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By Jonathan Crouch
Introduction
By 2020, for ultimate EV performance, it was no longer sufficient for a brand to merely give its electric vehicle a drive motor on the front axle to add to the one at the back. As Audi's two e-tron S models showed, ideally you'd want three motors. The result was more power, more grip and better handling: it's all good. Let's check this rare EV performance Audi out as a used buy.
Models
5dr SUV (e-tron S SUV & e-tron S Sportback)
History
Audi performance cars have carried the S badge since the '100' model-based S4 the early Nineties, but the launch of the e-tron S model line in 2020 represented the first time Ingolstadt S tuning had crossed the divide into the brand's growing family of electrified e-tron models. Here, it signalled a ground breaking president in volume production, this e-tron S Sportback model and its e-Tron S stablemate being the market's first EVs to use three electric drive motors, one on the front axle and two at the rear. The result, predictably, was explosive performance.
Even more significantly, having two motors on the rear axle allowed Audi to further reinvent the EV version of its quattro four wheel drive system, drive at speed able to switch not only from front to rear but between each of the back wheels. So grip and traction are never in doubt. Audi reckoned this system set a fresh standard for the way a big EV could handle and provided it in both standard SUV and Sportback versions of its large luxury e-tron crossover model.
Both the e-tron S SUV and the e-tron S Sportback were replaced, respectively, by the SQ8 e-tron and the SQ8 Sportback e-tron models in early 2023.
What You Get
In S-specification form, the e-tron Sportback set itself apart with key silver trimming features - most notably for the S-specific front bumper, which features that colour for the spoiler lip and the air intake surrounds. In profile, more S-specific silver trimming features for the side sills and the door mirror housings. Nice touches include the optional virtual mirrors, 'L'-shaped pods that protrude on aerodynamic stalks replacing ordinary door mirrors; and the inclusion of charging flaps on both sides of the car behind the front wheel arches, which feature copper-themed e-tron badges and neatly open with the push of a button. At the rear, where there's model-specific badging, the upper edge of the bumper and the lower diffuser both gain more striking silver finishing with S trim. A potent-looking diffuser stretches the width of the underside, with a distinctive design signature intended to draw the eye to the absence of exhaust pipes.
Inside, this S model is set apart by Valcona leather-trimmed Super sport seats with their diamond stitching and S embossing. And by little touches like the S embossing on the gear shifter, the illuminated S-branded door sill scuff plates and by a subtle red surround for the stop/start button. There's a race-style flat-bottomed steering wheel too, though which you view up 12.3-inch 'Virtual Cockpit' instrument binnacle screen upgraded to 'Plus' status, which means you can select this more focused extra 'e-tron Sport' single dial layout.
In the back, the Sportback version's 20mm reduction in ceiling height might bother you if you're a 6-footer - your head will be brushing the immaculately crafted roof liner - but otherwise, it feels pretty spacious in the rear. As for cargo space, well there's a compartment under the bonnet, but since that's only 60-litres in size, we'll ignore it and focus on the boot area. You get a powered tailgate of course, which rises to reveal a 555-litre luggage bay for the Sportback body shape - which is 45-litres less than the ordinary boxier e-tron S SUV body shape can offer. There's also a useful under-floor storage area. Fold down the rear bench (which folds conveniently in a 40:20:40-split) and 1,595-litres of capacity is freed up in the Sportback variant. That's 60-litres less than an ordinary e-tron SUV body shape.
What You Pay
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What to Look For
You're going to need to be aware of a number of issues if you commit to any Audi e-tron, including this S version, these mainly centring around charging, software, battery and moisture build-up. We've also come across suspension and braking system problems. But these don't need necessarily to be an issue if the car you're looking at has had regular checks at an Audi franchise.
From the beginning, this model experienced battery problems and the brand had to recall over 1,600 vehicles shortly after launch in 2019. Some of these vehicles showed a malfunction in the battery location area - specifically a faulty grommet seal. Tests showed that the grommet allowed moisture to affect the battery, a problem that could lead to a short circuit - and ultimately even to a fire. There are also concerns in this period that the lithium ion batteries used might contain harmful chemicals and in extreme circumstances could produce fire. A yellow light on the dashboard blinks when there's something wrong with the battery and at this point, the driver should immediately stop the car and leave it in an open area.
We came across a number of software issues reported: a number of owners pointed out that the home charger function working with the GPS location often doesn't work. This means that if you want to enable the timer mode automatically, it often isn't possible, meaning that it's necessary to manually adjust the time button when home charging. We also came across owners who experienced navigational problems, pointing out that the car's GPS system easily forgot their home address, meaning the manual need to continually enter it all over again. All of these are software issues that can be solved by a dealer, but shouldn't have to be.
Check that the car you're looking at doesn't have difficulties when starting a charge session, usually because of connector issues. In some cars, the connector can't make a proper contact, which affects the connection between the car and the charger. You have to make sure the connector is pushed firmly into the charge port, a movement that will create the required connection, which will enable you to start the charging session.
We came across a number of e-tron SUVs and Sportbacks that had moisture build-up problems. These tend to affect models built in the 2019 production year. These cars tend to build up moisture in the electrical system, which causes various issues and can lead to short-circuiting. If a warning appears in the centre display like 'electrical system fault', this could be a sign of this sort of problem.
We also came across suspension and braking system issues - specifically troubles with the anti-lock braking set-up and the electronic stability control. These issues caused Audi to recall quite a few models built in the 2020 to 2021 model years, so if you're looking at one of these, make sure the car you have in mind has had the recall.
Replacement Parts
(approx based on an e-tron S SUV 2020) - Ex Vat) A pollen filter costs in the £24-£50 bracket. Front brake pads sit in the £111 bracket for a set; for a rear set, it's around £72. Rear brake discs sit in the £130 bracket. A wiper blade is in the £5-£56 bracket.
On the Road
By 2020, it had been over forty years since Audi had redefined performance driving with its quattro all wheel drive system. With this e-tron S model, you could argue that the brand redefined it once again - for a very different era, this being the world's first electric vehicle to use three drive motors. The larger electric motor that on a conventional e-tron Sportback sits at the rear was here moved to the front, freeing up space for twin smaller motors to sit on the back axle, allowing torque vectoring and fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels for considerably enhanced cornering agility.
The difference here is that you get real confidence through tighter, twistier turns, thanks to the electronic torque vectoring system's ability to individually control the amount of drive fed to each individual rear wheel with pinpoint accuracy, based on the grip and load active on either side of the car as you drive through each corner.
It's sort of like a mechanical limited slip differential, except that here, there's nothing but software linking the two rear motors - and they respond up to 25% quicker. While all this is going on, wheel selective torque control on the front axle uses the discs and pads to gently brake the inside front wheel as you turn, further helping to rotate the car into the turn as the rear tyres edge towards their limit.
The only disappointment, as with the more ordinary e-tron Sportback models, lies with the relative lack of steering feel, a familiar Audi issue, though the variable-ratio 'Progressive' rack is certainly accurate. If only though, it gave you the same confidence as the drive system, what a car this would be. Extra motive power in this S model means a higher output of course - up to 435PS with 808Nm of torque; or, with the 'S' mode engaged for overtaking, 503PS, with a thumping 973Nm of torque. Enough to simply hurl this Audi at the horizon; 62mph from rest is recorded at 4.5s, but it feels quicker than that because the pulling power is so instant, tailing off only as you edge close to the 130mph maximum. Drive more sensibly, a claimed range of up to 236 miles is supposed to be possible.
That's in between 8.9 hour charge sessions using the 11kW wallbox charger that Audi recommends. If you're fortunate enough to find a 150kW public charging point, up to 95% of battery capacity can be replenished in just 50 minutes.
Overall
So what's the bottom line here? Well having a twin motor system on the rear axle and a single motor up-front doesn't just deliver huge performance and impressive traction. It also significantly enhances the fine level of control that can be used to thread this e-tron model through a series of corners at speed. Delivering a level of agility you simply wouldn't expect from anything this big and heavy.
It's difficult to think of another large EV more in need of this kind of dynamic enhancement than the standard Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback models, which in their more straightforward forms can feel a little flat-footed compared to rivals. The S models though, are very different. Don't choose the ordinary version without trying this one. It's as simple as that.
