A glowing final report on our Audi e-tron GT quattro 350kW long-termer. By John Challen

Audi e-tron GT quattro 350kW

P11d (BiK): £85,185 (2%) Range: 296 miles (claimed) Test consumption (kWh/100km): 20.5 (claimed) Test Range: 235-265 miles

Report 3:

Some long-termer logistics were required at the start of the year, which meant a rendezvous with Mr Kendall at Cobham services. While he departed in one direction around the M25 in the I-Pace, I headed in the opposite direction in the e-tron GT.

The car was only with me for a few days before it headed back to Audi HQ, but that was more than enough time to get a feel for what a fascinating piece of engineering and technology the GT is. As you’ve read in the reports so far, both Messers Kendall and Kirk have been equally impressed with the sporty EV. It’s not all about the performance, although that is worthy of more than a passing comment. There are still out-dated opinions from some drivers about EVs and how they can’t match a big-engined supercar. The Audi’s sub-4 zero to 60mph time tells a different story, as does the continued acceleration onto a claimed 152mph.

The previous e-tron – in SUV form – was a very different proposition, with a disappointing driving range and, understandably, a lot more mass to move around. With way over 260 miles from a full charge, the e-tron GT is a much more suitable car for those drivers covering big distances on a regular basis. Although those sort of ranges will take a bit of restraint with your right foot!

Meanwhile, the interior is unmistakably Audi – a sensible blend of switches and touchscreen menus alongside comfortable seats and enough room for five (just!). A decent-sized boot, high-quality materials and plenty of storage places in the cabin just sweetens the deal. One potential sticking point is the price – specced as seen, the e-tron GT comes in at more than £90,000 but, in a new age of EV pricing, that’s beginning to look normal.

All in all, it’s another positive addition to the Audi line-up that will be on many drivers’ lists. With more ICE and EV models scheduled to arrive over the coming months, the job of choosing that next car will get even more difficult.

John Challen

Report 2:

There was a UK missile project from the 1950s called Blue Streak, which would be an appropriate name for our Audi e-tron GT in Ascari Blue. While Blue Streak never made it into production, our Audi is very much alive and kicking.

This particular electric car is distinctly not at the planet-saving end of the EV spectrum. 350kW (476hp) (peak) is a lot of power, delivered through two electric motors, with all four wheels driven. It shares much of its drivetrain with the Porsche Taycan, except that the Taycan has even more than 350kW to play with. A 93.4kWh battery pack (83.7kWh net) ensures good range, somewhere between 235 and 265 miles so far on test. I have covered trips of more than 200 miles in each direction with minimal time spent plugged in.

The car uses an 800-volt electrical architecture, which means that it can charge quite quickly on a public DC rapid charger. We have seen it charging at 150kW quite comfortably. With around 50 miles remaining on the clock, 40 minutes is enough to top range right up.

Performance, ride and handling are most impressive, with astonishing acceleration matched to precision handling and impressive cornering ability. Ride quality is good too, geared more to comfort than you might expect.

Downsides? Rear seat headroom for taller passengers is not so good because of that sloping rear roofline. Although there is a capacious boot, it’s long and comparatively shallow, which means that loading it may need a bit more planning than you might think.

It’s an impressive car, nonetheless.

John Kendall

Report 1:

There was a momentous week in the Kirk household recently – the arrival of a smart new Audi e-tron GT long termer coincided with the slightly less exciting installation of a home smart meter. I was warned to hide the smart meter away in case I became fixated on watching the pounds notch up every hour – and I was told the arrival of an electric car would only make things worse.

However, the exact opposite is true. Yes, the electric bill surges when the Audi is recharging, but for around £30 I’m getting a full battery that gives me pretty much a week’s worth of driving.

This has led me to reflect on the rate of progress being made in electric vehicles – in February 2022 my previous long-term test Audi e-tron (the SUV one) had a claimed range of 192 miles. Fast forward to today and the newly-delivered e-tron GT has a claimed range of nearly 300 miles.

But it’s not just the claimed figures which are impressive; the real-world returns are equally good. The old e-tron would do around 130 miles on a full charge, whereas early experience with the GT shows a viable range of 250 miles in everyday driving. That’s surely enough to satisfy the nay-sayers who continue to think an EV can’t cut it in regular business motoring.

Early impressions of the car are good. Its looks ensure it stands out in the car park, while the performance on offer is breath-taking (0-62mph acceleration in just over four seconds and instant, surging acceleration whenever you press the accelerator).

Our car is the cheapest way to drive an e-tron GT, although at £85,000 it really isn’t cheap. On top of that price tag, Audi has added a few optional extras – metallic blue paint at £950, a sound generator at £500, heated three spoke steering wheel for £190, a Tour Pack which bundles in technology such as adaptive cruise control and emergency assist for £1,355, and finally upgraded 20-inch alloy wheels at £300.

All-in, that takes the price of this car to just over £90,500… it will be interesting to see if the driving and ownership experience justifies the premium price tag.