2019 Audi e-tron vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

In this very limited crop of all-electric SUVs and crossovers that are family-sized, the e-tron is the only entry that truly feels like a luxury vehicle and up to the task of hauling a family of four or five, with space to spare for groceries, suitcases, or camping equipment.

It’s not as quick in straight-line acceleration than the Jaguar I-Pace or Tesla Model X, or as sporty as a Jaguar I-Pace, but it makes up for those tenths of a second in day-to-day livability.

It rides much better than either of those possibilities and has a far quieter cabin—one that feels better thought-through than that of the I-Pace and more plush and luxurious than the Model X.

While the e-tron goes farther on a charge than the I-Pace, its range and energy efficiency don’t quite rival the Tesla; for the time being its CCS-format DC fast chargers are few and far between in the speediest 150-kW power level, too.

Tesla aside, there are no other family-sized electric utility vehicles on the U.S.

market today, but the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (actually a plug-in) is one worth considering; it will go 32 miles on a charge and has a roomy, comfortable interior that could bear a luxury badge.

This field will fill up next year with the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz EQC and perhaps the BMW iX3.