Audi E-tron GT long-term test

The car Audi E-tron GT quattro Run by Steve Huntingford, editor

Why it’s here To see if Audi's electric performance car can also be a good everyday car

Needs to Combine the thrilling drive you’d expect with a level of comfort and usability you might not

Mileage 1642 List price £88,555 Best price £72,349 Price as tested £92,700 Test range 324 miles Official range 383 miles

5 December – Right on the button

While lobsters are now seen as a high-end delicacy, they were once so cheap that they were dubbed ‘the poor man’s chicken’ and even used as fish bait. And I reckon buttons in cars have been on a similar journey.

Not so long ago, they were something we took for granted, because all cars had them. But as the cost of producing and integrating touchscreens fell, the button started to feel like an endangered species, and is now only found in abundance in more expensive models such as my Audi E-tron GT.

Why? Because buttons require separate physical hardware, wiring and design for each function, and therefore cost more than screens these days. And, of course, a button can’t be updated over time in the same way that software can – you’ve got to get it right from the start.

The E-tron GT does still have a touchscreen; if it didn’t, it would have been pretty much impossible for Audi to include the myriad infotainment functions that we now expect our cars to offer. However, it’s one of the more intuitive systems of its kind, helped by the fact it’s complemented by several banks of physical switches for things like the air conditioning, heated seats and drive modes.

These controls are all beautifully damped and engage with a satisfying click. Plus, I personally feel that they improve safety, because you can operate them by touch and muscle memory, rather than having to take your eyes off the road.

Then there’s the design interest that buttons bring. The interiors of many modern cars are billed as having a ‘clean' or ‘minimalist’ look, but they could just as easily be described as ‘featureless’ – not an accusation you can level at the dashboard of the E-tron GT.

Okay, it’s not perfect. The main volume control is a circular touchpad that’s ridiculously fiddly to use. And while the steering wheel-mounted alternatives are much more precise, they’re still touch-sensitive and move together as one, so feel rather cheap compared with the proper buttons found elsewhere in the car.

Overall, though, you’re definitely getting an interior that’s more cordon bleu than greasy spoon – as of course it should be given that this is Audi’s flagship model.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

Read more on our long-term Audi E-tron GT >>

Read about more long-term test cars >>

Buy a new car with What Car?

Like the sound of the Audi E-tron GT?

If so, check out our New Car Deals pages to see how much you could save on an Audi E-tron GT.

We’ve got the biggest selection of discounted new cars available in the UK.