Audi Q6 e-tron review

Audi Q6 e-tron verdict

The Audi Q6 e-tron isn’t the most memorable car to wear the four rings, but it’s still a pretty good all-round family car. It’s a surprisingly large one, too – it’s classed as a mid-size SUV, but the Q6 offers a similar level of practicality to a fully sized model, and it feels like one on narrow roads. Step inside and everything feels well put together, and the tech is some of the best in this class. Unfortunately, a smattering of below-par materials lets the side down, as does the car’s mediocre efficiency.

Details, specs and alternatives

As its name suggests, the Audi Q6 e-tron slots between the Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron in the brand’s electric SUV line-up. However, this ostensibly mid-size SUV is actually 4mm wider than the Q8 e-tron, so it’s a very sizable car for the class.

There are two batteries offered in the Q6 e-tron, depending on your chosen spec. Entry-level models are powered by a 75.8kWh unit that comes with an official WLTP combined range of 326 miles. The rest of the line-up gets a larger 94.9kWh pack that boosts the SUV’s claimed range figure up to 393 miles in the mid-range Performance model, although this drops slightly to 381 miles in the range-topping Quattro. 

As the Q6 e-tron is based on Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE), its 800V architecture allows both packs to be topped up from 10-80% in around 20 minutes at a rate of 270kW.

Accompanying the entry-level Audi Q6 e-tron’s smaller battery is a single rear-mounted motor producing 249bhp. If you want to stick with rear-wheel drive but fancy more power, the Performance spec boosts this motor’s power output to 302bhp. As is usually the case with Audi’s cars, four-wheel drive is reserved for the Quattro. This is powered by twin motors producing a combined 383bhp.

For those who seek maximum driving thrills from their electric SUV, there’s also the option of the Audi SQ6 e-tron. This shares the same 94.9kWh battery as the regular Q6, but here it’s mated to a dual-motor powertrain that pumps out a combined 482bhp. If you’re not completely hammering the throttle, the SQ6 is claimed to manage up to 360 miles on the WLTP combined cycle.

If your performance needs are still yet to be fulfilled, a hardcore RS Q6 e-tron is on the cards for the near future. A sleeker Sportback coupe version of the standard Q6 is also on the way.

It’s the regular model that Audi believes will be the biggest seller, though, and this comes with the choice of three trim levels; Sport, S Line and Edition 1. The entry-level car is well kitted out with plenty of upmarket features including three-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, ambient lighting, acoustic glass and a 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen with Audi’s MMI navigation plus system.

Moving up to S Line trim adds in some extra sporting flavour with larger alloy wheels, exclusive exterior trim, stainless steel pedals and an upgraded steering wheel. The range-topping Edition 1, meanwhile, takes things a step further with matrix LED headlights, memory function door mirrors, Dinamica sports seats, red brake calipers and a 10.9-inch passenger display. If you’re eyeing up the hotter SQ6 e-tron, this is only available in Edition 1 trim.

With prices starting at more than £60,000, the Audi Q6 e-tron finds itself head-to-head with electric premium SUV competitors such as the BMW iX3 and Porsche Macan Electric.

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The Audi Q6 e-tron is a sizable car, and its battery options are equally chunky. Kicking off the line-up is an 83kWh (75.8kWh usable) pack that can only be found in the entry-level model. This battery claims up to 326 miles between charges on the WLTP combined cycle.

Moving up through the rest of the line-up brings a larger 100kWh (94.9kWh usable) battery into play. It’s the Q6 e-tron Performance that has the longest claimed range at 393 miles, but the four-wheel-drive Quattro isn’t too far behind at 381 miles. The hotter SQ6 e-tron, meanwhile, carries a 360-mile headline figure.

A large battery can’t hide the Audi Q6 e-tron’s heft, though, and we only managed an average efficiency of around 2.8 miles per kWh in the Audi Q6 e-tron Quattro during testing, which certainly isn’t about to break any records. 

When you need to plug it in, the Q6 e-tron’s 800V architecture allows 270kW DC rapid charging, and this means either battery pack can be topped up from 10 to 80% in around 20 minutes. If you’re hooking up at home using a 7.4kW wallbox charger, expect to wait for around 12 hours to fully charge the 75.8kWh pack from 0 to 100%, rising to 15 hours for the 94.9kWh unit.

If you’re in need of a quick “splash and dash”, Audi claims that 150 miles of range can be added to the Q6 e-tron in only 15 minutes, just as long as you can find a suitably powerful charger.

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By premium SUV standards, pricing for the Audi Q6 e-tron is pretty average with a starting sum of around £60,000. In comparison, the BMW iX3 also kicks off from around £65,000, while the entry-level Porsche Macan Electric commands closer to £70,000.

Things are a bit less average when it comes to insuring the Audi Q6 e-tron, though, because it ranges from insurance group 46 to 50. Regardless of which variant you choose, you’ll need to prepare for big premiums.

Thankfully, things do get a bit better when it comes to day-to-day running costs, as a full charge of the Q6 e-tron’s larger 94.9kWh battery will cost just over £30 at a typical household rate of 30p per kWh, and this will of course be slightly cheaper for the smaller 75.8kWh pack. 

The Q6 avoids VED road tax until April 2025, too, and company car drivers can make the most of that 2% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate.

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Take a look at the Audi Q6 e-tron in the metal and its sheer size certainly stands out, so much so that classification as a mid-size SUV is at risk of coming into doubt. However, it’s the width that’s most noticeable from behind the wheel, and we even found A-roads to be a bit nerve-wracking at times during testing, let alone urban sideroads. Thankfully, visibility isn’t an issue.

Stick to larger roads and this all-electric SUV is a very competent and refined mile-muncher. It’s comfortable and quiet, and there’s a decent amount of shove available when you need it.

Even in base form, the Q6 e-tron is still good for 249bhp and 450Nm of torque from its rear wheels. This will hustle the 2.3-tonne SUV from 0-62mph in an admirable 7.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 130mph. If you’re truly desperate to get away from a red light, there is the option of engaging Launch Control and boosting power to 288bhp. This will get you to 62mph in 6.9 seconds.

The Performance variant’s title is a little bit misleading because it isn’t the fastest Q6 e-tron you can buy. It does still have a healthy 302bhp and 485Nm of torque on offer from its rear-mounted motor, though, and this brings the 0-62mph sprint time down to 6.7 seconds. The 130mph top speed remains unchanged, but Launch Control will increase power to 322bhp, and this is good for a 6.6-second 0-62mph sprint.

If you prefer four-wheel drive, the Quattro’s dual-motor powertrain delivers 383bhp, with 275Nm of torque going to the front motor and 580Nm to the rear. This results in a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds, along with that same 130mph top speed. 

If you desire even more power, you’ll need to look towards the sportier Audi SQ6 e-tron. This has 515bhp on tap along with the same amount of torque as the Q6 e-tron Quattro. The result is a sprint time of just 4.3 seconds, while the top speed is increased to 142mph.

These are all pretty strong figures for such a heavy car, and this considerable weight is kept under a decent amount of control whenever the Q6 e-tron is aimed towards a corner. However, don’t go expecting any driving thrills – it’s better described as composed rather than exciting.

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One of the Audi Q6 e-tron’s biggest party pieces is its interior, and there’s plenty of highly impressive tech and design to be found here. 

The level of quality is typically high, too, and while most of the materials are pleasant to the touch — including fabrics, metals and even some wood — some low-rent plastics have managed to sneak into the mix. There are a couple of questionable pieces of design which let the side down, too, such as a flimsy roller on the cupholders and some peculiarly placed door trims. 

Up front are two standard-fit screens that make up Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. In front of the driver is an 11.9-inch display, which is a bit fussily laid out, but the excellent head-up display helps to make key info a lot easier to decipher. At the centre is a 14.5-inch touchscreen running Audi’s MMI software, and this is a very responsive system that looks great and is easy to navigate.

An additional passenger display is also fitted as standard to Edition 1 models, as well as being optional on lower spec cars, but this isn’t much more than a gimmick. All of the information that this displays is already available on the centre touchscreen.

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There is one big upside to having a car as big as the Audi Q6 e-tron, and that is having oodles of interior space. Audi’s bespoke EV platform helps to further boost the amount of room on offer, too.

Passengers over six feet tall won’t have any space issues regardless of which seat they find themselves in as there’s plenty of head and legroom for everyone. However, the Q6 e-tron is strictly a five-seater, so those with a large family will have to look elsewhere.

Even when carrying a full house of five people, there’s still ample room for their luggage in the back of the Audi Q6 e-tron, as it boasts 526 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place. Drop the back row and this increases to 1,529 litres. If you want a ‘frunk’ this is available as an option, but Audi will charge you £500 for the pleasure.

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Euro NCAP is yet to get its hands on the Audi Q6 e-tron, but the amount of standard-fit safety kit bodes well for its future rating. Every variant comes with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, cross traffic assistance, 360-degree parking assistance and lane-changing assistance as standard. 

As with any brand-new car, it’ll be a while before we can determine the Audi Q6 e-tron’s reliability, but the brand has a pretty strong reputation in general for the build quality and durability of its cars. 

Three Audis appeared in our latest Driver Power rankings, but none of them were electric models. It’s worth noting that the brand itself has also only managed middling scores in our more recent Driver Power manufacturer charts.