2022 Audi e-tron S price and features: Electric SUV targets Tesla Model X, BMW iX in premium performance EV battle

If the Audi e-tron 55 quattro doesn’t offer enough electric grunt, then you’re in luck – the new e-tron S and Sportback S SUVs are headed Down Under soon.

Following the e-tron 50 and 55 quattro models that arrived in late 2020, the spicier S variants will land in showrooms early next carrying a price premium.

Available in regular e-tron SUV and e-tron Sportback coupe-style SUV body styles, the S packs a 370kW and 973Nm punch from its all-electric powertrain.

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The regular e-tron 50 quattro delivers 230kW/540Nm and the 55 quattro pumps out 300kW/664Nm.

The e-tron S has two electric motors at the rear axle and one at the front and Audi says it’s the first volume production electric car to use three motors. It also comes with a 95kWh battery.

Covering zero to 100km/h takes just 4.5 seconds on the way to a 210km/h top speed.

A key rival for the e-tron S, BMW’s iX xDrive50 Sport, puts out 385kW and 765Nm and is priced from $169,000 before on-road costs.

The other obvious competitor is the Tesla Model X which has outputs of 311kW/660Nm and 451kW/931Nm for the Long Range AWD and Performance AWD respectively, with pricing ranging from $165,727 to $185,212.

Audi has priced the e-tron S from $165,600 for the SUV and $172,700 for the Sportback. That represents a premium of $19,500 and $15,600 over the e-tron 55 quattro SUV and Sportback respectively.

Driving range for the e-tron S is 413km for the e-tron S SUV and 418km for the S Sportback. This is an improvement on the regular e-tron 50 quattro’s 336km range but can’t match the 436-446km of the 55.

The e-tron S gains S styling flourishes to differentiate it from the 50 and 55 quattro, with bigger wheel arches, optional digital Matrix LED headlights, 21-inch five-spoke Audi Sport alloy wheels, aluminium finish exterior mirrors and the option of the virtual exterior mirrors with OLED displays.

Inside, standard gear includes four-zone climate control, heated and power adjustable front seats, ambient lighting, sunroof, tinted glass, and Valcona leather upholstery with diamond stitching.

An S-specific version of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display is standard, as is wireless device charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, 10.1-inch multimedia haptic touch screen and second 8.6-inch touch screen for vehicle functions. It also has a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system.

Charging the e-tron at a 150kW fast charger will take 45 minutes for a full charge, or 30 minutes to get to 80 per cent battery capacity. Doing it at home with an 11kW wall charger should take about 8.5 hours. Audi offers all e-tron customers a six-year subscription to Chargefox public charging network.

2022 Audi e-tron S quattro pricing before on-road costs