Audi e-tron GT quattro Review

Intro, Price, Options and Verdict

Introduction

Audi is typically German. It loves to be competitive, and it's good at staying ahead of the curve – in terms of styling and desirability. Audis are expensive, but they do tend to be worth it. Why? The build quality is top-class, and the drivability is, too. What’s more, the e-tron GT is so much better looking than the standard e-tron, and some Teslas. In our shallow book, that makes it an electric car we'd have ourselves.

Unsurprisingly, this GT is the flagship of Audi's EV lineup – and it's been on the scene since 2020. Covid stole its thunder – but it’s made up for it since and has a load of fans now. Under its gorgeous flowing form, we’re almost tempted to say there’s a Porsche Taycan. On one level there is, as the car shares a whole bunch of tech with the Porsche. The GT is around the same size as the Taycan, too. We guess it would have to be to fit all the Porsche bits under the metal.

Competitors are clearly Porsche’s Taycan and the usual suspect – Tesla’s Model S. Look outside of the box, and you might want to check out Mercedes-Benz's EQE. At a real push, the less than Teutonic but quick and sharp-looking Kia EV6 could also be worth adding to your “EVs to check out” list.

A couple of e-tron GT variants are on the market – the base-level (if there is such a thing) quattro, as driven here. Then there’s the RS version. This latter car is blisteringly fast and outdoes Audi’s liquid-fuelled vehicles – including the incredible R8.

Both GTs will do well over 200 miles – up to 295 miles, according to the spec sheet in our car. You can also quickly get electrons into the Audi due to the GT's 270kW charging capability.

Price and Options

Our GT quattro is a mere £83,665 on the road, but you’ll be paying up to £136,675 for the RS. Yep, if you haven’t already read this bit in the previous section, let’s remind you; there are two versions of the e-tron GT. There is the “regular” quattro driven here for this write-up and video and the even quicker RS e-tron GT.

There are a couple of trim levels – the e-tron GT and the £109,385 GT Vorsprung quattro. And there are a few more trims on the RS version. But let’s keep it simple and focus on our test car, the (non-RS) GT quattro.

This comes with 20-inch alloys, all-wheel drive, damper control, drive select, LED lights, privacy glass, a power-operated tailgate, electrically adjustable heated leather sports seats, and shaped rear seats. You also get navigation on a high-res 10.1in colour screen, plus a 12.3in colour “Audi Virtual Cockpit” display. Cruise control is part of the standard kit, as is a speed limiter, keyless-go and a rear-view camera. Safety-wise, there is ISOFIX for child seats and multiple airbags – side, front, rear, and head.

On the options front, our Audi came with Ascari blue metallic paint (£950), e-tron Sport Sound (£500) and ‘five-twin-spoke' design gloss-turned alloy wheels (£300). If you’re wondering, the Sport Sound option produces a fake engine note inside and a mock external exhaust noise for others to hear.

With a 0 to 62mph time of 4.5 seconds, you aren’t going to complain – especially in this speed-camera-obsessed country. However, if you want to moan, then let's stop you. Why? Because you can use the car's overboost system that increases horsepower and, therefore, clout (0-62mph in 4.1 seconds) from 476 horses to 530 for 2.5 seconds in Dynamic setting with launch control backing (you get a bunch of driving modes – Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual). That is just enough time to get done by a lovely ‘Big Brother’ speed camera. It is undeniably fun when you use the tech, but it drains your electric range if you use the Dynamic mode.

Design, Comfort and Storage

Exterior Design

If you love fluid coupe lines, then the Audi e-tron GT will be right up your automotive alley. The car deserves ‘GT' in its name – it's planted, wide, and long, and you can't stop gazing at it. People will stop you and ask you, “is it all electric?” all the time. For some reason, despite Teslas now being commonplace, sexy EVs aren't always on everyone's radar.

The 20-inch alloys fill the Audi's arches satisfyingly – indeed, the whole shape of this GT is gratifying. You get a charging port on not just one but both front wings – which is handy. And even though this Audi was designed with Porsche – hence the Taycan underpinnings – it’s neither too sporty nor too conservative – it hits the aesthetic sweet spot beautifully.

The e-tron GT quattro is a four-door motor, but you almost don’t see the rear doors – they merge into the powerful hindquarters.

Interior Comfort

The interior is typically Audi. You can sense the excellent build quality. It is solid yet comfy, and the cabin almost smells “premium”. The steering wheel feels thick and robust in the hand, while the sports seats cocoon you agreeably.

There is tech everywhere, but all is clear and intuitive. The interior room is suitable for four “regular” sized adults, and even legroom in the back is not insufficient. This is thanks to clever thinking by the boffins in white coats who've designed the battery under the floor so that your feet are accommodated contentedly and naturally.

Mind you; it isn't all good news because the coupe shape of the roof means your bonce will brush the headliner if you're on the tall side. We have also said four adults will be fine – but you could get three people in the rear at a push. It will be an uncomfortable and miserable ride if you go three-up in the back, though.

Ingress and egress aren't the easiest if you're used to SUVs. But in a way, that's something you might be okay to live with – as the looks of the e-tron GT are worth it. That is unless you genuinely have an ailment – or develop a back issue while owning the GT. Then, you may curse the day you didn’t go for a vehicle with wider door apertures and a less low-slung deportment.

Storage and Load Carrying

Storing stuff in the car isn’t a problem, but the boot isn't all that. We are talking 405 litres behind the rear seats with a closed luggage compartment. The Audi also contains a ‘frunk'. In other words, a front trunk – or boot, as we say here in England. It is only 85 litres, but it’s better than nothing and is the perfect place to store the charging cable bag.

If you must take more luggage, don't fret – you can kick your rear seat passengers out and fold the back seats down in a 40/20/40 split, providing 1,171 litres of cargo capacity. There. Sorted.

In-Car Entertainment and Controls

Audi’s infotainment system is always bang on. The main screen isn’t too large at just over 10 inches (Matron!), and the menu arrangement is intuitive. Oh yes, there's a “haptic” thing going on with the screen as well. This makes you feel like you're pressing a genuine button when you touch the display.

Then there’s an even bigger screen in front of you. It is a 12in instrument display unit known as the Audi Virtual Cockpit. Here, the layout and the dials can be changed and organised until your O.C.D condition goes into overdrive. As you’d expect from this German premium EV manufacturer, the technology looks, feels and is expensive. But all is as slick as Bob Monkhouse used to be on primetime TV – and is far cooler (God rest you, Bob).

Performance, Running Costs, Range, and Safety

Performance and Driving

The GT is fitted with a motor on both the front and rear axles. Together, these motors supply 476PS. You get a quartet of driving settings, too – Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual. Comfort is the best for Britain’s infamously torn tarmac.

This car is brisk, sprinting to 62mph in 4.1 seconds when using Dynamic mode. Then there's the top speed of 152mph – that's more than double our speed limit – what more do you need?

And when it comes to handling, you’ll stick to the asphalt like a fly to flypaper. EVs have a low centre of gravity due to most of the weight being housed low down and sandwiched between the axles.

The ride is firm – but not too stiff – and comfortable enough without wallowing around. The car, therefore, feels planted, providing you with an unwavering sense of confidence at the wheel – especially when tackling bends at pace.

If it wasn’t for the rear-view camera, you might not be as confident reversing, though – the rear windscreen is narrow, so visibility isn’t great.

One thing you can’t ignore is the fact that the e-tron GT is a weighty car – and the tyres tell you this more than anything else. They work like dogs under the bulk of the electric four-ringed beast – especially when battling bendy bitumen. The Audi pulls it off, though, as the GT is composed, whether you're on a rural route or hammering along a motorway.

Of course, you need hardcore brakes for a heavy vehicle, and the e-tron’s cast iron discs deliver. You also get regenerative braking from the electric motors.

Unsurprisingly, the e-tron GT is hushed – as most EVs are – but there is an undeniable extra tranquillity due to the Audi’s slick, flowing shape. Indeed, the GT’s low drag coefficient of 0.24 enhances its efficiency, giving a decent range.

Still, the Porsche Taycan will always outshine the e-tron GT for fun behind the wheel – but only just. However, this is an Audi and not a Porsche. And for an Audi – the fun factor is there – no doubt about it.

Range and Charging

The e-tron GT quattro will do an official 295 miles on a full charge. But not if you use the blistering launch control, triggered by choosing the Dynamic drive setting and sticking one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake – then releasing the brake – and … whoosh!

You will find a flap for AC charging on each wing of the e-tron GT, with an extra connection for rapid DC charging on the left wing. Indeed, like the Porsche Taycan, Audi’s e-tron GT loves rapid chargers. If you can find one of the fastest charging units, the GT will suck up electrons at a speed of 270kW. In layman’s terms, that means you could get from 5% to 80% in just over 22 minutes.

It is cheaper to charge up at home, though – as we can testify, having spent £41 getting from 36 per cent to 93 per cent at a rapid charging hub in Norfolk recently. That is arguably more than it would have cost us to fill up with petrol. However, get yourself organised, and you’ll be able to top up on your undoubtedly more reasonable home electricity tariff. Do it overnight, as a zero to 100 per cent charge will take about 13.5 hours from your wall box.

Running Costs

Electric power consumption combined is 20.5 kWh/100 km (62.1 mi). This equates to 3.16 miles per kWh, which is good but hardly outstanding. Despite today’s bonkers energy fees, operating costs are relatively low for the e-tron GT – if you charge up at home as regularly as possible. However, you will get rinsed of cash if you rely solely on public charging hubs.

The e-tron GT’s drag coefficient is 0.24Cd, so it’s one of the most aerodynamic EVs on the scene. It means the Audi will keep going that little bit further before you need to juice it up again.

Servicing overheads are pretty low on this Audi, too, as electric cars, compared with petrol or diesel motors, cost less to maintain.

Road tax is free, at least for now, while company car users will enjoy the fact that all EVs are in the lowermost benefit-in-kind (BIK) rate bands.

Because the e-tron GT is still fairly new, it’s too early to say how dependable it will be in the long run. Audi offers an unremarkable three-year warranty limited to 60,000 miles, and the German automaker's electric vehicle batteries come with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Safety

The Audi e-tron GT is still to be put through the wringer by crash-testing body Euro NCAP.

As a guide, though, the closely related Porsche Taycan was awarded the top five stars when it was scrutinised back in 2019. The Porsche’s adult occupant score is 85 per cent, and the child occupant grade is 83 per cent. Not bad – but, interestingly, not as good as potential e-tron GT rival, the budget (by comparison) Kia EV6.

The e-tron GT quattro comes factory-fitted with decent safety kit, so you'll be well-protected should a smash happen. The quattro gets parking sensors, a reversing camera, cruise control and a speed limiter, lane departure warning and emergency auto braking.

However, you must fork out £1,355 more for the optional Tour pack that gives you radar-guided cruise control and steering that keeps the e-tron GT in its correct lane. You must also dig £1,760 deeper if you want rear cross-traffic alert and Audi’s self-parking system. The City Assist Pack, with Front Cross Traffic Assist, pre-sense Rear and Lane Change Assist is another £1,345.

Key Specifications