Audi Q6 e-tron review: Just right

When it comes to all-electric SUVs, I’ve been rather spoiled for choice recently and Audi test cars have frequently sat outside my house. First, there was the rather too-big-for-my-needs Q8 e-tron, which was followed closely by the Q4 e-tron. The latter was smaller and more manageable. Now I’ve had some time the Q6 e-tron, which is a mid-size all-electric SUV that, after a week living with it, feels perfectly suited to me.

The Q6 e-tron shares much in common with the Porsche Macan Electric, but it also cohabits a crowded market space with the likes of the BMW iX3 and the Mercedes EQE SUV. Although the look and feel of the Q6 e-tron isn’t dramatically different to the other Audi cars I mentioned above, it does feel like a fresher and more complete package than those older models. It might be new, but there are also plenty of familiar touches that remind me why I like those other SUVs so much.

Recommended

Audi Q6 e-tron

The Audi Q6 e-tron is the perfect all-electric SUV for those in the market for a mid-size car. It’s not one of the most efficient EVs you can buy, and the range isn’t dazzling. Nevertheless, the Q6 is quiet, comfortable and fun to drive. Audi has done enough on the styling front to make it seem fresher than the Q4 and Q8 models, while functionality from things like the infotainment system and controls help retain a familiar feel.

Pros

• Fresh new design with plenty of polish
• Rapid performance when it?s needed
• Size is perfect for average SUV fans

Cons

• Efficiency and range feels good rather than great
• Interior finishes are practical rather than premium
• Quattro and premium trim models are expensive

Price, specs, and availability

The Audi Q6 e-tron quattro 285kW Launch model seen here, finished in metallic Ascari blue, costs £86,440 (just over $115,000). As you’d expect for a test car, it comes with all the additional extras, which means a more affordable specification of the car will be available for less. In fact, the cheapest variant is the Sport trim, which still comes with a host of good things, including 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, and a heat pump for around £60,000 (around $80,000).

Design and Build

Better to look at inside and out

While the Q6 e-tron doesn’t look dramatically different from either the Q4 or Q8, my test car did look a little more fancy. The front end in particular was cool, which was helped by slender matrix LED headlights that worked incredibly well after dark. My test car was in a attractive metallic blue color, and it was so nice to get away from the gray or black hues that many Audis are finished in.

The tail end of the Q6 e-tron looks similarly honed, so it’s instantly recognizable but appears more refined. Another factor that improves the appearance of my test car is the enormous alloy wheels and tires, which were 21-inch and a step-up (quite literally) from the more standard issue 19-inch variants. The pattern of the wheels, combined with carefully selected back trim flourishes around the exterior help to make it look like a classy concoction.

I needed to load the trunk with an array of different boxes during the week I had the Q6 and it was great for storage. The trunk area proved more than up for the challenge, and by dropping one side of the rear seats, I got even more stuff in. With plenty of space for four or five people, this model is a great option for families too.

A refreshing interior

As good as it ever was

I’ve enjoyed all the recent Audi models, especially when it comes to the interior. The Q6 e-tron is no exception, with a look and feel that is on par with the other cars. Granted, there’s still some shiny plastic that reflects in bright light and quite a lot of less premium plastic in many locations. This is an expensive car, so some might find that a minor irritation. However, I loved sitting in the cockpit, with its wonderfully comfortable driver and passenger seats offering a commanding view of the road.

Seat coverings, both at the front and in the rear, feel slightly less premium, but the upside to that is they should be durable enough to take on the combined attack of kids and pets. This is an SUV after all, so it is likely to be treated to plenty of outdoor crud too, which combined with the sort of mess generated by families on board should mean the interior will live to tell the tale. There’s some high-end fluff on offer too, with the likes of ambient lighting and plenty of fun to be had from the infotainment screens.

The technology breakdown

Tried and tested tech that works

While there’s been a backlash about the amount of controls that are hidden inside infotainment screens now, Audi does a nice job of offering a mix. So, there are plenty of many buttons and knobs for carrying out everyday tasks, but tech fans will love the screen extravaganza found inside this model.

There’s a practical 11.9-inch virtual cockpit in front of the driver’s wheel, which is supplemented by a central 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen. This is formed into the same panel, so it works great for the driver. Front seat passengers don’t get left out though, as there’s another 10.9-inch touchscreen on their side, which is easy to miss if it’s not active. This is a handy way for passengers to tweak settings to suit their own side of the car.

I kept on being surprised by a neat little feature which was the speaker in the headrest of my seat. This meant a woman’s voice would occasionally start warning me of potential hazards and delays on my route as I carried out my week-long road test. On top of that, there was also a head-up display in this car, meaning that anyone with a penchant for visuals should head for the premium end of the Q6 e-tron quattro trim range.

Battery, range and performance

Efficiency is good but not great

I think one of the best things about the Q6 e-tron is the way it can get up and go. The all-wheel drive quattro car really feels eager to get on down the highway and, whenever I floored the accelerator, it more than lived up to Audi’s official stat of 0 to 60mph in 5.9 seconds.

Charging can be done up to 270kW, which means it should be easy to recharge on the go. In fact, find one of those rapid chargers, and this task can be done from 10 to 80% in around 20 minutes. The official range for the 94.9kWh usable power from the battery is 382 miles, though during my time with the car, that figure seemed less achievable in real-world use. I tend to drive EVs quite gently, usually because I’m mindful of where I’m going to charge, but even so, the big and heavy feel of the Q6 did like munching through the kilowatts.

Still, I did think the Q6 was a great car to drive. It’s effortless to drive on regular roads, and when I hit backroads, it was even more fun. This is a more agile SUV than the rather lumbering Q8 e-tron, which felt a little too big for me. Better still, once I’d lived with it for a while, the Q6 e-tron got even better, with brake regen working to great effect when I slowed to junctions or behind slower-moving traffic.

Should you buy the Audi Q6 e-tron?

This has to be my favorite of the Quattro models I’ve tested recently. It feels just about right on the size front, while also being packed with lots of great features and functions. I’ve loved driving the Audi Q6 e-tron 285kW Launch model too. It’s an easy thing to get around in and has plenty of performance plus grip, thanks to the beefy battery and four-wheel drive. It’s expensive, but quality costs, right?

Recommended

Audi Q6 e-tron