Audi e-tron GT: performance, motor & drive
The e-tron GT makes for a very impressive performance car, but with more of a focus on long-distance comfort than its Porsche Taycan cousin
| Model | 0-62mph | Top speed | Driven wheels | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-tron GT quattro | 4.1s | 152mph | Four | 469bhp |
| RS e-tron GT | 3.3s | 155mph | Four | 590bhp |
Explosively quick acceleration, great long-distance cruising ability and assured handling on a twisty road: the e-tron GT really ticks every box in this area, whether in standard quattro or hardcore RS form.
Audi e-tron GT 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration
The e-tron GT looks very fast on paper and feels it from behind the wheel. The standard e-tron GT can go from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, bettering most hot hatches and a few supercars, while the more powerful RS e-tron GT takes that down to a mind-warping 3.3 seconds. Still, this isn’t a patch on the 1.99 second 0-60mph time of the Tesla Model S Plaid.
Both models have fairly high top speeds for electric cars, at 152mph and 155mph respectively, but hitting those numbers on a German autobahn for any length of time will see the batteries depleted rapidly. The Audi also has the unusual feature for an electric car of two forward gears: a shorter one handles initial acceleration, while a longer one kicks in at speed. And even in that longer second gear, acceleration doesn’t seem to fall off a cliff, with instant torque delivery from standstill. One thing we will say is that while the numbers are a clear indication of how well this works, in reality the e-tron GT can feel a little sluggish to move off at times due to its rather long pedal travel.
Handling
A range of driving modes gives you multiple options to make the most of the e-tron GT's performance. These modes – called 'Efficiency', 'Comfort' and 'Dynamic' – make changes to the way the throttle, suspension and stability control react.
Comfort is the default setting when you pull away and is actually where the car is at its most impressive, balancing a comfortable ride on rough roads with still-responsive handling, precise steering and an almost complete lack of body lean in the twisty bits. You'll want to shell out for the air suspension for the greatest comfort, but even on standard springs this is a smooth car – perhaps just not quite as so as, say, a BMW i5.
Four-wheel steering both ups the agility when driving at speed and makes the five-metre-long e-tron GT much easier to manage than you might expect in tight car parks or driveways. Dynamic mode doesn't make a huge difference to proceedings: the suspension is that bit firmer, but other than the heavier steering and sharpened accelerator response, there isn’t a huge difference compared with the Comfort setting.
One slight downside is that we felt the e-tron GT's regenerative braking system could be much stronger; there are only two weak regeneration levels, so true 'one-pedal' driving around town – as offered by much cheaper mainstream electric cars like the Nissan Leaf – isn't possible.