Audi A6 e-tron review

Audi A6 e-tron verdict

Audi has done a great job with its new A6 e-tron. The all-electric executive model, available in Sportback or Avant estate forms, ticks a lot of boxes for buyers looking for an EV that is comfortable, practical and loaded with tech. We found one chink in its armour, however. Rear space is compromised to the point that buyers will need to think seriously about whether the car meets their particular passenger-carrying needs.

This important point aside, the A6 e-tron is superbly well-rounded; we love its stylish exterior complemented by a comfortable ride and stunning onboard technology. With Audi’s claimed range figures suggesting more than 400 miles from a single charge, coupled with impressive efficiency, the A6 e-tron is among the very best all-electric Audi executive cars.

Details, specs and alternatives

We’ve already highlighted that, despite being an appealing all-rounder, the A6 e-tron isn’t quite flawless, but some of its closer rivals also come up short in key areas. 

The BMW i5 can only be viewed as something of a compromise when you consider that its Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform is made to accommodate everything from a pure ICE setup, to mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric powertrains.

A study of the figures reveals more; with an i5 40e model delivering much less range than the equivalent A6 e-tron - due mainly to its smaller battery and inferior efficiency.

Both the BMW and another close rival, the Mercedes EQE, do offer more space in the rear than the Audi A6 e-tron. The EQE, however, really struggles to achieve anywhere near its official range figure, and is extremely disappointing to drive - to the extent that we would find it difficult to endorse a purchase.

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If you don’t need to regularly carry around taller passengers in the rear seats, then the A6 e-tron is most definitely the electric executive saloon to have. OK, it doesn’t offer the traditional Audi cues of minimalist design or alluring combustion engines, but it does bring a class-leading range, plus a comfortable driving experience and impressive value.

The A6 e-tron range starts from around £63,300 for the entry Sport model, with a £3,500 step up to S line specification and a further £5,000 needed to acquire a top-of-the-range Edition 1 car. You’ll need to fork out an extra £2,000 if you opt for the bigger Avant estate, while the performance-focused S6 is priced from £98,000.

The entry-level e-tron powertrain features a 83kWh battery and a single, rear-mounted motor producing 321bhp, while Performance is the next step up - utilising a bigger 100kWh battery for a total power output of 374bhp. The top-of-the-range Quattro version uses the same 100kWh battery, but with a dual-motor configuration delivering 455bhp. The claimed overall range for the respective variants in Sport specification is 384 miles, 464 miles and 440 miles, with the figures dropping a little if you opt for either S line or Edition 1 cars.

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Audi has ensured that the A6 e-tron stands out from its BMW and Mercedes rivals by engineering big battery options along with good efficiency. You’ll benefit from up to 464 miles of range (WLTP combined) if you choose the Sport Performance model, helped in no small way by an on-paper efficiency rating of 4.4m/kWh. 

During our own test we saw around 3.9m/kWh, which is decent when you consider the steep climbs we encountered along our hilly route, plus the bigger 21-inch alloy wheels our car was riding on. In comparison, the BMW i5 40e M Sport costs more than the A6 e-tron, offers slightly less power, and can only muster an average range of up to 384 miles. The Mercedes EQE350+ AMG Line model can’t outdo the Audi in terms of miles covered from a single charge, either.

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The A6 e-tron is an executive car with a price to match, although starting at a touch over £63,000, it still comes-in cheaper than the competition from BMW or Mercedes. You can expect insurance premiums to be expensive, however, with all Audi A6 e-tron models likely to be in the top-rated insurance groups. 

To help spread the cost of scheduled maintenance, Audi offers monthly payment plans (starting from £39.99) that cover up to four years of servicing for your A6 e-tron.

As mentioned above, the Audi A6 e-tron offers an excellent overall range, along with solid efficiency, which means you shouldn’t have to use more expensive public rapid chargers on a regular basis (unless you’re covering hundreds of miles a day). Canny owners that are able to top up the battery at home could make big savings; for example, utilising a low overnight energy tariff of 7p per kilowatt hour would result in a cost of around £6 to £7 for a 0-100% charge.

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Audi co-developed the A6 e-tron’s new PPE platform with Porsche, and it shares this architecture with other all-electric family models such as the Q6 e-tron and Macan Electric.

The A6 e-tron lineup is relatively simple and easy to understand; entry models have an 83kWh battery with a rear mounted motor generating 321bhp and 423Nm of torque. The Performance variant remains rear-wheel drive, but utilises a bigger 100kWh battery and increases power to 374bhp and torque to 565Nm. Top of the tree is the four-wheel drive Quattro with the same 100kWh battery, but two electric motors making 455bhp and 580Nm of torque. 0-62mph times are predictably quick, ranging from six seconds for the entry model through to 4.5 seconds for the Quattro.

Thanks to Audi’s clean sheet approach to the A6 e-tron, it feels thoroughly well engineered. The steering and brakes provide good feel, while overall refinement is excellent - something made all the more impressive when you consider its two-tonne-plus mass. The A6 doesn’t feel unwieldy to drive; it actually comes in quite a bit lighter than the Mercedes EQE, and pretty much equals the BMW i5 on the scales.

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Audi knows a thing or two about smart, sophisticated design, and it hasn’t disappointed with the A6 e-tron; whether in Sportback or Avant estate form, the all-electric exec is an impressive looking car.

A look inside the cabin reveals lots of premium materials in use, along with gloss-black accents that will no doubt be harder to keep free of scratches and smudges. Whichever specification you opt for, the A6’s upholstery feels suitably premium, with a choice of artificial leather in Sport or S line versions, Dinamica microfibre trim in Edition 1 cars, or the Nappa/Milano leather combination found in the top-of-the-range S6.

A huge curved dual-screen display sits atop the dashboard, which means that controls are easily reached. However, there’s also an array of switches on the door panel that operate the lights, mirrors, windows and door locks. It all looks a little overloaded and intimidating to use at first, but we found that it doesn’t take long to become familiar with how it all works.

That imposing curved display is made up of a 14.5-inch touchscreen, along with a 11.9-inch driver’s display. It doesn’t take too long to adapt to the system, and there are shortcut functions to access regularly used features, which makes it more user-friendly. The screen is sharp and responsive, and it feels like an intuitive set-up.

While there aren’t physical dials for the climate control, Audi has ensured you don’t have to go hunting through different menus to adjust the temperature or fan speed; a dedicated menu for these key functions remains available at the bottom of the screen, no matter what  information you’re accessing.

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It’s a shame that, given the A6 e-tron is such a well-engineered car, that cabin space isn’t really up to par. As a means to fit the batteries in, Audi has set the cabin floor quite high. Unfortunately, the result is that rear space is quite tight and not helped by the rakish roofline which impacts on headroom for taller passengers.

Some may find that, with its standard dark headlining, the A6 e-tron cabin is a little too dark and confined. As an alternative, there is the option of specifying a glass roof, along with lighter interior trim to brighten things up, while if space is a priority, you may wish to go for the Avant estate, which is more roomy.

Storage options are good; there’s a practical glovebox, along with a useful centre console tray, although the door pockets will only accept smaller bottles. At 502 litres, the boot space should be big enough to handle day-to-day family duties and longer road trips, and there’s a further 27 litres under the bonnet that’s ideal for storing charge cables.

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The Audi A6 e-tron hasn’t yet been tested by industry safety experts, Euro NCAP, but based on Audi’s track record in this area, we’d expect a top rating. Standard equipment for all versions includes adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a lane departure warning and emergency brake assist, among other active systems.

Reliability is less clear, simply because of how new the A6 e-tron is, but given the A6’s new PPE platform has been co-produced with Porsche, there’s a strong chance of smooth sailing as far as ownership goes.