Audi e-tron GT Review (2021-present)
Audi E-Tron GT cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Tremendous acceleration and satisfying handling
Long range and rapid charging ability
Better value than a Porsche Taycan
Cons
A Porsche Taycan is even better to drive
If practicality is a priority, the Tesla Model S has the edge
Two-speed 'box changes gear with a thump
The CarGurus verdict
The Audi e-tron GT isn’t cheap but it is well equipped and comparably decent value as a used buy. More than that, it’s got the sort of interior lustre and dynamic ability that makes it feel well worth the high asking price with every smug mile that you drive. If finer driver reward is a priority, definitely look to the even more engaging Porsche Taycan, but for the extra exclusivity we can certainly see why the Audi would appeal.
The e-tron GT has real presence on the road and is a delight to drive in any sort of conditions. As plush sports GTs go, it's one of the best.
What is the Audi e-tron GT?
The Audi e-tron GT is a large electric saloon car that has all sorts of rivals. From SUVs to big saloons - if it’s posh and fast, yet has ample space for rear passengers, it falls into the Audi e-tron GT’s remit. Being quite low slung and sleek in profile, the pure electric Audi e-tron GT’s closest alternatives are the Porsche Taycan (with which it shares its 'J1' platform, battery and electric motors) and the Tesla Model S.
But, rivals could also include cars like the BMW iX and the Audi Q8 e-tron SUV, not to mention petrol and diesel alternatives like the Mercedes CLS, although the e-tron GT definitely has more sporting swagger to its style and dynamics than full-size saloon alternatives like the BMW 7 Series.
Launched in 2021, the e-tron GT has sold relatively slowly in the UK (certainly when compared with the Porsche Taycan) and so is a rare sight on our roads. An update in 2024 aimed to up the car's appeal with a bigger battery (now 105kWh versus the 93kWh of pre-facelift models for an official minimum WLTP range of over 360 miles) and a series of subtle styling tweaks.
How practical is it?
The driving position in the Audi e-tron GT is quite low, and there’s plenty of adjustment and comfort to keep even a very tall driver feeling cosseted on a long run. Storage for phones, wallets and water bottles in the front of the car is also good.
The rear seats offer decent leg room and head room, but you need quite a bit of space either side of the car to fully open the long doors. You can sit a third passenger in the middle of the bench if you don’t mind them being a bit uncomfortable perched on the raised cushion. The seat back drops in a 40/20/40 split so that you can load a longer item in the boot if you need to.
Speaking of the boot, the Audi e-tron GT gets 350 litres of space. Its shape is fairly shallow and long, and there’s no full hatch opening – just a fairly small saloon aperture. The 81-litre storage space under the bonnet of the car is a great addition for cable storage, but there’s no doubting that a Tesla Model S is still a roomier option.
What's it like to drive?
Being wide and low-slung, with short overhangs and a sleek coupe-like profile, there’s no mistaking that the e-tron GT is as much performance car as it is luxury tourer.
Thankfully, that comes across in the way it drives. The standard four-wheel-drive powertrain (all e-tron GT's are dual motor, with one motor per axle) delivers masses of grip, helping to give the Audi a keen cornering attitude despite a hefty 2.3-tonne weight. Toggle through to Sport mode and the steering feels hefty and responsive, letting you make the most of that traction and very neutral, sure-footed handling. In more comfort-oriented modes the Audi e-tron GT’s steering feels a little more vague but it is always a confident, intuitive car to drive whether you’re enjoying a good country road or just tolerating a commute around the M25.
Of course, the pure electric powertrain delivers smooth, seamless progress, not to mention comical acceleration. Even the entry-level model can get from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds (3.4 seconds for post-facelift versions). Give it everything in the Audi e-tron GT and you get fired up the road at a squeal-inducing rate; you really have got to wonder why you need more performance than this on the public road.
That's before you even think about the RS version, which in pre-facelift guise boasts 637bhp, and post-facelift has a crazy 844bhp (912bhp in the RS Performance model for a 2.5 second 0-62mph time). Thankfully, it’s easy to modulate the throttle precisely, and with a generally plentiful sense of connection through the driver’s controls the Audi e-tron GT is an easy and friendly car to drive quickly, albeit you do need to be mindful of its size.
Ride comfort is very good, too. The standard Audi e-tron GT gets air suspension, while the top-spec models get adaptive air suspension. Both setups do the job brilliantly. Body control is kept well in check, yet most road surfaces are soaked up easily. It rides even better than the Tesla Model S, plus the Audi handles better than the big Tesla. Having said that, we’d add that the Porsche Taycan and even the Jaguar I-Pace has the edge on the Audi e-tron GT for outright handling finesse; the Audi definitely feels a notch or two closer to a big, cushy GT car than those more playful-feeling rivals.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
The e-tron GT’s interior finish is very smart. There are some straightforward, physical air-con buttons that are easier to use than the touchscreen controls you get in the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S, and otherwise everything feels classy and solidly put together. There are leather-free interior options, too.
A 10.1-inch colour touchscreen is the focal point of the dash, and it includes nav, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. It responds quickly and is fairly easy to find your way around the menus and settings so it’s fair to say that this is one of the best systems in the class, even if the BMW infotainment system is a little easier to use when you’re driving thanks to the rotary controller.
If you want masses of equipment on your Audi e-tron GT, go for the Vorsprung model which gets just about everything you could think of – albeit at a huge jump in price. Otherwise, the standard car get three-zone climate control, a parking camera, heated front seats and keyless go.
Audi e-tron GT running costs
This is a big, powerful car and as such, many of the costs will be as high as you’d expect of a 2.3-tonne, four-wheel-drive car with a crazy power output. Purchase cost is high – you’re looking at over £100k for even the cheapest model. The price jumps significantly for the RS and RS Performance versions.
Tyres will be expensive, insurance will be expensive, and monthly finance costs will be four figures easily. Servicing can be paid in advance on a fixed price basis, and there are various plans depending on what sort of mileage you expect to do.
At least your fuel and tax costs will be lower than on any comparable petrol or diesel luxury GT car, what with this being an EV. If you charge at home most of the time, on a standard domestic electricity tariff, the e-tron will cost well under half of what you'd pay for an equivalently lavish petrol or diesel car. Charging at public rapid chargers can increase this cost massively, however.
Audi e-tron GT reliability
The Audi e-tron GT is too new to have gathered much reliability data. However, Audi as a brand didn't fare brilliantly in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, finishing 24th of the 30 brands covered.
A three year, 60,000-mile warranty is standard, while the battery is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles.
- Charging the Audi e-tron GT is as easy as it gets. It uses a Type 2 or CCS socket – the European standard sockets that you’ll find fitted to almost every other EV, and which are compatible with most public charging stations. There’s also twin Type 2 sockets – one on each front wing – making it easy to get the standard charging cable plugged in regardless of how awkward your driveway might be. Charge up at a home wallbox and you’ll have a full battery in around 14 hours. Plug into one of the 50kW rapid charging stations that you typically find in UK motorway services and you’ll get 100 miles of range in around 45 minutes, or a 20-80% battery top up in around 1 hour 15 minutes. However, the Audi e-tron GT can charge at up to 270kW (320kW in post-facelift models). Find an ultra-rapid charger that can support these speeds (350kW chargers are slowly springing up on busy motorway routes) and you’ll get a 10-80% charge in under 20 minutes.
- Accelerate heavily in the Audi e-tron GT when you’re already doing middling speeds – merging on to a motorway, for instance - and you’ll notice a thump as it starts to accelerate. This is the two-speed gearbox shifting down. It’s very rare for electric cars to get more than one ratio, but the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan get this dual ratio setup to help improve efficiency at motorway speeds. It’s not the smoothest sensation if you do feel the ratio change when you accelerate, but the vast majority of the time you barely notice it. It does also result in good touring efficiency. Electric cars typically use up more battery power at motorway speeds, and the same can be said of the Audi e-tron GT (it will still be most efficient in free-flowing traffic at around 30-40mph), but it won’t suck through its range as quickly as other EVs on the motorway.
- Depreciation hasn't been the e-tron GT's friend, which is an important consideration when it comes to running costs. Despite a price-when-new of more than £80,000, it's possible to find plenty of early Audi e-tron GT's listed for sale on CarGurus for around half that price.
- If you’re after the sportiest one: No question, you want the e-tron GT RS Performance. This thing has got Tesla-style crazy acceleration, but it’s also got that air suspension for a lovely, cushy ride and neat handling. The standard e-tron GT really is more than quick enough for the public road, but the RS Performance is certainly breathtakingly fast.
- If you’re after the most high-tech one: A used Audi e-tron GT Vorsprung is spot on if you want lots of tech, comfort and gadgets but don’t feel the need to pay the huge price jump to the RS. The Vorsprung ups the equipment with head-up display, night vision assistant (which highlights pedestrians or animals on a heat-sensing camera stream beamed on to the driver’s dials), and even a parking system that lets you move the car out of a space remotely via your smartphone. More than that, you get 18-way electric adjustment for the seats, heated front and rear seats, adaptive cruise with semi-autonomous drive mode and traffic assist, and full matrix LED headlights.
- If you want the longest range: The post-facelift Audi e-tron GT S has the longest official range within the e-tron GT line-up. In the winter we saw an indicated 285 miles from a full charge, while in warmer weather you can expect to easily top 300 miles before needing to plug in.
