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2024 Audi E-tron GT: Premium-class electric sedan acts more like sports car

Platform sharing when it comes to electric vehicles is quite common. One of the best examples is General Motors, which has developed its Ultium battery platform for numerous vehicles.

In the case of the all-wheel-drive luxury Audi E-tron GT that first arrived for the 2022 model year, it shares a platform with the Porsche Taycan. Both brands are part of the Volkswagen Group.

As you might expect, the E-tron GT is about the same size as the Taycan and both have the same distance between the front and rear wheels.

With similar proportions, the differences largely come down to styling and which brand you prefer, and a case could be made that the E-tron is more attractive. From the body-color nose with its aggressive-looking side air intakes, to the seductive sweep of the rear deck and the neatly creased fenders and lower door panels, the E-tron GT stands apart from most other sedans on the road, even the Taycan. The E-tron GT also makes the Tesla Model S appear downright frumpy by comparison.

Once aboard — not a simple task for front-seat riders owing to the

E-tron’s low roofline and invasive (wide) door pillars — you’re greeted by a premium-look dashboard. It has a configurable 12-3-inch driver’s digital instrument display located behind the flat-bottom steering wheel, and beside it there’s a straightforward 10.1-inch touch screen. The wide floor console houses the direction-control sliding switch plus a touch-sensitive volume control button for the audio system.

The rear seat is easier to enter and exit but adult-sized passengers will have to scrunch down due to the low roof and ride height. The trunk is on the small side but there is a pass-through in the seatback that folds flat when necessary. There’s also a small storage space beneath the hood that’s ideal for the E-tron GT’S charging cable and perhaps an overnight bag.

So the E-tron GT can be a challenge to get into, but all is forgiven once you’re nestled behind the wheel. The base model has front and rear electric motors that produce a maximum 522 horsepower and

472 pound-feet of torque. In the RS e-tron GT test vehicle, those numbers increase to 637 horsepower and 612 pound-feet. Both maximums come by way of a driver-activated Boost mode.

Both models get two-speed automatic transmissions, which is unusual

for an EV. The first gear makes for extra-quick acceleration before kicking into second gear to lower electric consumption.

Maximum range for the base model is officially rated at 238 miles, decreasing slightly to 232 for the RS. Those modest values will certainly take a hit under aggressive acceleration, which is what these E-trons are designed to do.

According to Audi, the base zeroto-60-mph time is 3.9 seconds and the RS is rated at 3.1. Both times are

with Boost mode and launch control activated. Put your left foot on the brake, floor the accelerator and then release the brake. And hang on. Audi advises you to make certain your head is positioned firmly against the headrest to avoid undue (and possibly painful) neck strain.

For both models, the mpg equivalency is rated at 85 in combined city/ highway driving.

Recharging to 80 percent from 5 percent will take about 22 minutes when hooked to a 480-volt DC fast charger. With a 240-volt home station (which is also what you’ll find at malls and hotels), expect a full charge overnight.

Beyond the rapid pace and precision handling and steering — aided by the available rear-wheel-steering setup — the E-tron really feels like a sports car; if a 5,200-pound sedan can be called that. Even better is its ability to tackle uneven road surfaces without undue harshness, thanks to the adjustable air suspension system. Make no mistake, this is an incredible driving machine with impeccable road manners.

The E-tron GT starts at $108,000, with destination charges, while the RS is $148,600. Both versions come loaded up with a range of comfort and driver-assist technologies, but the RS can be fitted with carbon-fiber trim, carbon-ceramic disc brakes, leather interior and 21-inch wheels (20-inch wheels are standard). A panoramic fixed-glass roof is a no-charge option.

Anyway you slice it, the E-tron GT is an expensive acquisition that has several clear flaws that have nothing to do with the vehicle being electric, but if the ultimate in Audi performance is on your wish list, this is the one to get.

Thanks for the assist, Porsche.

Audi The Audi E-tron GT has front and rear electric motors and a claimed best range of 238 miles. That will definitely be lower if you take advantage of the car’s ample thrust that propels it to 60 mph from rest in as little as 3.1 seconds.

The premium-look dashboard has a configurable 12-3-inch driver’s digital instrument display located behind the flat-bottom steering wheel, and beside it there’s a straightforward 10.1-inch touch-screen.