From looking at the Audi RS E-Tron GT’s specs alone, you might come to the conclusion that it’s a hard-edged performance variant of the base E-Tron GT (see them compared). It makes 590 horsepower — 637 hp with its boost mode activated — and Audi says it can hit 60 mph in as little as 3.1 seconds. Then there’s the fact that it’s part of Audi’s RS lineup, home of the German luxury brand’s most performance-oriented offerings.
But the RS E-Tron GT isn’t like other RS models, and that’s not just because it’s the first with an all-electric powertrain. We spent some time with a 2022 RS E-Tron GT (the car sees some minor trim and package changes for 2023 but is otherwise unchanged) to see whether it checks the boxes of a grand tourer and found that it does — save for one.
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The Secret Is the Suspension
Audi’s RS cars aren’t known for having great ride comfort, which makes the RS E-Tron GT all the more unique. The ride is forgiving and very comfortable in the Drive Select system’s Comfort mode, and the Dynamic setting is pretty tolerable, too, though the ride is notably firmer. It’s all the more impressive when you consider that our test car was equipped with low-profile tires wrapped around 21-inch wheels, which is often a recipe for a brittle, uncomfortable ride. Overall, it’s the most relaxed RS model I’ve driven — by a long shot. It’s a testament to the tuning work that went into the car’s standard air suspension.
The supple suspension isn’t the only thing that helps the RS E-Tron GT feel like a grand tourer. The dual-motor drivetrain has plenty of reserve power at highway speeds (despite a hefty curb weight of more than 5,100 pounds); the light-effort steering is responsive and has a natural feel; and the optional carbon-ceramic braking system delivers good pedal feel. The RS E-Tron GT doesn’t offer one-pedal driving, a feature I’ve come to appreciate in electric vehicles, but the car’s steering-wheel paddles let you get a bit of regenerative braking when you lift off the accelerator pedal. Cornering stability is fine, but you feel the car’s bulk in turns.
Interior Hits — And Some Misses
In typical Audi fashion — and as you’d expect of a car that starts at more than $145,000 — the RS E-Tron’s cabin is finely finished in premium materials, including an available full-leather interior. What might be more surprising, however, is that it’s more roomy than its low-slung, sleek exterior would have you believe. Headroom is good in front for taller adults (I’m about 6-foot-1) and passable in the backseat. My knees were a bit elevated when sitting in the back, however, and the sedan’s low roofline does negatively affect the driver’s over-shoulder and rear visibility. The trunk is also small, measuring just 9.2 cubic feet, according to Audi’s measurements. A front trunk adds 1.8 cubic feet of storage space, but the combined 11 cubic feet is still less than the 12-cubic-foot trunk of the brand’s A4 compact luxury sedan.
The center of the dashboard features a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and below it are straightforward buttons for the air conditioning and other systems. While we appreciate the simple usability of traditional buttons, the center console comes across as almost too basic for a six-figure luxury car; the controls look like they could have been plucked from one of Audi’s entry-level luxury vehicles.
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Can an EV Be a Grand Tourer?
Traditionally, grand touring cars needed to be able to travel long distances. That’s something that EVs, with their mostly shorter driving ranges than gas-powered vehicles and longer refueling times (even at public DC fast chargers), aren’t great at in general.
The RS E-Tron GT has some things working for and against it where long-range travel is concerned. Its 270-kilowatt maximum DC fast-charging rate means it can replenish its 93-kilowatt-hour battery more quickly when charging at a station that can support that level of power, like a 350-kW Electrify America or EVgo charger. In our experience charging EVs, it’s unusual for them to reach and maintain their maximum charging rate, but Audi says that when the RS E-Tron GT charges at 270 kW, it can add around 180 miles of range in 22 minutes.
While the RS E-Tron GT can charge quickly when you’re on a road trip, you may need to charge often; the sedan’s EPA-estimated range is just 232 miles. Real-world EV range can sometimes differ greatly from EPA estimates, but the RS E-Tron GT’s range estimate is still considerably less than what the Tesla Model S (405 miles of estimated range) and Lucid Air (384 to 516 miles) offer.
While the RS E-Tron GT’s lower driving range compromises its grand tourer cred, it has other qualities of a GT — power, comfort, luxury and style — in abundance. As more 350-kW DC fast chargers come online, perhaps that long-distance part of the grand tourer equation will better apply to the RS E-Tron GT.
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