Audi E-Tron S Driving Review in Tenerife

Tenerife is an island of striking extremes and dramatic landscapes. You can start your morning in a sun-baked coastal resort, surrounded by palm trees and ocean breezes, and find yourself shivering in thin mountain air just an hour later. To truly understand how a car handles this diverse environment, you have to drive it everywhere, from the smoothest highways to the most challenging rural tracks. That is exactly what we did with the Audi E-Tron S.

Electric vehicles are becoming more common in the Canary Islands, but few offer the sheer physical presence and tri-motor performance of this heavy luxury SUV. We wanted to see if a massive electric vehicle makes sense on an island famous for narrow, winding mountain passes, or if it is better left cruising the southern highways. We spent several days putting it through its paces to give you a clear picture of what it is really like to pilot this machine across Tenerife.

How it drives on Tenerife roads

Starting out on the TF-1 motorway along the south coast, the E-Tron S feels entirely in its element. The long, fast sweepers between the airport and the major resorts are smooth, and the cabin remains whisper-quiet even at highway speeds. The heavy battery pack keeps the car firmly planted in crosswinds, making coastal cruising completely effortless and relaxing.

Turning inland, we took the TF-21 climbing up to Mount Teide. As we reached 2,100 metres in altitude, the temperature dropped significantly, and the landscape turned into a barren volcanic crater. Internal combustion engines often struggle in this thin air, losing a noticeable fraction of their power as they gasp for oxygen. The electric motors in the Audi, however, do not care about oxygen levels at all. The power delivery remained instant and forceful the entire way up the mountain. We drove the Automatic, 370 kWt, 5 seats version, and the immense torque easily pulled the heavy vehicle out of steep hairpin bends without a single moment of hesitation.

However, the driving experience changed drastically when we ventured onto the TF-436 heading into Masca. This road is famous for its extremely narrow cliff hairpins and blind corners carved directly into the rock face. Here, small cars definitely have the advantage. The E-Tron S is wide. Very wide. We found ourselves breathing in and creeping past oncoming buses with only centimetres to spare on either side. The precise steering helps you place the tires exactly where you want them, but you simply cannot shrink the physical footprint of the car.

The Anaga forest roads in the north presented yet another test for the chassis. These routes are frequently damp, twisty, and often covered in a dense, cool mist that limits visibility. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system was brilliant here, providing excellent grip on slippery asphalt covered in fallen leaves and pine needles. The tri-motor setup vectors torque across the rear axle, which helps push the large SUV through tight corners far better than you might expect for a car carrying this much weight.

Where this car shines (and where it does not)

The Audi E-Tron S truly shines as a luxury grand tourer. If your itinerary involves cruising between high-end restaurants, visiting the Teide cable car, and enjoying the scenic coastal routes, it is a magnificent place to spend your time. The adaptive air suspension absorbs the worst of the broken pavement found on some older rural routes, isolating the cabin from harsh impacts. Furthermore, the instant acceleration makes overtaking slow tourist traffic on the sweeping sections of the TF-1 completely stress-free.

Where it does not shine is in tight, historic spaces and ancient village centres. The sheer width of the car makes navigating these areas a nerve-wracking experience that requires constant attention. If you plan to spend all your time exploring the remote, single-lane roads of the Teno Rural Park, you will feel the size of this vehicle every single second of the journey. It is also a very heavy car. While the brakes are massive and the regenerative braking does a lot of the work on long descents, you are always aware of the tremendous mass you are trying to slow down before entering a tight hairpin corner.

Practical notes

Parking in the busy southern resort streets of Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, and Playa de las Americas can be a significant challenge during peak hours. The blue-line meters mark the paid street parking zones, and finding a space large enough to accommodate the E-Tron S often requires circling the block a few times. You will likely rely heavily on the 360-degree camera system and parking sensors to squeeze into standard bays without curbing the large alloy wheels. We highly recommend using underground parking garages when visiting the resorts, though you must watch out for tight entry ramps and narrow concrete pillars.

Charging infrastructure on Tenerife is improving steadily every year. There are fast chargers available near major shopping centres and at various points along the TF-1. However, driving aggressively up the steep inclines of Mount Teide will drain the battery faster than you might anticipate. The good news is that you will recoup a significant amount of that energy through regenerative braking on the long, sweeping drive back down to the coast. You just need to plan your longer trips carefully and ensure you have a charging stop mapped out if you intend to cross the entire island and return in a single day.

Luggage space is generous and highly practical. The boot easily swallows four large suitcases, making it ideal for a family or a group of friends arriving at Tenerife South Airport. It suits drivers who prioritize absolute comfort, interior space, and effortless power over nimble handling, and who do not mind navigating a larger vehicle through occasional tight spots.

Verdict

The Audi E-Tron S is a technological marvel that turns the steep, demanding roads of Tenerife into a smooth, effortless drive. Its complete immunity to altitude changes and its sure-footed grip in the damp Anaga mountains make it a highly capable companion for exploring the diverse microclimates of the island. You simply have to accept that its considerable width will make the narrowest roads into Masca a slow, careful exercise rather than a spirited drive. If you are comfortable managing a large vehicle and want to experience the island in supreme quiet and comfort, it is a fantastic choice for a memorable Tenerife road trip.

Where to book the Audi E-Tron S in Tenerife

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