What does gran turismo mean to you? If you mention the racing game series, we don’t blame you because that popularized the driving simulator genre and made car nerds out of so many people, your humble author included. In any case, the term gran turismo is Italian for grand tourer, a type of performance car designed for long-distance travel. Think of vehicles like the Ferrari 250 GT, the Aston Martin DB5, and the Lexus LC. Not all are two-door vehicles though because, in the modern age, the four-door configuration has become more common. Examples include the Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door Coupe, Kia Stinger GT, and our subject of the week, the 2022 Audi e-tron GT.
Unlike most sporting models, a grand tourer or gran turismo must check many boxes. This vehicle must effortlessly whisk you to your next destination in comfort and be up for a good time if you decide to take a detour through some winding roads. The 2022 Audi e-tron GT aims to give you nearly everything in an all-electric package. Best of all, this sexy new entrant makes transitioning to electrified mobility seamless because it’s not as complex as its high-tech aura might suggest.
2022 Audi e-tron GT exterior: Timelessly futuristic
In its transition from a show car to a full production model, the Audi e-tron GT retains its concept-like looks. The most noticeable change is the addition of traditional door handles. From the coupe-like roofline to the short rear deck lid and cab-rearward look, this sedan looks like it came from the future. Best of all, it manages to capture Audi’s tasteful yet timeless aesthetic. Highlighting the car’s technological prowess are its matrix LED exterior lights that throw on a cool show as they come alive sequentially.
2022 Audi e-tron GT interior: Elegant and restrained
The interior continues the theme of futuristic minimalism with clean horizontal lines that create a modern, restrained look. A center stack angled toward the driver adds to the e-tron GT’s sporting ambience especially when you combine it with the supremely comfortable front sport seats that hold you in place well and offer plenty of adjustments. In typical Audi form, fit and finish are simply world-class. Everything you touch feels expensive and controls operate with satisfying tactility. The attention to detail and care put into how everything is assembled reflects the staggering level of precision and consistency seen throughout the vehicle.
Battery-electric vehicles are already extremely quiet but the e-tron GT takes this to another level just to show you that it’s a proper grand tourer. The high levels of sound insulation keep the cabin hushed even at highway speeds, resulting in a serene environment. This gives you just the right amount of isolation from the rest of the world, enabling occupants to relax and enjoy the drive.
Quibbles you ask? There’s not enough storage in the cabin. The center console bin is too small even for smartphones and the cubbies are only good for keys. Additionally, the rear seats are tight due to the low roofline and the sizable center tunnel. Keep it to two back there if you’re planning to drive long distances. The trunk is shallow considering the e-tron GT’s size. Thankfully, it has a deep frunk and the rear seats split and fold down.
2022 Audi e-tron GT tech features: Advanced without complexity
Audi should be applauded for making modern technology easy to comprehend. The latest version of its MMI interface is the perfect example of this since it’s a conventional layout instead of an over-the-top configuration inundating you with multiple displays. There’s a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.1-inch main touch screen complemented by physical buttons. Haptic feedback controls are limited only to the lights and the volume touch scroller that also doubles as a directional pad for audio controls. The result is one of the most user-friendly interfaces available, especially when you consider its logical menu layout and minimal submenus. Rounding out the exceptional multimedia experience is the available Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system, which is among the best thanks to its clarity, immersiveness, and customizability.
The e-tron GT’s driver assistance technologies revolve around the driver and don’t feel like they’re trying to take over. Lane centering, for instance, doesn’t have too much resistance, allowing you to easily make emergency steering inputs when needed. It will also help you take gentle turns on the highway and subtly correct your trajectory via steering inputs when you start to drift. Adaptive cruise control works proactively and will help the driver maintain the set distance by monitoring traffic flow. If someone cuts you off, the system will apply the brakes to prevent an accident or increase the following distance.
2022 Audi e-tron GT driving impressions: Gran turismo in every sense
It’s no secret that the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan are related since they use Volkswagen Group’s J1 platform. Their road manners, though, couldn’t be more different. The Taycan is the electric sports car Porsche set out to make. Audi, on the other hand, created a grand tourer as the vehicle’s name suggests.
There are no false advertisements here; this is the battery-electric vehicle that will whisk you quickly to your next destination and will happily oblige when if want to have a good time along the way. The e-tron GT offers exceptional handling, slicing through corners with ease. Body roll is nonexistent, adding to the car’s solidity and stability. While the steering offers good levels of weighting and accuracy, it lacks sharpness, adding to its on-road focused vibe. Although it checks all the boxes when it comes to the numbers game, this car is about providing you with a driving experience that makes you appreciate the balance it possesses.
The e-tron GT’s grand touring nature continues to shine when you’re cruising at a relaxed pace. Complementing its impressive agility is a ride that’s properly luxurious and plush. Regardless of what mode the suspension is in, road imperfections disappear; you barely feel potholes, ruts, expansion joints, and bumps that you’re going over because it handily soaks them up. This also highlights the e-tron GT’s on-road prowess because it doesn’t sacrifice comfort for the sake of performance. Yes, at the limit but it’s even better on your favorite canyon road and the open highway, which is where it’ll spend most of its life.
Power is a crucial aspect for cars like the e-tron GT and there’s no shortage of it here. You have two electric motors producing 469 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque combined. Activate Boost Mode and the output briefly jumps to 522 hp and 472 lb-ft. Either way, the car possesses potent straight-line performance that will get you to triple-digit speeds in no time. This adds to the e-tron GT’s effortless character because of how easy it is to get going with its instant power delivery. It’ll push you back hard into your seat when you put your foot down and you’re in the sportiest setting. Do the same thing in Comfort or Efficiency modes and the e-tron GT will elegantly glide away progressively giving you power but still gain speed at a rapid pace, highlighting its dual-natured character.
Unlike the majority of BEVs on sale today, the e-tron GT doesn’t have one-pedal driving capability. That means you need to use the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete stop even if you choose maximum regeneration. This results in a driving experience that’s similar to a conventional internal combustion vehicle, cutting the learning curve while retaining the powertrain’s strong energy recuperation properties. Best of all, the pedal operates smoothly and in a linear fashion, enabling you to consistently stop smoothly.
If you’re looking to take the e-tron GT for a long drive, you’ll be able to travel 238 miles per charge according to the EPA. Like its platform-mate, the Porsche Taycan, the Audi also uses an 800-volt charging architecture, enabling it to DC charge at peak rates of 270 kW. This means charging the standard 93.4-kWh battery from 5 to 80 percent takes less than 30 minutes, getting you back on the road sooner.
2022 Audi e-tron GT pricing
The 2022 Audi e-tron GT starts at $100,945. Our test car, which included the Prestige, Performance, and Full Leather Interior packages, and the extra-cost Tactical Green Metallic exterior color cost, $118,740. The e-tron GT is eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credits plus local and state incentives.
2022 Audi e-tron GT final verdict
When you combine the sum of the 2022 Audi e-tron GT’s parts, you’ll find a holistically built machine. It’s a proper electric grand tourer that prioritizes the overall experience to create an all-around exciting driving experience. This represents the next shift for Audi’s performance models because it has revealed the true potential of electrification, and that’s on underpinnings with bits and pieces from internal combustion models. Imagine what future high-performance models built on dedicated BEV platforms like the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture can do. The e-tron GT gives you a taste of the future now and we can’t wait to see what’s next as Audi electrifies its entire lineup.
At a glance
- Year: 2022
- Make: Audi
- Model: e-tron GT
- Trim: Prestige
- Type: 4-door mid-size sedan
- Horsepower: 469 (522 in Boost Mode)
- Torque: 464 lb-ft (472 lb-ft in Boost Mode)
- Range: 238 miles
- Combined MPGe: 82
- Pros: Excellent ride and handling, intuitive tech features, fast charging
- Cons: Tight rear seats, cabin storage is at a premium, shallow trunk
- Base price: $100,945
- Price as tested: $118,740
