2024 Audi e-tron GT Review: Putting The Grand In Grand Tourer
The beautiful e-tron GT is Audi's first electric sedan, and it ticks all the boxes when it comes to driver enjoyment and quick charging in an upscale sedan package. But with prices ranging from $106k to $114k here in the USA, it's uncomfortably close to the comparable - and swifter - Porsche Taycan with which it shares a platform. With 'just' 523 horsepower on tap, it's slower than the 620-hp Lucid Air (which is cheaper) and the similarly priced 617-hp Mercedes-AMG EQE. The e-tron GT and Taycan are, of course, much the same car under the skin, but the Stuttgart manufacturer's brand image carries quite a bit more panache, which begs the question of why one would pick the Audi instead. This dynamic duo has never had a great cruising range either, especially compared to the Air and Tesla Model S. It seems as if the e-tron GT offers too few compelling reasons to pick it over its rivals - but that's not all there is to this. Let's find out why the mildly tweaked 2024 model changes all of that.
New for 2024
There aren't many changes to the 2024 e-tron GT range, and they're mostly feature upgrades. More advanced speed-sensitive power steering is now fitted to all trims, while the Prestige trim's headlights are upgraded to HD matrix-LED headlights with Audi Laser light. Interior lighting is improved as well, with LED ambient interior lighting and illuminated door sills now included on both trims. The Prestige's cloth headliner is replaced with a Dinamica microfiber item. All the infotainment system's previously optional subscription-based connectivity services are standard from this year. These updates mean that the base price of a new Audi e-tron GT Premium Plus increases a bit.
2024 Audi e-tron GT Price: Which One to Buy
The price of the 2024 Audi e-tron GT Premium Plus is $106,500, and the Prestige will cost you only $8k more, with an MSRP of $114,500. These prices exclude the $1,495 destination fee and any options.
At over $100k, the $8k price difference between the two trims seems unimportant, so we'd rather just go for the top-spec Prestige. You get good value for your additional outlay because it gains not only Audi's brilliant Laser light headlights but also heated rear seats and a bunch of additional driver assists that should really have been standard on the Premium Plus, including automated parking, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera.
e-tron GT quattro Premium Plus | e-tron GT quattro Prestige |
---|---|
Base Trim | Most Features |
$ 106500 | $ 106500 |
Dual electric motors (up to 523 hp/472 lb-ft), AWD | Based on the e-tron GT Premium Plus trim, plus: |
20” alloys, LED headlights, panoramic glass roof | HD matrix-LED headlights with Audi Laser light |
Leatherette upholstery, heated power front seats | Heated rear seats |
10.9” touchscreen, navigation, 16-speaker audio | Adaptive cruise control |
Emergency braking, lane-departure alert, all-round parking sensors | Surround-view camera w/ automated parking |
Head-up display |
Best Deals on 2024 Audi e-tron GT
Interior and Features
The pleasingly premium cabin is finished to the highest standard, with a center console rising up to meet the dashboard, but rearward sightlines are poor.
Inside, the e-tron is clearly a modern Audi, with digital displays for the gauge cluster and infotainment. The controls are generally easy to use, and there are some hard buttons left for features you often use. You'd expect premium materials at $100k-plus, and that's what you get, with the stylish dashboard finished in solidly constructed and appropriately padded surfaces, these extending to the rest of the cabin. With a sports car-like ground clearance, you step down into the road-skimming sedan, and you have to watch your head to clear the gracefully receding roofline, especially in the rear. The seats are extremely comfortable, but interior space is only reasonable, with a somewhat confined second row. The view out the back through the letterbox slot of a rear window is terrible, so you'll find yourself relying on the backup camera and standard parking sensors, as only the Prestige Plus gets a surround-view camera.
Space
Despite what the dimensions may suggest on paper, there is sufficient interior space for four medium-sized adults. Front space is ample, but the second row is tailored for two, and a third passenger will be an uncomfortable squeeze. Even the two outboard passengers have little room to spare, but we'll be generous and call it cozy rather than cramped. Sitting on the same platform and sharing the same design hard points, the e-tron GT's length and wheelbase of 196.4 and 114.1 inches, respectively, almost exactly match those of the Taycan, so it's the same size inside as well - and noticeably smaller than the Air or Mercedes EQE.
Cargo
Trunk space is frankly terrible and by far the worst in this class - even more so than the similar Taycan. Total trunk volume comes to only 9.2 cubic feet, and the minuscule frunk under the hood contributes only another 1.8 cu-ft. The combined 11-cube space is far less than the EQE's 15.2-cube trunk, and it's dwarfed by the Air's combined 32 cu-ft. The 40/20/40-split second row folds down nice and flat to expand luggage space, but Audi doesn't provide this volume. For transporting long slim items and passengers, the center load-through in the rear armrest comes in handy.
In the cabin, things don't improve by much, and while the glovebox is of average size, the door pockets and the storage bin in the center console (containing a phone rest/wireless charging pad) are small. The center console contains a small uncovered slot next to the gear selector, and there are two cupholders behind it. The rear-seat passengers have access to small door pockets and two cupholders in the fold-down center armrest but no front seatback pockets.
Audi e-tron GT | Lucid Air | Porsche Taycan | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 Seater | 5 Seater | 4/5 Seater |
Headroom | 39.3 in. front 37.5 in. rear | 39.5 in. front 38.3 in. rear | TBC |
Legroom | 41.9 in. front 32.2 in. rear | 45.4 in. front 37.4 in. rear | TBC |
Trunk Space | 9.2 + 1.8 ft³ | 22.1 + 9.9 ft³ | 14.3 + 2.9 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
The cabins of both trims feature mostly the same materials and interior colors. The seats are upholstered in a combination of leatherette and Dinamica microfiber faux suede in a standard Black color scheme. For $4,500, you can select perforated Nappa leather upholstery with honeycomb stitching in Black, Arras Red, Monaco Gray, or Santos Brown. In the case of Monaco Gray and Santos Brown, the lower dashboard and center door panels are also rendered in the accent color.
The leather extends to the dashboard, doors, and center console. Both trims get the same natural walnut wood inlays, but they can be replaced with matte carbon fiber for $1,000. An Alcantara-trimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel is standard on both trims, but the Premium Plus has a cloth headliner, while the Prestige gets a Dinamica item.
Features and Infotainment
Cabin highlights include three-zone climate control, upholstery in a combination of leatherette and Dinamica faux suede, heated 14-way power front seats, a power-adjustable tilting/telescoping, flat-bottomed sports steering wheel trimmed in Alcantara, and LED ambient interior lighting. Heated rear seats are optional as part of the Executive package, while full Nappa leather is an option and is accompanied by sports front seats with ventilation and massaging functions.
The cloud-connected infotainment system comes with a configurable digital gauge cluster and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with subscription-based Audi Nav and Plus that includes a six-month trial subscription that enables navigation, satellite imagery, traffic-light information, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Other infotainment features include a wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D surround-sound audio system with 16 speakers.
e-tron GT quattro Premium Plus | e-tron GT quattro Prestige | |
---|---|---|
Heated 14-way power front seats | S | S |
Ventilated/massaging sports front seats | O | O |
Panoramic glass roof | S | S |
10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation & Wi-Fi | S | S |
16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system | S | S |
Performance
The powertrain is punchy and effortless, but it’s only moderately competitive in terms of overall performance and efficiency.
With 523 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque from dual electric motors, the Audi e-tron GT is quick, and with a motor at each axle, the drivetrain is naturally all-wheel drive, giving strong sprinting performance and launch traction. This is down in no small part to a two-speed automatic transmission on the rear axle that optimizes the launch and provides a taller ratio for better efficiency at higher speeds. The front motor uses a traditional single-speed transmission. The full outputs are available temporarily in Boost mode, and give the Audi e-tron GT a 0-60 time of just 3.9 seconds, but the regular maximum outputs in normal driving are 496 hp and 464 lb-ft. In comparison to the Taycan 4S with similar specs, it's only a tenth of a second behind the Porsche's time. The Audi's top speed is limited to 152 mph.
The driving experience belies the hefty curb weight, and a launch-control start sees the e-tron GT bolt away from rest. The rear motor shifts into its second gear at around 45 mph, renewing the e-tron GT's vigor and punting it toward the horizon with a barely diminishing enthusiasm. Tire noise intrudes somewhat at higher speeds, especially on the optional 21s. Tackle a corner, and the Taycan genes shine through; it's not quite as rabid as the Porker, but the e-tron GT provides an unexpected amount of information about the front wheels' whereabouts through the steering wheel. It blasts through curves flatly and neutrally, letting go progressively in a delightful four-wheel drift on foot-flat corner exit, with understeer hardly ever intruding unless you're clumsy with your inputs. Yet, the adaptive air suspension maintains a supple ride even on broken tar, but the brakes' response is a little soft compared to the Porsche's, though they do a remarkable job of slowing the heavy car.
Battery, Charging, and Range
The Audi e-tron GT's MPGe figures aren't particularly good, with EPA estimates of 85 MPGe for each of the city, highway, and combined cycles. To be fair, the Taycan 4S and AMG EQE are even worse, with combined figures of 82 and 73 MPGe, respectively, but none of them can come even close to the AWD Lucid Air Touring's 121 MPGe. The e-tron GT's 93.4-kWh battery has a usable capacity of 83.7 kWh and should enable it to achieve a range of around 249 miles on a full charge. This also beats the Porsche and Mercedes, but is a long way behind the Air's 384 miles.
In its favor, the e-tron GT is capable of 270-kW fast charging, which means it should be possible to charge the battery from 5% to 80% in 22 and a half minutes at a public DC fast charger. Most of the time, you'll charge it at home, in which case it will take around 10 and a half hours to fully charge the battery at the maximum 9.6-kW charging rate on a 240-V outlet.
Dual-Motor Electric 2-Speed Automatic AWD | |
---|---|
Power | 496/523 hp |
Top speed | 152 mph |
MPGe | 85/85/85 MPGe |
0-60 | 3.9 sec. |
Battery Range | 249 miles |
Charge Time | 10.5 Hrs Charge Time @ 220/240V 5%-80% in 22 min 30 sec on DC Fast Charger |
Safety
The standard driver assists are skimpy on the base trim, considering its price, and the only way to get the full suite is to upgrade to the Prestige. There are no crash test results from the IIHS and NHTSA.
There is no safety review of the Audi e-tron GT from either of the authorities, and the structurally similar Taycan has not been crash-tested locally either. There shouldn't be any reason for concern, though, and the e-tron GT's modern crash structure and safety features should make it very safe in an accident.
The base Premium Plus trim is not overendowed with driver assists. As standard, you get regular cruise control, Audi pre sense front collision preparation with alert and emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and front and rear parking sensors. The Prestige trim adds adaptive cruise control with lane guidance, but this is optional on the Premium via the Executive package. The Prestige also gains a surround-view camera, a head-up display, and fully automated, remotely controllable parking.
e-tron GT quattro Premium Plus | e-tron GT quattro Prestige | |
---|---|---|
Front-collision alert with automatic braking | S | S |
Automated & remote-controllable parking | N/A | S |
Lane-departure alert | S | S |
Adaptive cruise control w/ lane guidance | O | S |
Head-up display & surround-view camera | N/A | S |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Reliability
JD Power rates the 2024 Audi e-tron GT's reliability as average, giving it an overall score of 75 out of 100 and a score of 74 for Quality & Reliability. For both the 2023 and 2024 model years, one recall for a power outlet that may allow the charging cable to overheat has been recorded. This is a vast improvement on the e-tron GT's 2022 launch year when it was recalled seven times.
The 2024 Audi e-tron GT's decent warranty should also provide additional peace of mind. The limited warranty runs for a period of four years or 50,000 miles, while the powertrain warranty is valid for exactly double that - eight years/100,000 miles.
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 12 Years / Unlimited Miles | 4 Years / Unlimited Miles |
Design
The e-tron GT's stunning styling may be its best feature, and it's arguably prettier than the related Taycan. Sensuous curves rise and fall along its flanks, and the pronounced rear haunches make it seem ready to pounce, terminating in a gently sloping tail with a full-width LED light bar. The Premium Plus' exterior features include matrix-design adaptive LED headlights, LED taillights with dynamic indicators, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a panoramic glass roof. The Prestige adds HD LED headlights with Audi Laser Light, taillight animations, and dual-pane acoustic front side glass. Larger wheels up to 21 inches in size are available, but they increase road noise.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Audi e-tron GT A Good Car?
On looks and driving dynamics alone, the e-tron GT is a star achiever and one of the very best EVs on sale today. However, in this segment, it's about more than just that, and the Audi falls short in driving range and space utilization, with an especially disappointing trunk. Add to this the steep price tag, and we can see why people would be more inclined to accept these compromises with the prestige of a Porsche badge on the hood to make up for them, especially with the Taycan 4S priced so closely to the Audi. And then we're not even talking about roomier and quicker rivals like the Lucid Air. In the end, however, the e-tron GT is a car we'd be happy to own, with its shortcomings not substantial enough to deter us from buying it.