The Audi RS e-Tron GT is the first Audi four-door electric sedan that shares most of its parts with the Porsche Taycan. Both of these are luxury EVs and are some of the most desirable EVs on the market. They are expensive, fast, powerful, and stylish, and everyone wants them. So, is Audi e-Tron GT a good car?
The Audi RS e-Tron GT certainly is a really good car because it combines everything into one package. It comes with a really strong powertrain that enables the e-Tron GT to accelerate faster than any other serial production Audi. It looks great inside and out and is also a relatively practical car.
On the other hand, a really good car is not something you can get for an affordable price and that is why this car costs as much as it does. It competes with the Porsche Taycan, the Mercedes EQS, the Lucid Air, and the Tesla Model S which are all the most desirable electric sedans money can buy these days.
If you are interested in buying one, but you never had any experience owning an electric car, you need to be ready to adjust yourself to all of the intricacies that come with owning an electric car. If you do that, the RS e-Tron GT is going to be a great buy.
Audi RS e-Tron GT – The powertrain
The RS e-Tron GT comes with a dual electric motor setup, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle. These two combined offer 600hp and 612lb-ft of torque. However, the RS e-Tron GT also comes with an over-boost mode which enables you to take advantage of 640hp for a few seconds and thus the e-Tron GT can reach 60mph from a standstill in around 3 seconds.
This makes the e-Tron GT the fastest accelerating Audi model ever. This powertrain is mated to a 2-speed gearbox which aims to increase the car’s acceleration while also keeping the temperatures in check. The e-Tron comes with an 800-volt electrical structure which benefits charging times and heat management.
The battery capacity is set at 93.4kWh and can be charged through a regular slow charger in about 9 and a half hours. The RS e-Tron GT can be charged through a DC fast charger in a little over 15 minutes using a powerful 270 kW charger if you can find one.
It is also a permanently all-wheel-drive Quattro car thanks to its dual motor configuration. The e-Tron RS GT powertrain is certainly exciting and easily justified thanks to its asking price.
Audi RS e-Tron GT – Design and chassis
The RS e-Tron GT is one of the best-looking electric sedans on the current market and hardly anyone can dispute that. It is a sleek sports sedan with a sloping roofline, amazing Matrix LED laser light technology, and the recognizable Audi grille. The interior of the RS e-Tron GT is equally as exciting thanks to high-end screens and loads of luxury features.
The chassis and suspension tuning of the RS e-Tron GT is tuned towards dynamic driving. The RS e-Tron GT is not the lightest car on the market, but thanks to a low center of gravity, it takes corners better than anyone would expect. Some even say that the RS e-Tron GT is more fun to drive than the Taycan Turbo S.
Audi RS e-Tron GT – Reliability and common issues
Electric cars are inherently more reliable than traditional combustion engine cars which means that the e-Tron GT should be better than most of its in-house competitors such as the Audi RS7 Sportback. The e-Tron GT is more reliable than the RS7, but it isn’t the most reliable EV on the market.
The most common RS e-Tron GT issues are associated with the infotainment system, the equipment, loss of power, charging issues, and issues with the build quality. Build quality issues don’t mean that the e-Tron GT lacks quality, but rather that it should be even better considering its price tag.
Audi RS e-Tron GT – Value and practicality
The Audi RS e-Tron GT starts at $140,000 without any options and high spec models can easily cost $200,000. This is an insanely high price, but the RS e-Tron GT still manages to sell really well. This is because there aren’t too many cars like the e-Tron GT and those that are, aren’t necessarily able to compete with it in all areas.
Practicality-wise, the e-Tron GT is able to sit up to four individuals but the ones on the second row of seats are likely to struggle for headspace if they are really tall. Trunk space is more than good because the e-Tron gets both a front trunk and a rear trunk. Visibility is far from being great because the rear windshield is simply too small.
FAQ Section
Is the Audi RS e-Tron GT worth the money?
The Audi RS e-Tron GT is definitely worth its asking price because it is the most advanced, fastest, and best-looking Audi RS car yet. If you are a fan of the Audi RS division and you love the Audi RS6/RS7, the RS e-Tron GT is the natural spiritual EV successor to those cars. All in all, the e-Tron GT is exciting and that can not be said about all EVs.
You may miss the sound of a combustion engine with the e-Tron GT, but the outright speed and handling of the RS e-Tron GT are likely going to make up for it. The e-Tron GT can drift, it can do long journeys, and it can do everything.
Is the Audi RS e-Tron GT better than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S?
These two mechanical siblings are head-on competitors, but they differ quite a bit, even though they are more or less the same underneath. For starters, the Taycan Turbo S offers 680hp from the get-go, but you can take advantage of 750hp if you engage the over-boost function which means that 0-60mph should happen in about 2.5 seconds.
The RS e-Tron GT is not as fast as the Turbo S, but some say that it handles better. Therefore, the Taycan is certainly the more exciting car of the two, but the differences are not night and day.
Is the Audi RS e-Tron GT better than the Tesla Model S Plaid?
The Tesla Model S Plaid costs a bit less than the e-Tron GT yet it offers more than 1000hp which enables this rapid EV sedan to go from 0-60mph in about 2.2 seconds. These numbers are ludicrous considering the Model S is a four-door family sedan.
It is also better when it comes to convenience as you can take advantage of the Tesla supercharger network. However, the e-Tron is a higher quality product, is more comfortable, and more luxurious.