Audi has just pulled the covers off the new A2, reviving one of its most fondly remembered nameplates as a fully electric hatchback aimed squarely at buyers who want premium badge appeal without the premium running costs. Revealed in Paris by Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, the new A2 e-tron slots in as Audi's smallest and most affordable EV, and it arrives with genuinely eye-catching efficiency figures to back up the hype.
A name with history
The original A2 launched back in 1999 as a genuinely radical piece of engineering — an aluminium-bodied supermini built around Audi's Space Frame concept, designed from the ground up to be as light and efficient as possible. It never quite found the mainstream audience Audi hoped for, but it built a cult following that has stuck around for 25 years. Bringing the name back for an EV is a deliberate nod to that heritage, and the new car borrows visual cues from the original: a short bonnet, near-vertical tailgate, an almost arched side profile, and tight, efficiency-led panel gaps.
Built to be Audi's most efficient car yet
The headline figure is efficiency. Audi says the A2 e-tron will be the most frugal production model the brand has ever built, with WLTP energy consumption as low as 12.8 kWh/100km and a drag coefficient of just 0.24 — best in class for Audi's compact segment. That efficiency translates into some genuinely long real-world ranges for a car this size.
Buyers will get a choice of three battery sizes and four power outputs:
- 52kWh LFP battery — 168bhp rear-mounted motor, 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds, up to 262 miles of range, 100kW DC charging
- 61kWh LFP battery — 187bhp motor, 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, up to 320 miles of range (the most efficient version in the range), 105kW DC charging
- 84kWh NMC battery — available with either a 229bhp motor (up to 401 miles range, 0-62mph in 7 seconds) or a range-topping 322bhp motor (391 miles range, 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds), both with 183kW DC charging capable of a 10-80% top-up in under 30 minutes
An optional bidirectional charging setup will also let the A2 e-tron double as a home energy store, using Vehicle-to-Load and Vehicle-to-Home functionality.
Compact outside, spacious inside
At 4.3 metres long, the A2 e-tron is a genuinely compact hatchback, but Audi has clearly worked hard to maximise cabin space through short overhangs and a flat, EV-specific underbody. The standout interior feature is "Softwrap" — a soft, fabric-covered trim that runs across the dashboard, into the door panels and through to the rear, giving the cabin a noticeably warmer feel than the usual sea of hard plastic and gloss black.
Tech-wise, every version gets Audi's latest MMI setup as standard: an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit paired with a curved 12.8-inch central touchscreen. Controls are centred around a new "switch module" behind the steering wheel, freeing up the centre console for a wireless charging tray and the Fidlock magnetic mounting system — a first for the premium segment. The route planner is a nice practical touch too, letting drivers manually adjust calculated charging stops or opt for a route with fewer stops by tweaking the recommended driving speed.
UK pricing and availability
Prices for the UK start from £32,200 OTR, undercutting electrified rivals from Mercedes and BMW and putting the A2 e-tron in direct competition with the likes of the Mini Cooper Electric, Volvo EX30 and Cupra Born. UK order books open in October 2026, with first deliveries expected in early 2027. Full UK specification and trim details are still to be confirmed, but Audi has already flagged a standard look alongside a sportier S line, plus optional extras including adaptive Matrix LED lights, a panoramic sunroof, variable-rate steering, and a 14-speaker Sonos sound system.
What this means if you're thinking about your next lease
For anyone weighing up a switch to electric, the A2 e-tron is shaping up to be one of the more interesting options to land in 2027 — a genuinely efficient, premium-badged EV at a price point that's competitive rather than eye-watering. With order books opening this October and deliveries following early next year, now's a good time to start thinking about timing if the A2 e-tron is on your radar, whether that's personal contract hire, business contract hire, or salary sacrifice.
We'll have more detail on UK trims, options and lease pricing as soon as Audi confirms full specification — get in touch with the team if you'd like to be one of the first to know when quotes are available.