2022 Audi RS e-tron GT First Drive Review: Everything You Expect from a Premium Electric Sedan

2022 Audi RS e-tron GT Pros

• The Audi RS e-tron GT is quick, really quick
• It looks stunning and turns heads everywhere
• The interior is very high quality
• The comfort level is impressive, and so is the handling

2022 Audi RS e-tron GT Cons

• The interior is as high tech as the Porsche Taycan or Model S
• Cramped back seat

The 2022 Audi RS e-tron GT is the quickest Audi you can buy, it’s 100% electric and it delivers everything one expects from a premium EV.

That means it accelerates ferociously and instantly, it gets noticed and turns heads everywhere, and it feels special the second you get behind the wheel. It’s not perfect, but it can hold its own against its brother the Porsche Taycan and the pioneer in its segment, the Tesla Model S.

The Audi RS e-tron GT is closely related to the Porsche Taycan Turbo. The entry-level e-tron GT is aligned with the Taycan 4S. Audi doesn’t plan to offer a direct competitor to the Taycan Turbo S which means that for the foreseeable future, the RS e-tron GT is the top-of-the-line Audi electric vehicle you can buy, and one of the most exclusive Audis on the market this side of an R8.

The 2022 e-tron GT starts at $129,900 in Canada and $102,400 in the US. The price climbs to $179,900 in Canada and $142,400 in the US for the RS trim. That means you have to pay between $40,000 and $50,000 to access 590 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque while the base model gets you 496 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque.

There is an overboost function activated through launch control that will push the RS’ top horsepower to 637 horsepower (same torque), or 522 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque in the entry-level model.

The power is split between two motors located front and back. The front motor gets 235 ponies in the RS while the rear engine gets 435 hp. A single-speed gearbox works the front while a two-speed transmission works the back motor. As both motors function together, the e-tron GT benefits from an electric Quattro all-wheel drive system.

Much has been said about how quickly electric vehicles accelerate, especially these kinds of electric vehicles. Activating launch control is a breeze in the Audi e-tron GT. Simply choose the Dynamic driving mode, the sportiest of them all, hit the brake, floor the accelerator, lift off the brake and prepare for a truly unique experience.

The push forward is immediate and because there is no engine noise to distract you, all your senses focus on how quickly you are suddenly plunging ahead. You feel your organs and the skin on your face move back, and you can’t help but grin as you try to remember feeling anything like that in any other car. There are a lot of fast cars out there, but traditional combustion engines, even those with 600 or 700 horsepower, have a more linear way of delivering their power, one that we have become accustomed to.

An EV like the 2022 Audi RS e-tron GT take off instantly, courtesy of their immediate and ample torque. The second your foot lifts off the brake, you are rocketed off. Buyers looking into this segment of electric vehicles will be looking for that feeling, and they will find it in the RS e-tron GT.

Now, it’s not as quick as the Porsche Taycan Turbo S nor can it match the Tesla Model S Plaid. But when you are playing in that limited field of 3.0-second electric vehicles, the performance they deliver is always breathtaking and honestly, it’s hard to notice the difference between a 3.3-second 0-100 km/h (62 mph) run in an RS e-tron GT and a 2.8-second run in a Taycan Turbo S.

What you do notice, however, is the difference with, say, a Porsche Taycan 4S which I drove a week prior to my time in the Audi. The RS takes that extra step in the performance game, and what it delivers is worth every penny if you are into that sort of thing.

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The Range is Fine

 Much has been said about the Porsche Taycan’s range numbers, and because the Audi e-tron GT shares the same architecture, it too is said to offer 373 kilometres of range, or 232 miles from its 93.7 kWh battery.

Those numbers are very conservative. Our RS e-tron GT showed over 400 kilometres (248 miles) every time we started it up after a full charge, and the range hovered around that mark even after 10-15 minutes on the road. I’d wager the e-tron GT, if driven normally in ECO mode, could get to 450 kilometres of range (280 miles). The range calculator adapts to the driving mode chosen, dropping by about 5% when Dynamic mode is engaged, and also reflects the type of driving you are doing. In other words, you can take the range figure you see to the bank.

Thanks to the advanced 800-volt architecture, you can charge it on a DC fast charger and go from 20% to 80% in about 22 minutes. Overnight on my Level 2 charger, I got a full charge in about 8.5 hours when I plugged it in at 15%.

A Daily Performance EV, But Not a Family EV

The 2022 Audi RS e-tron GT has the performance part down. However, like the Taycan, it’s not great on versatility, specifically family-friendliness. It may be a sedan with four doors, the back seats are cramped, and the rear window is a cute addition that begs for a backup camera. In that regard, the Tesla Model S does a better job at welcoming passengers in the back, and it has more cargo space.

Up front, Audi opted for a design that blends a centre screen, a digital instrument cluster, and physical buttons for many of the functions we use most frequently. From a pure usability standpoint, having real buttons as opposed to screens is welcomed, and the e-tron GT has by far the easiest infotainment and user interface of any premium EV.

On the other hand, one could argue that much more affordable high-end Audi models like the A6 or A7 have a more modern interior design layout with their dual centre screens. Moreover, the wow factor experienced when looking at the Taycan interior or the Model S’ large centre screen is lost in the Audi. You must ask yourself if you prefer ease of use or impressing your neighbors when they sit inside your new EV. This segment doesn’t offer a car that can do both as of yet.

Up front, however, the comfort is a touch better than the Taycan, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you why exactly. The only drawback to daily driving the RS e-tron GT is the tire noise which is likely less intrusive in the base model. There’s enough head room upfront even if you are over six feet tall and the quality of the interior is typical Audi, meaning that it is hard to criticize. Handling is on par with the Porsche, and better than the Model S as is the build quality and overall feeling of luxury and quality.

 Conclusion

The 2022 Audi RS e-tron GT does justice to the stunning e-tron GT concept unveiled in Geneva in 2019. It looks like a car from the future, it gets noticed like a Ferrari would, and it is an absolute blast to drive in any setting, from the highway to the city to a winding mountain road. The performance is spectacular as well. It may not be a family car and its interior may be polarizing, but the seats up front are plenty spacious and the features are easy to use.

If you are looking for a premium EV sedan, you have certain expectations in mind. The Audi RS e-tron GT will meet most of them and then some.