Ah, to be young! Established automakers like Audi or Mercedes-Benz likely look upon the Rivians and Lucids of the world with a sense of envy—oh, what can be done if starting from scratch. But with storied legacies to maintain, you're left with the sense some brands are entering the electric era cautiously. Case in point: the 2022 Audi E-Tron GT.
Based on Porsche's J1 platform, which underpins the Porsche Taycan—a 2021 Car of the Year finalist and an entrant in this year's program, too—the new E-Tron GT is Audi's first electric sedan. Whereas its Taycan cousin is available in a smorgasbord of body styles, powertrains, battery packs, and more, the E-Tron GT follows Audi's traditional mold: three trims, two powertrains, and one battery. Representing the E-Tron GT in this year's competition: both an E-Tron GT and an RS E-Tron GT. The former has a front and rear motor combo good for 522 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque; the latter takes the same format and bumps it up to 637 ponies and 612 lb-ft. Like the Taycan, the E-Tron GT features a two-speed automatic for its rear motors. Objectively speaking, the E-Trons are among the least efficient EVs on the market, netting just 82 mpg-e combined and 238 miles of range in the most efficient configuration—though it's worth mentioning E-Trons are capable of DC fast charging at peak speeds of 270 kW, making them among the world's quickest-charging electric cars.
