seamless and pleasurable experience. The e-tron has that cachet that makes an impression with anyone who gets inside thanks to the efforts of Audi's excellent design team.

8. Trim Value

The e-tron has three trims and two body styles, and the lineup provides excellent value for money. The two body styles just change the shape of the roof, from a classic SUV to a more car-like sportback, but are otherwise the same. The base Premium trim is loaded with lots of great features, with the Premium Plus adding on a suite of extra tech and comfort upgrades and the Chronos Edition providing a few more upgrades and a restyled look for even more of an upscale vibe. Each one offers a strong balance of cost and value, so none of the trims feel overpriced or pointless.

9. Safety Tests

An important aspect of the e-tron's success as a family vehicle is its ability to do well on crash testing. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the e-tron a Top Safety Pick+, its highest grade, and awarded it top marks in all six of its crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the e-tron five stars out of five on its own rating system. These are great signs for the e-tron's ability to hold up to anything that might happen on the road.

10. Efficiency and Charging

The motor on the e-tron is very efficient. Electric vehicles use a system called MPGe, or Miles Per Gallon eqivalent, to score their efficiency in terms of how far they go based on how much charge they have, and the e-tron has about 77 MPGe depending on the road and body style. That's a great rating. For charging, you can charge at home in Level 1 mode, charge at public chargers in Level 2 mode, or charge at a public fast-charge Level 3 station. Check your area to see what Level 2 and Level 3 stations are nearby.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2022 Audi e-tron – The Cons

1. Driving Range

The biggest weakness of the e-tron is that it has a smaller driving range than the other big electric SUVs. Other models from Tesla and other manufacturers can get over 300 miles of range before they run dry, more than 10 percent more than the e-tron. The more you drive, the more of a concern this will be, so it might be worth doing some calculations to see if the additional range of a different model is going to make a difference for you.

2. Exterior Design

The e-tron has a classy and upscale interior, but the exterior is a bit drab in comparison. It doesn't have much in terms of styling or distinct elements to the look that set it apart and draw the eye. On a luxury vehicle, it's nice for the outside to project some confidence and create a feeling, but the e-tron doesn't do that as well as its rivals.

3. Reliability

It is not always easy to project how reliable a vehicle will be when it has not been on the road for very long. However, based on current users and its design, the e-tron gets slightly lower reliability ratings than other luxury electric SUVs. It's still a well-built model that should serve you well, but it is a bit more likely to need to go into the shop than the competition.

4. Cargo Space

The e-tron doesn't have as much room in the back for cargo as some other models, and that space is even less if you choose the Sportback body. It's about average for its class, which means you might be in trouble if you have to carry a lot of suitcases or other bulky packages.

Conclusion

The e-tron has been a big contender in its class since the first year of its launch. It will be interesting to see how it manages the fact that the segment has growing competition and more entrants. It won't be long before the e-tron gets a new generational refresh, and an expanded driving range is likely to be on the table. For now, it's already one of the best choices for those who love a comfortable and well-equipped interior, and it doesn't have any major weaknesses in term of its overall appeal.