Performance That Surprises

Now, there aren’t many cars that look like an executive saloon but go from sensible to silly within three and a half seconds. You see, the Audi S e-tron GT is more than just a mouthful. It’s an absolute animal when you put your foot down on the accelerator, with a whopping 740Nm of torque at your disposal. What surprises me most about this car is how it manages to be refined, smart, and comfortable while hiding the heart of a supercar beneath its sophisticated exterior.

Exterior Design: Passive (But) Aggressive

This has classic Audi styling brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century. I love the way the back end flares out and sits squatly on its massive wheels – which, by the way, are necessary to handle all that torque. The Matrix LED headlights deserve their own special mention. They are incredibly fun, featuring a signature animation sequence when you lock or unlock the car. The distinctive arrow-like daytime running lights give the car an aggressive edge, but it’s all done with typical Audi restraint. You’re not looking like a boy racer; you’re looking like a smart, conservative gentleman driving a nice, respectable family saloon. Just with that “don’t challenge me to a drag race” hint.

Interior: Where Luxury Meets Practicality

Inside, it’s a lovely place to be. Audi are well known for their interiors, and they’ve spared no expense here. This top-end model features:

• Beautiful tan leather upholstery
• Tasteful suede accents
• Smart, minimalist centre console
• Distraction-free cockpit design
• Two Isofix seats in rear
• Panoramic sunroof
• Genuine five-seat capacity

Driving Experience

Standing between 1,369mm and 1,402mm tall, the ride height is fairly low – though as an SUV driver, my perception might be skewed. The car’s weight (2,385kg with driver) is noticeable but well-managed thanks to clever engineering. Despite its heft, the responsive steering makes it feel surprisingly nimble, especially given how close the battery packs are to the ground. Road noise at high speeds is present but not intrusive. Boot space is decent at 405 litres, though not class-leading. At the end of the day, you do trade off some practicality for power and range. You can’t have it all.

Range and Charging

The e-tron GT really delivers on range, I couldn’t find any faults with this. As someone who regularly commutes from London to Devon, this is a car that can comfortably handle that distance. I didn’t get to test it in extreme temperatures (something that unfortunately crippled the Tesla Model 3) but, watching the “range-ometer”, I found estimates to be fairly accurate – if you drive sensibly.

Charging Options:

Price and Competition

At £134,000, you’re in Porsche Taycan territory, and the comparison is inevitable given they share some DNA (the Premium Platform Electric, if you’re interested). I’ve driven both, and while each has its merits, the e-tron GT carves out its own unique space in the market. The Audi manages to balance multiple personalities more convincingly. If you want a car that can do both – that is refined, that is environmentally conscious, good for the planet, can carry a family of four with ease and some luggage, but at the same time can catapult you to 60mph in 3.4 seconds – then perhaps this is the car for you.

For comparison, and in the same price range, I’ve also driven the V10 R8 (which you can read about here). As an all-out purist car, it’ll beat this because it’s not electric – it’s basically got a V10 rocket strapped to the back seats. But that’s a different beast entirely. The e-tron GT is trying to do something different, and it succeeds brilliantly.

Verdict

All in all, my final point is this is a very fun car to drive. It turns a few heads, but it’s discreet enough to get by on the daily and I had a lot of fun driving this. That’s really what makes the S e-tron GT special – it’s a chameleon of a car. One moment it’s silently gliding through town as a refined executive saloon, the next it’s unleashing all 740Nm of torque and giving supercars a run for their money. Yes, at £134,000 it’s a serious investment, but you’re getting multiple cars in one.

Who Should Buy The Audi S e-tron GT?

• Executives wanting a premium EV
• Performance enthusiasts embracing electric
• Family buyers needing space and speed
• Early adopters with a healthy budget