• Conservative but well-finished inside
• Physical climate controls a welcome throwback
• Can be extensively customised by Audi Exclusive

How is the quality and layout?

Audi has avoided being too radical with the E-Tron GT’s interior – in fact, it’s rather conservative in the way it retains a number of physical buttons in a world increasingly plagued with touchscreens for everything. At the same time, you still get a Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster and a large central infotainment screen. We like the combination and the balance a great deal. It’s a shame more modern car cabins aren’t so cohesive and easy to operate on the move, including that of the Porsche Taycan.

Quality is generally excellent, and as well as the standard choice of sustainable and leather upholstery, there is a huge range of customisation available via Audi Exclusive. The new steering wheels for the 2024 update are a funny shape, but we didn’t find this an issue while driving. More annoying are the cheap-feeling Boost and RS buttons on the RS variants; the paddles on the back of the wheel could be more premium, too, but that’s typical for Audi.

Infotainment and tech

The Virtual Cockpit has a selection of views and information it can display, varying the emphasis on different elements by driver preference but also the selected driving mode. A new option for the facelift E-Tron GT is a battery display that predicts the charging speed before you stop. Combined with an updated battery pack that charges faster over a wider range of temperatures, this can help you decide the optimum time to plug-in during a longer journey.

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The main infotainment is a little fussy to look at, but we found it easy enough to get to grips with after only a short period of familiarisation, including the individual settings for the driving modes. And if you don’t like touching it, there is a responsive voice control alternative that will take care of most basic functions. Finding somewhere to stash a modern smartphone isn’t quite so straightforward, as there’s not really a large enough sensible space for it other than the central armrest. But being able to change the cabin temperature with an actual button is great.

Comfort

• Seats are comfortable, supportive and highly adjustable
• Refinement is fine unless going very, very fast
• Passengers in the back aren’t so well accomodated

The S E-Tron that’s now the entry-point to the model range comes with 14-way electrically adjustable front seats; the RS versions go up to 18-way adjustment, with massaging and ventilation options available in addition to the standard heating function. There is a wide span of motion in the seating and the steering wheel position, too, meaning drivers of all shapes and sizes should be able to get comfortable.

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Things are tighter in the back, as we’ve already discussed. A taller driver will mean there’s virtually no legroom behind them, for instance. You may also notice the unnatural suspension trickery the E-Tron is capable of in a more pronounced way in the rear, which won’t go down well with everyone.

As with most premium electric cars, the E-Tron GT is refined at moderate speeds, with higher-specification versions also fitted with acoustic glass to help reduce wind and road noise. It does get noisier at very high speeds – on the unrestricted German autobahn we were easily able to reach the electronic limiter at 155mph – but so do most things. The occasional clunk from the drivetrain was less impressive, but the E-Tron has a two-speed transmission, which is unusual in EV circles, as well as mechanical differential components in addition to the more common electronic torque vectoring.