Audi RS e-tron GT Review 2024

The Audi e-tron GT is the firm’s answer for those who want driving enjoyment from an electric vehicle. It also ticks the ‘grand tourer’ box by being relatively practical. And for those demanding even more excitement, there’s the RS e-tron GT. It boasts up to 598PS and a 0-62mph time of just 3.3 seconds, plus that shove-you-back-in-your-seat feeling of electric performance.

As our Audi RS e-tron GT review will explain, it is essentially a Porsche Taycan in a different suit, but don’t think it’s anything inferior to its Stuttgart stablemate. Where the Porsche is all curves and athleticism, the Audi looks more brash, with bold lines and plenty of presence.

It’s a stark contrast with some of Audi’s blander electric models, both in looks and in the way it drives. That’s even more the case with the mighty RS version, which takes on some of the fastest electric cars around.

For years, Audi RS models have been sporty, luxurious and often a bit loud; in fact most of them still are. So the question is whether an electric model is deserving of the RS badge.

If you believe an RS needs to make lots of noise, then you probably don’t think it is. But the German engineers have focused on performance and the Audi RS e-tron GT delivers on that and more.

Sitting on the same platform as the Porsche Taycan and using the same 800V architecture and 93.4kWh battery (83.7kWh of which is usable), the figures for the Audi RS e-tron GT are impressive.

We’re talking 598PS, 830Nm of torque and a sprint to 62mph in 3.6 seconds. Hit the boost button and you can shave a further three-tenths off, down to just 3.3 seconds.

Even with these numbers, the Audi RS e-tron GT can achieve up to 293 miles on a full charge and, if you can find a charger to give it the maximum 270kW input, it will refill from 5-80% in just over 22 minutes.

This is proper sports car territory, but this isn’t a sports car. Rather, it’s a five-door fastback saloon with lots of space up front and decent room for those sitting in the back.

It’ll gently potter into town, straight past any low-emission zone cameras, and once there it’s got enough sensors to make parking a breeze. Drive it sensibly and you’ll keep going past lesser EVs while their owners are sipping on a Costa at the charge point.

Admittedly, all this ability comes at a price, with Audi RS e-tron GT models starting at £118,285. However, you won’t pay far off that today for a Tesla Model S today – and that’s only available in left-hand drive now.

Even so, we can’t deny six figures is a lot of money, and if it’s driving thrills you are after, you can also find those in much cheaper Audi RS models. Still, none of them delivers zero-emission thrills or the adrenaline rush of near-silent electric acceleration.

You’d assume that the Audi RS e-tron GT’s biggest rival is the Porsche Taycan, but we would give that accolade to the BMW i4 M50.

This Gran Coupe model has a driving range of 318 miles, will sprint to 62mph in 3.9 seconds and scores even higher when it comes to practicality. The BMW doesn’t have the head-turning looks, but it definitely has the personality to match the Audi.

The ride quality of the Audi RS e-tron GT is surprisingly good, especially for an EV, many of which can feel a bit firm thanks to the weight of their batteries.

Audi has dealt with that by including adaptive air-suspension, which ensures a comfortable ride around town and on back roads, easily coping with bumps and potholes. The steering is well set-up and adjusts its response depending on your choices from the Audi Drive Select driving modes.

Where the Audi RS e-tron GT really excels, though, is when you drive it like a sports car. What it lacks in sound, it makes up for in driving dynamics, with instant torque directed through the quattro all-wheel-drive system and the rear differential lock.

Together with the rear-axle steering, it feels sharp in corners, responding to every request while showing minimal body lean as you press on.

It’s not quite as agile as the Porsche Taycan (after all, Audi isn’t going to show up its sportier partner), but the handling and ride quality really do define it as a GT car for a new era.

The Audi RS e-tron GT shares the same 800V electrical architecture and platform as the Porsche Taycan, which means an 83.7kWh usable battery, charging capacity up to 270kW and a driving range of up to 293 miles.

Total power is 598PS, with torque of 830Nm from two electric motors, one at the front and another at the rear. But unlike conventional performance cars, there is no lag.

All that power is instantly available whether you want it for a quick overtake on the road or to blast away from the apex of a corner on a track.

The thrust feels relentless, but at the same time is easy to use in moderation, the car happy to sit in urban traffic or on cruise control on the motorway, all the time silent and with zero emissions.

Paddles on the steering wheel adjust the two levels of brake regeneration, allowing you to top up the batteries while braking and increase your driving range. Audi Drive Select offers a range of driving modes, with Efficiency switching off the rear motor to provide just front-wheel drive and thus improve range.

If you’re wondering about the sound, Audi has created what it calls a ‘soundscape’ – essentially a selection of synthesised sounds that change depending on the selected driving mode. If that sounds a bit cheesy, you can turn them off.

All Audi RS e-tron GT models have lots of safety kit, including familiar items like airbags, ABS, traction control and Isofix child seat anchor points.

Then there are the electrical systems, such as lane-departure warning, front and rear collision assistance, adaptive cruise control and intersection assist to stop you pulling out at a junction accidentally when traffic is approaching.

There is also the option of a parking assistance package, which allows you to slide the car in or out of a parking bay using the MyAudi app on your smartphone. Generally, we aren’t fans, as it takes too long, but if you find the car rather wide for your garage then it could be really useful.

The Audi RS e-tron GT is not rated for towing a trailer, but you could always pick up a used Audi A6 Allroad as a second car. That will do the job perfectly.

It might be a sports saloon, but the Audi RS e-tron GT is a surprisingly practical one, perhaps even more so than the Porsche Taycan.

The front seats are low down, ensuring you feel closer to the road, while those in the back have a deeper footwell to compensate for the tapering coupe line of the roof. Getting in and out is simple enough thanks to its five-door configuration, while only the tallest of adults are going to feel really cramped in the back seats.

There’s plenty of space in the boot as well, with 405 litres on offer, plus 81 litres of additional storage under the bonnet. There’s space around the cabin as well, including the door pockets, centre console and in the back seats.

The quality and finish inside the Audi RS e-tron GT are good, from the dashboard trim to the stitching of the comfortable sports seats.

Some of the seat material was starting to wrinkle already on a model we tested, but otherwise everything reflected the high standard you’d expect of a premium Audi.

You will find yourself having to wipe down some of the surfaces regularly, though, including the piano black surrounds, carbon twill inlays and, of course, the fingerprint-covered touchscreen.

But who wouldn’t want to clean their Audi RS e-tron GT every weekend anyway?

Since the debut of the Virtual Cockpit, Audi has become something of a leader in infotainment. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster has a number of view options to display essential driving information, a full navigation map or a combination of both.

It’s really simple to use, with buttons on the steering wheel, and is fully integrated with the main infotainment system.

That features a 10.1-inch touchscreen neatly fitted into the upper section of the dashboard. Clear menus and icons are easy to use and it’s compatible with your smartphone for ease of streaming audio services and making telephone calls.

At the time of writing, prices start at £118,285 for the standard model, which has 10-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, adaptive air-suspension and all that electric technology.

If you want the Carbon Black version with five-spoke alloys, gloss black exterior trim and a red RS interior design package, you’ll be looking at £131,675. The Carbon Vorsprung has Night Vision Assist, a head-up display and the front seats get ventilation and massaging functions, all for £138,575.

The good news if you have shelled out over a hundred grand for an Audi RS e-tron GT is that your running costs could be a fraction of what it will cost to run a petrol-engined sports car.

Maintenance is far cheaper for an EV, and if you have a home charger installed then you’ll be looking at minimal cost to fill up. As always, we will caveat this by saying that if you rely on public charging only, it is going to cost you significantly more to keep the batteries topped up, so don’t skip the home charger option.

Until 2025, there’s no VED (annual road tax) to pay for zero-emission vehicles and, despite its high price tag, the Audi RS e-tron GT isn’t liable for the ‘luxury tax’ on vehicles costing more than £40,000 until 2025 either.

The standard Audi RS e-tron GT quattro gets 21-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser lights, dynamic lighting, a black styling pack, adaptive air-suspension and all-wheel steering.

Inside, there is a head-up display, the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen and electrically adjustable front sports seats. It also has a Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone integration, plus it can be connected to the MyAudi app to remotely charge the car or set the climate control.

Audi RS e-tron GT Carbon Black versions get black five-spoke alloys, a Gloss Carbon Styling Package with black badging, red brake callipers and a carbon roof. Inside is an RS Design Pack with Alcantara, red seat belts and red stitching. The headlining is black Dinamica microfibre and there are carbon twill trim inlays in the doors and centre console.

Topping the range is the Audi RS e-tron GT Carbon Vorsprung model, with ventilated, heated and massaging front seats, as well as heated back seats. It has Night Vision Assist, Adaptive Cruise Assist (which manages your cruise control in relation to the car in front of you) and the full Parking Assist Pack with remote parking.