This Porsche Taycan sibling has a distinct personality.
Pros
- Capability to charge extremely quickly
- Taycan, the sleeper
- Fast!
Cons
- Understeer does not have to be a brand characteristic.
- Less efficient than the majority of competitors
- Taycan is drowsier.
Oh, to be young again! Established manufacturers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz are probably envious of the Rivians and Lucids of the world—oh, what can be done if starting from scratch. However, with historic traditions to uphold, you get the impression that certain businesses are treading carefully into the electric era. The 2022 Audi E-Tron GT is a prime example.
The new E-Tron GT is Audi's first electric sedan, built on Porsche's J1 platform, which also supports the Porsche Taycan, a finalist for 2021 Car of the Year and a participant in this year's programme. Whereas the Taycan has a plethora of body types, powertrains, battery packs, and other options, the E-Tron GT sticks to Audi's standard formula: three trims, two powertrains, and one battery. This year's E-Tron GT competition has both an E-Tron GT and an RS E-Tron GT.The former has a front and rear motor combination that produces 522 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque, while the later has the same arrangement but produces 637 ponies and 612 lb-ft of torque. The E-Tron GT, like the Taycan, has a two-speed automatic transmission for its rear motors. Objectively, the E-Trons are among the least efficient EVs on the market, with only 82 mpg-e combined and 238 miles of range in the most efficient configuration—though it's worth noting that E-Trons are capable of DC fast charging at peak speeds of 270 kW, making them among the fastest-charging electric cars in the world.
They're also really fast. "This thing takes off like a rocket. It's so fast and nasty "Erik Johnson, digital director, remarked of the RS E-Tron GT, the quickest challenger in this year's race to 60 mph. The formalised paraphrase "The "basic" version was scarcely slower, causing buyer's guide director Zach Gale to wonder, "When did 522 hp become insufficient?" I've got some Tesla Plaid-sized news for you if you're looking for some bragging rights."
Although it is undeniably fast in a straight line, the E-Tron GT's handling performance left us wanting. Unlike the well-balanced Porsche on which it is based, the E-Tron GT felt, well, like an Audi when driven aggressively. The E-Tron GT exhibits nose-heavy understeer, similar to Audi's gas-powered sports vehicles. We're not sure why Audi felt understeer was a brand trait that needed to be baked into its new electric grand tourer. The E-Tron GT's brakes also disappointed us; there isn't enough off-throttle regen, and the pedal feels mushy.
Our improvement in design and value criteria pushed the E-Tron GT's credentials as a Car of the Year finalist even further. On the former front, we mainly liked the Audi's style, which resembles a sleeker A7, although we questioned its garish blacked-out grille and the fussiness of its interior design and infotainment arrangement. In terms of value, it's difficult to justify when the identical Taycan is similarly priced and much more appealing to look at and drive. We anxiously await Audi's next generation of forward-thinking electrics, but for the time being, the E-Tron GT is too far in the past to progress to our final round.
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