Sedans no longer dominate the roads like they once did, and now everyone and their mom wants an SUV or crossover. However, Audi has proven with the e-tron GT that there is still a lot of merit in a well-engineered and well-designed sedan.
The Audi version of the Porsche Taycan has been revealed in Europe for a few years, but it’s not coming to Australia until 2023, and we got our first hands on it a few weeks ago. It won’t sell as well as some of Audi’s cheaper, pricier EVs, nor will it redefine electric performance. However, it’s one of the best sedans I’ve ever driven, regardless of powertrain. And it just happens to be electric.
Quick Facts
Looks great, doesn’t it?
Like the Taycan, the Audi e-tron GT is based on the same J1 platform as the Porsche Taycan. This means it shares similarities with its half-brother but is more focused on comfort and Grand Touring capabilities, hence the “GT” name.
As the e-tron GT is still a rarity on Australian roads, I hadn’t seen it in person until I approached the media car I’d be driving for a week. “Damn, that thing looks sexy as hell,” I thought to myself when I saw it.
Photo credit: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The car we tested was the entry-level version, priced at AUD 178,875 (about US$118,000) before on-road costs, but our car was equipped with 20-inch 5-twin-spoke wheels worth AUD 750 (about US$495) and a black exterior styling package worth AUD 4,200 (about US$2,771).
Photos don’t do the e-tron GT justice. In person, it’s much lower than you’d expect, and much wider than we thought it would be. The front end looks businesslike with a faux-Singleframe grille, and has plenty of gloss black elements contrasting against the metallic white finish.
Like the Taycan, the e-tron GT has a fastback styling, with a flowing rear end featuring subtle LED taillights and a striking light bar. My favorite part of the design is the car’s wide hips, which give it a sense of purpose and add to its aggressive stance. In terms of looks, the e-tron GT is a winner. The same goes for the cabin?
Photo credit: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
cabin
When I first stepped into the Audi’s cabin, I was a bit surprised.
By most people’s standards, this is an expensive car. However, the quality of some of the materials doesn’t feel quite right for the price. The leather on the door panels and dashboard isn’t particularly soft, and doesn’t feel much different from the leather in Audis that cost half the price.
I was also surprised that the seats didn’t offer adjustable lumbar support. The lack of ambient lighting was also a strange omission.
There’s a reason for all this, however. Our test car was the base model. For an extra AU$8,000 (about $5,300), buyers can order the Dinamica interior package, which adds 14-way adjustable sports seats with four-way lumbar support and Audi’s Dinamica microsuede material for the seats, headliner and dashboard. It also adds an Alcantara steering wheel. A AU$6,400 (about $4,200) Premium Plus interior package is also available, adding ambient lighting, privacy glass and illuminated door sills. Equipped with these packages, the e-tron GT is fantastic and hard to fault.
Photo credit: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Aside from some controversial material choices in the base model we reviewed, the e-tron GT’s cabin is gorgeous. Audi’s excellent 12.3-inch virtual cockpit sits in front of the driver, along with a head-up display and a 10.1-inch central infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
The standard seats adjust low enough, with plenty of headroom, that even drivers over 6 feet tall can ride comfortably. The steering wheel is a perfect size and shape, and despite the car’s low profile, visibility is excellent (except for the tiny rear window…). Audi’s infotainment display is easy to use and offers haptic feedback that makes navigating the menus fun and easy.
Unlike some other Audi models, the e-tron GT doesn’t have a separate touchscreen for climate control. Instead, it uses physical buttons and switches, all of which feel solid. However, they’re made of cheap black plastic. Piano black isn’t lacking either.
Interior storage is plentiful, and there’s a holder with a wireless smartphone charger on the center console. Rear passengers haven’t been neglected, and they get their own climate control switches. Headroom, legroom, and toe room are also surprisingly ample, given the e-tron GT’s low profile. It’s large enough to accommodate four large adults comfortably. However, we wouldn’t want to be stuck with the small center seat in the back.
At the back is a luggage area that holds 405 liters (14 cubic feet), while up front there’s a trunk big enough for a carry-on suitcase.
Like driving on fast clouds
I wasn’t sure how the e-tron GT would feel when I drove it. Would it feel good enough to justify its price? Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.
Powering the e-tron GT is a sizable 93 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a pair of electric motors that put out 350 kW (469 lb-ft) and 630 Nm (465 lb-ft), or 390 kW (523 hp) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) with Boost mode engaged. Audi says it’ll do the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 4.1 seconds, which feels just as quick as you’d imagine.
Power comes instantly from the starting line and doesn’t start to wane until you get into triple digits. It doesn’t have the same thrilling acceleration as sub-3-second EVs like the RS e-tron GT, but it’s still more than enough for all but the most speed-hungry enthusiasts.
What impressed me most, however, wasn’t the e-tron GT’s straight-line performance, but how comfortable it was.
Since this is a low-riding sports sedan, you might be forgiven for thinking it would feel a little stiff. But that’s not the case.
Read: 2025 Audi E-Tron GT previewed, new RS Performance flagship model to join the range
In Australia, the e-tron GT comes standard with the adaptive air suspension found in the pricier RS models. The system consists of a compressor and three-chamber shock absorbers on the front and rear axles. Depending on the driving situation, these chambers can be automatically activated or deactivated and offer five ride heights. For most of our time with this car, we set the suspension to its most comfortable setting and the ride height to the third of the five selectable ride heights, although it is also convenient to raise it on steep driveways. The two lowest ride height settings are reserved for speeds over 90 km/h (56 mph) and 180 km/h (112 mph).
As a daily driver and long-distance cruiser, the Audi’s ride is silky smooth. In fact, it’s almost eerie how well it absorbs bumps and imperfections in the road. Hitting a big pothole? No big deal, you barely feel it. Driving over a big speed bump at 60 km/h (37 mph)? Your body barely moves. Switch the suspension to the sportier “Dynamic” setting, and the e-tron GT still drives better than most cars on the market.
The most impressive thing about the e-tron GT is that despite having such a comfortable and smooth ride, the handling is excellent. When you want to have fun driving, the car remains stable in corners and has excellent grip.
Our test car was shod with Pirelli Cinturato P7 tires on all four wheels. These are solid, high-performance tires, but they aren’t the best on the market, and can’t compare to some of the ultra-high-performance (UUHP) rubber on the market. Still, I was struck by how much grip the car had, and trying to induce understeer in a turn was difficult. This is undoubtedly helped by the fairly wide tires, measuring 245/45 up front and 285/40 at the rear.
Efficiency isn’t great. Audi quotes 19.2kWh/100km on the combined cycle, which is a fairly high figure for an electric car. We averaged 21kWh/100km in a mix of freeway and city cruising, as well as some more spirited driving. The car can be charged via a DC fast charger at up to 270kW, but those are rare in Melbourne. We did charge the e-tron GT once on a 150kW charger, and it stayed at around 120kW from 50-90% charge.
judgment
The Audi e-tron GT strikes the perfect balance between a comfortable cruiser and a powerful performance machine. In addition to being one of the sexiest cars on the market, it’s a joy to drive at any speed and one of the best premium sedans on the market. The 2025 model promises to be even better.
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