Audi’s first electric car was the e-tron: a large, highly refined SUV with all-wheel drive, sold in the UK from 2019 until the updated Q8 e-tron took over. Remaining stock was still registered in 2023, while the sleeker Sportback joined in 2020. Most of its value has gone: a used 2020 car asks around £16,000–£19,000. Comfort and beautiful build quality are strengths; weight and poor efficiency are drawbacks. This guide explains the versions, the free range update for early cars, recalls, owners’ experiences and prices to expect. There’s a print-out checklist at the end.
- The 55 has the big 95 kWh battery and suits longer journeys; the 50 uses 71 kWh and offers considerably less range.
- On an early 55, make sure Audi’s free range software update has been completed.
- Check the battery and brake recalls on the specific car.
- Luxury for the money: a 2021–2022 55 asks about £22,000–£23,000.
Which e-tron is which?
| Version | Battery (usable) | Power | Rapid charging | Official range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-tron 50 quattro | 71 kWh (64.7) | 230 kW | 120 kW | about 209 miles |
| e-tron 55 quattro | 95 kWh (86) | 300 kW | 150 kW | about 272 miles |
| e-tron S | 95 kWh (86) | 370 kW | 150 kW | about 230 miles |
| e-tron Sportback 50 quattro | 71 kWh (64.7) | 230 kW | 120 kW | about 209 miles |
| e-tron Sportback 55 quattro | 95 kWh (86) | 300 kW | 150 kW | about 277 miles |
Four-wheel drive is standard on every e-tron. Battery sizes in adverts are “71.2kWh” for the 50 and “95kWh” for the 55 and S. Most 2021-on listings also specify an 11 kW on-board charger. The sloping-roof Sportback offers slightly more range. See the e-tron page for full specs.
A free range update for early 55s
Audi UK offered a free software update in November 2021 for e-tron 55 quattros built between mid-September 2018 and the end of November 2019, covering 1,655 UK cars. It unlocks more of the 95 kWh battery (86 kWh net), improves motor and cooling control, and adds up to 12.4 miles of range. A battery health check is included. For a 2019 or early 2020 55, ask whether the update has been installed; an Audi dealer can confirm.
Realistic range
Our estimates use a typical car and the battery-ageing model applied throughout the rest of EVcarsguide:
| Car | Summer | Year-round | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 e-tron 50 | 159 miles | 140 miles | 117 miles |
| 2020 e-tron 55 | 203 miles | 178 miles | 150 miles |
| 2022 e-tron Sportback 55 | 215 miles | 190 miles | 159 miles |
Owner reports support the estimates: around 2–2.6 miles per kWh, giving roughly 200 miles in summer from a 55 and 120–160 in winter. The 50 falls well below those figures. Rapid charging compensates: owners report around 150 kW sustained through much of the charge, making longer journeys practical despite the modest range.
Battery Health Estimator
Estimated condition if buying used
NMC chemistry - good longevity with proper charging habits
Estimates based on battery chemistry and age. Chemistry-based estimate. Actual health varies with charging habits, climate, and usage.
Warranty
The high-voltage battery’s separate warranty lasts longer than the rest of the car’s cover. Ask an Audi dealer to confirm the remaining time and mileage for the particular car: many 2020–2021 examples have already covered 40,000 miles or more.
Recalls: check these are done
The UK recall records list several e-tron recalls:
- High-voltage battery checks (R/2024/040 and R/2024/041): 2,379 and 387 cars built from early 2019 to late 2021.
- Brake servo check (R/2026/168): recorded under the Q8 e-tron, but affecting 11,327 cars built between May 2019 and May 2024, including many e-trons.
- Rear axle suspension link nuts (R/2021/236): affecting 10,089 cars built between November 2019 and February 2021, followed by a wheel-alignment check (R/2022/036).
- Other smaller recalls concern battery water ingress on 238 early 2019 cars, a loss-of-power fault affecting 58 cars built in early 2021, plus faults with the brake servo and brake pressure unit.
Recall work is free. Enter the registration on GOV.UK’s recall checker and ask the seller for proof the work was done.
What owners report
We reviewed 25 owner discussions and owner reviews. These accounts reflect owners’ experiences, not manufacturer data:
- Refinement and quality. Owners repeatedly praise the quietness, comfort and build quality, along with the all-wheel-drive system’s performance in bad weather.
- Efficiency is the main weakness, as above.
- Battery recall restrictions. Some 2019–2022 55 owners report an 80% charge cap and limits on rapid charging pending battery recall work. Review the recalls listed above and ask whether the car still has any restriction.
- Water leaks. A minority of owners report wet footwells or leaks from the panoramic roof. Inspect the carpets and roof lining.
- Keep the service history complete: one owner reports a drive-unit coolant leak costing about £11,000 that Audi refused under warranty over a missed service.
- Minor frustrations include the supplied home charging cable reverting to half power each time, while the optional camera mirrors split opinion.
Safety
Euro NCAP gave the e-tron five stars in 2019 (now recorded under the Q8 e-tron): 91% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupants, 71% for vulnerable road users and 76% for safety assist. The rating has since expired.
What to pay
Three factors divide used e-tron prices: 50 versus 55, SUV versus Sportback, and registration year. Less common combinations are excluded because there are too few examples to price them fairly:
| Cars | Share of adverts | Median asking | Typical range | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-tron 50, 2020 | 10% | £16,000 | £13,610–£19,690 | 50,050 |
| e-tron 50, 2021 | 14% | £17,450 | £15,003–£20,339 | 42,800 |
| e-tron 50, 2022 | 9% | £20,300 | £16,588–£25,805 | 36,200 |
| e-tron 55, 2019 | 4% | £18,000 | £15,824–£20,197 | 49,400 |
| e-tron 55, 2020 | 8% | £18,690 | £14,933–£24,000 | 51,000 |
| e-tron 55, 2021 | 9% | £23,215 | £16,582–£27,875 | 48,000 |
| e-tron 55, 2022 | 10% | £22,470 | £17,899–£29,411 | 36,700 |
| Sportback 50, 2021 | 3% | £19,300 | £16,888–£21,812 | 61,250 |
| Sportback 50, 2022 | 5% | £21,300 | £17,449–£25,878 | 32,050 |
| Sportback 55, 2020 | 7% | £21,790 | £18,049–£24,329 | 43,800 |
| Sportback 55, 2021 | 8% | £21,150 | £18,600–£24,895 | 54,800 |
| Sportback 55, 2022 | 5% | £26,310 | £22,695–£32,948 | 38,200 |
| Sportback 55, 2023 | 6% | £28,495 | £23,300–£34,895 | 34,200 |
Treat these figures as asking prices, not valuations. New prices were £60,000–£88,000 and a 2020 car is now advertised at around a quarter of that. A 55 asks just around £2,000–£6,000 more than an equivalent-year 50, a modest premium for the larger battery. Sportbacks ask slightly more again. Around 3% of listings were Cat S or N write-offs, so always obtain a vehicle history check.
Questions to ask the seller
- Is it a 50 or a 55, SUV or Sportback?
- On a 2019–early 2020 55: has the range software update been done?
- Have the battery and brake recalls been done?
- Can the seller document the remaining battery warranty, including the expiry date and mileage limit?
- Can the seller provide the Audi service records and invoices for other maintenance or repairs?
- Are both keys and the charging cables supplied with this Audi e-tron, and can the seller demonstrate that they work?
The print-out checklist
Bring this checklist along for the e-tron-specific checks; our general used EV buyer’s guide covers the checks that apply to any used electric car.
Alternatives worth a look
- Mercedes-Benz EQC: similar money and luxury, less range. Read our used EQC guide.
- Jaguar I-PACE: sportier, with a battery recall to check. Read our used I-PACE guide.
- Audi Q4 e-tron: smaller and more efficient. Read our used Q4 e-tron guide.
- Ford Mustang Mach-E: more range for similar money. Read our used Mach-E guide.
Not sure it covers your driving? The EV Matchmaker checks a car against your own week, and the Used EV Finder shows what else your budget buys.
Sources & further reading
- Audi UK – free range update for e-tron 55 quattro (November 2021, archived)
- Euro NCAP – Audi e-tron (2019)
- GOV.UK – Check if a vehicle has been recalled
Founder of EVcarsguide. Web technologist and data specialist tracking the UK EV market.
