Audi is considered a luxury brand, with exceptional engineering and style. But when it comes to their EV range of e-trons, just how much do they cost to maintain?
Audi e-trons are less expensive to maintain than an ICE (internal Combustion Engine) vehicle and average $3000 – $6000 over 5 years depending on the e-tron model.
In this article, we’ll look at the costs involved in maintaining an e-tron and what is covered under warranty.
5-year cost to maintain an Audi e-tron
The Audi e-tron comes in a variety of different models. The entry point is the Q4, starting price of $49900 before extras and the top model is the RS e-tron GT with a starting price of $142400. That’s quite a variation but they are trying to suit all markets and buyers.
Once you have chosen your e-tron there are a range of different costs to consider going forward, such as:
- Service costs
- Insurance
- Tires
- Fuel
Service Schedule
Audi is considered a luxury brand, with a starting price of just under $50,000. This is still a considerable amount of money and you need to know what to budget going forward in terms of service schedule.
Audi recommends a Service Schedule at every 10k miles, and a tire rotation every 5k miles. This is comparable with Tesla (every 12k miles and 6250 tire rotation). At the first service (10k miles) your Audi tech will check the following:
- Brake Disk thickness
- State of Health of Battery
- Front and rear axle/suspension
- Check the display for any warning lights
- Tire repair kit check
- Tire check – depth and inflation
- First Aid kit expiration date
- Wiper blades
- Multi-point inspection
- Reset the Service reminder
It’s quite an in-depth list and your e-tron should pass all of the above without issue at 10k miles. The average cost for this first scheduled service is approximately $70-$120, depending on location.
The second service at 20k miles is much more detailed and unsurprisingly is twice the cost at $220. The checklist for 20k miles is as follows:
- Replace dust and pollen filter
- Brake Disk thickness
- Brake System – Check for damage and leaks, check brake hoses and bleeder caps
- Charging socket checking for damage, ensuring socket is dry
- Charging socket/cable, checking cable for any damage
- Check high voltage safety instruction labels for readability
- Check high-voltage system components for any damage and/or leaks
- State of Health of Battery
- Steering and driving of vehicle check
- All lights – interior and exterior – check and adjust if necessary
- Front and rear axle/suspension – dust seals on ball joints and tie rod ends
- Front axle drive check coolant
- High voltage cooling system check for damage and leaks
- High voltage cooling system for electrical components check the coolant level and top up if necessary
- Horn Check
- Check the display for any warning lights
- Check Door Hinge Mechanisms and lube if necessary
- Multi-Point Inspection
- Panoramic sunroof systems – Check for any debris
- Plenum chamber and water drain valves check for debris or dirt
- Replace the coolant cartridge in the Rear axle drive
- Safety belts check
- Spare tire check pressure and adjust
- Tire repair kit check for expiration
- Tires, check depth and pressure, and record measurements
- Body and underbody check for corrosion or damage
- Warning triangle check
- Check wipers and windshield washer – add fluid if necessary
- Complete road test
- Reset service reminder
Although the 20k service is much more detailed the price is adjusted upwards. If the Auto Tech discovers that something needs to be replaced (that’s not covered under warranty) this will incur a cost. These are generally expendable items, such as wiper blades, brake pads, etc.
The reality is that you are servicing your car every 10k miles, and rotating tires every 5k. This is more than the average car and unlike some brands, service is not free.
The cost of these can vary depending on where you live but the following is an approximate:
- Wipers: up to $100
- Brake pads and rotors: $700 – 800
- Tire balancing (after new tires): $250
- Engine light: $240
Insurance Costs
Insurance on your e-tron is a cost that has to be factored into your overall running costs. The average insurance cost, on a 2019 e-tron, for a 40-year-old male, with a good driving history is $1900. This reduces to $1400 for a newer 2022 model. It is also dependent on which insurance company you choose and where you are located.
The $1400 is for Nationwide Insurance company but this increases to $3479 for Allstate.
Audi is seen as a luxury brand and luxury cars are more expensive to insure. This is because of the cost of replacing your car if it is written off, but also the high cost of parts if something needs to be repaired or replaced.
However, the average cost of insuring an Audi is much less than insuring the equivalent Mercedes or BMW, which could be as much as $4000.
The cost to insure an 18-20 year old can range anywhere from $4000 – $10000.
Your location is also a factor in the cost of your e-tron insurance. Florida has the highest rate statewide, and Idaho has the lowest. But again your age and driving history will also be taken into account, no matter where you are.
Insurance Comparison
| Model | 1 year | 5 years | Age |
| e-tron | $1900 | $9535 | 40 yo male |
| Tesla X | $3750 | $18750 | 40 yo male |
| Nissan Leaf | $1700 | $8500 | 40 yo male |
| Ford Mach E | $1600 | $8000 | 40 yo male |
| Mercedes EQS | $2660 | $13300 | 40 yo male |
Secrets of your Audi e-tron
Hidden features you need to know – Today!
Tires
Audi recommends that you rotate your tires every 5k miles. This will help maintain the thread for as long as possible. The longevity of your tires will depend on your driving style and the type of tires you choose.
Well maintained, a set of tires will last 25-50 thousand miles. Within the 5-year window, you’ll definitely have to factor in the cost of a new set of tires, given that the average person drives up to 10k miles per year.
EV tires wear quicker than ICE tires because of the acceleration capacity of EVs and also because of the extra weight from the high-voltage battery.
Audi tires are covered under a tire manufacturer warranty for 2-4 years but this is only for manufacture defects and not for punctures or damage from poor roads.
E-tron tires and EV tires, in general, are specifically designed to carry the extra weight of the high-voltage battery and it’s unwise to put non-EV tires on your e-tron.
EV tires are priced between $150-$350 per tire with high-performance tires costing up to and in excess of $500 per tire.
If you look after your tires they will last longer. By looking after them I mean regularly rotating them (every 5k miles), but also continually checking them for uneven wear and regularly checking the PSI (pounds per square inch). PSI can drop by 1 per month. PSI is best checked on cold tires with a reputable air pump, and preferably the same air pump each time.
Wheel alignment is also an important factor in preserving your tires. Although there is a cost to wheel alignment it could save a tire in the long run.
Tire Cost for 2019 e-tron Sportback
| Tire Brand | Cost per tire | Cost per Set |
| Michelin | $280 | $1120 |
| Goodyear | $242 | $968 |
| Yokohama | $245 | $980 |
| Continental | $320 | $1280 |
Tire Maintenance Costs over 5 years for 75k miles
| Job | Time Period | Cost | Total Cost |
| New Tires (x4) | Every 35k miles | $2174 – 2 sets at average cost | |
| Tire Rotation | Every 5k miles | $750 – 15 times at $50 each time | |
| Tire Balancing | Twice | $500 | |
| $3424 |
Fuel Costs
When we talk about fuel for an EV we’re talking about each charge that we require, so this can be quite subjective as to how much traveling you do, week to week. But it’s definitely cheaper than buying gas.
A charge point at home with a 240V Level 2 charger will take approximately 8-9 hours to fully charge and cost on average $50 per month. Compare this to a DC charger, $0.48 per kWh, (50kWh is around 200 miles) will cost you $24. Fast charging will depend on which supplier you choose. New Audi owners are entitled to 250kWh for free which is the equivalent of 4 fills or 800 miles.
| Supplier | Cost per Mile | Total Cost for 200 miles |
| Electrify America | .48/m | $24 |
| EVgo | .46 – .63/m (peak hours 4 pm to 9pm) | $20 – $28 |
| .46 – .63/m (peak hours 4 pm to 9 pm) | $23 – $31.50 |
Charging at home is always going to be cheaper but you must also consider the initial outlay of installation costs for a Level 2 charger over the first five years. The installation costs are averaging at $1300 – $1500 but this can differ depending on labor costs in your state and also the type of wall charger brand you select. Not all chargers work well with all EV brands, so you might already have a wall charger because this is not your first EV but you should if the one you have is suitable for Audi.
If you are renting or living in an apartment, installing a home charger is not always possible or practical. If so, DC or fast charging is your only way forward. Try not to fast charge every time as this will shorten the life of your high-voltage battery.
Some charging companies offer discounts when you create an account or agree to charge off-peak.
Regardless of which way you choose to charge EVs are a third less expensive than an ICE vehicle.
| Model | Cost per month | Cost per year |
| e-tron (EV) | $50 | $600 |
| Toyota Camry (Gas) | $150 | $1800 |
Overall e-tron Cost
When we look at the overall cost of maintaining and running, an e-tron is mid-range in the top EVs. The running costs are considerably lower than an ICE but higher than a Tesla which has a higher range capacity, but cheaper than a Mach e with comparable range.
The biggest negative when buying and maintaining an e-tron is that it no longer qualifies for the Federal Tax Credit for EVs, as it is not built in the USA. This in effect is an extra cost of $7500.
The cost of any unusual parts (not covered under warranty) that you might need also has to be looked at. They will have to be ordered from Germany, which can be quite pricey and also can extend the time your e-tron could be in the shop. This can mean that your e-tron is an expensive car to purchase and also maintain long-term.
The warranty for your e-tron is 4 years or 50k miles, whichever happens first. The high voltage battery is covered for 8 years or 100k miles. You receive 4 years of roadside assistance for any breakdowns, flat tires, or out-of-charge.
But all items are only covered if there is a manufacturing fault or defect or a recall. Repairing an e-tron can be quite pricey if you are not covered.
The extended warranty is certainly worth considering if you do a lot of mileage. It will typically add $3-5k over 5 years but will last up to 10 years or 120k miles.
I’ve written other articles on common Audi issues, which you hopefully won’t ever experience, but if you do, we have you covered with these posts:
Audi e-tron Won’t Charge – Top Reasons Why!
Audi e-tron Won’t Unplug – Top tips to help you
Audi e-tron Sunroof Leaking – This is why!
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