Audi’s EV offensive continues, and its latest release is the Q6 e-tron.
The German brand’s third electric SUV is set to take on rivals such as the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX3 and Lexus RZ, as well as the new electric Porsche Macan – with which the Audi Q6 e-tron will share its underpinnings.
The Audi Q6 is available to order now, with deliveries expected later in the summer. Initial cars were all four-wheel drive, but Audi has now launched the rear-wheel-drive Q6 e-tron Performance, which boasts the longest driving range in the lineup.
Audi Q6 prices and specs
Now that the Q6 e-tron Performance model has been added to the lineup, the starting price drops to £63,475. The quattro four-wheel-drive model starts at £68,145.
Later in the year, another single-motor rear-wheel-drive version of the Q6 will join the lineup, starting at a whisker under £60,000.
Every normal Q6 – that is, every one that's not an SQ6 – is available in Sport, S Line and Edition 1 trim levels. Sport trim includes heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry, three-zone climate control and interior preconditioning – making sure the cabin is the right temperature for when you get in. There's also a top-view parking camera, wireless phone charging and a whole toybox full of driver assistance features.
S Line, a £3,000 upgrade on Sport, mainly brings cosmetic tweaks – 20-inch wheels instead of the Sport's 19s, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and sportier styling.
Edition 1 adds slightly firmer sports suspension, adaptive Matrix LED headlights, red brake calipers, electrically adjustable front seats and some suede-like upholstery, for a £5,000 jump in price from S Line. We expect these trim levels and price increases to be applied to the rear-wheel-drive entry model, too.
If you don't want your Q6 in solid grey paint, you'll need to stump up £725 or £1,495 for one of the pearl or metallic colours. A towbar is an option for roughly £1,000, while adding a storage area under the bonnet – a 'frunk', if you will – costs £500.
The SQ6 only comes in Edition 1 trim, but also includes air suspension, upgraded leather, a panoramic sunroof and the Sound and Vision Pack.
This pack can be added to any other Q6 for just over £3,000, and includes a Bang & Olufsen sound system with headrest speakers, a smart head-up display, extra ambient lighting and even beefed up USB sockets that can charge devices faster. Every quattro-badged car gets this pack thrown in for free until 30 June.
Audi Q6 styling
The Q6 muscles into the space between the smaller Q4 e-tron and the larger, more upmarket Q8 e-tron SUVs. That’s clear in the styling, which boasts the same styling cues as its siblings – the faired-in grille (painted body colour here), the similar windowline shape to the Q4, and the black lower panels and rear full-width light bar that are borrowed from the Q8. The Q6 gets black grille surrounds, if you really want to play spot the difference.
Audi says the Q6 offers a world first in lighting technology, with an ‘active digital light signature’ and customisable daytime running lights – thanks to 61 individual LED segments in each headlight, and eight design options. The taillights use OLED technology, and between them they have 360 unique light segments, with the picture changing every 10 milliseconds. They can also create a warning symbol visible to cars behind you, in the event of a hazard or collision. However, we wonder if other drivers will be distracted by this feature, and it’s best not to think about the potential cost of a replacement taillight if it gets damaged…
Audi Q6 interior
The Q6 boasts an all-new interior design, with two large screens combined in one curved bank ahead of the driver. There’s also a third screen in front of the passenger, which they can use to help with navigation, find a charging point nearby or stream movies – luckily, it features a privacy mode that shouldn’t distract the driver.
As you’d hope, Audi hasn’t just installed Apple CarPlay and called it a day. There’s an augmented head-up display, which appears to show important driving information on the road ahead of you, as well as a new voice assistant which uses AI technology. Capable of understanding more than 800 commands, the system can also proactively suggest navigation for regular routes or prompt you to call someone if you always call them at a set time.
The infotainment system now runs Android Automotive software, like the latest Volvos. It includes over-the-air updates, real-time navigation updates and an app store that includes music, video, gaming, navigation, parking and charging, productivity, weather, and news services.
Audi Q6 performance and electric range
The standard all-wheel-drive Q6 e-tron and the range-topping SQ6 e-tron, with improved performance, both have a 100kWh battery (95kWh of which is usable). The regular Q6 achieves a maximum theoretical range of 381 miles from a full charge. That’s 50 miles more than a Tesla Model Y Long Range.
With the introduction of the rear-wheel-drive Q6 e-tron Performance model, the maximum range figure increases to 392 miles.
The Q6’s 270kW fast-charging capability is also marginally more than the Tesla offers. Plug in to a compatible charger and the Audi’s 800V architecture can regain 80% battery capacity in around 20 minutes. Or, around 160 miles in 10 minutes.
Performance is equally strong – the four-wheel-drive Q6 e-tron accelerates from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds and on to a 130mph top speed, while the rear-wheel-drive version isn't far behind, taking 6.6 seconds.
The rapid SQ6 dispatches 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds when launch control is engaged and tops out at 142mph.
Read our guides to the best electric 4x4s and the entire Audi model range, or browse our exciting used Audi cars for sale.
