► Audi’s EV hypermiler tested in UK
► Rear or four-wheel drive
► Can it live up to its massive EV driving range?
Audi is fairly quiet about its new A6 e-tron having one of the longest ranges of any electric car. Pick your version wisely and Audi claims up to an impressive 463 miles. It also has the potential to unlock the electric executive car class in a way nobody has quite cracked yet. The Tesla Model S might have had range on its side, but it lacked quality. The BMW i5 has quality but lacks range and the Mercedes EQE, well, could you own something that looked like that?
The rise of electric cars has led to some pretty strange events, and the Audi A6 Sportback e-Tron is the perfect example. After decades of front and four-wheel drive saloons and estates, Audi has built one with rear-wheel drive.
Naturally, you can get a twin motor car with four-wheel drive, but it’s one of the rear-drivers that predictably gets the headline range figures. Worth noting that the e-tron doesn’t exist to replace the regular Audi A6, which has recently returned for a new generation, and is sold with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power.
But back to this electric model, as we aim to find out if the A6 Sportback e-tron is more than a set of big numbers? Find out in our review, and if you’re curious about how we get to our verdict, check out our how we test page.
At a glance
Pros: Impressive range, good to drive, comfortable despite no air suspension
Cons: New-gen Audi interiors feel like a slight backward step, rear seats aren’t as spacious as we’d expect from this class
What’s new?
Pretty much everything. It’s based on Audi and Porsche’s PPE platform that also underpins the Q6 e-Tron and Macan electric, and there’s been a heavy focus on aerodynamics. Opt for the camera-based door mirrors and the drag co-efficiency is as low as 0.21, making the Sportback the most aero efficient Audi ever. That also lends itself to helping that big range figure.
Audi has chucked every bit of tech it has available on the A6, getting its new Android Automotive operating system and generally new interior layout. More on that later, but you also get an electrochroamatic glass roof that can shut out light without the need for a blind, and typical fancy lighting. That, unfortunately, extends to light-up Audi emblems.
What are the specs?
The entry-level A6 e-Tron makes do with an 83kWh (75.8 usable) battery that powers a single 322bhp electric motor on the back axle. It’ll officially do 383 miles, has a maximum charging speed of 225kW, 0-62mph takes 6.0 seconds and it’ll hit 130mph flat out, though we’re yet to try it with this setup.
Next up is the A6 e-Tron Performance – an odd choice of name given its use in the RS lineup – which gets a power increase to 375bhp and a larger 100kWh (94.9 useable) battery that boosts the driving range to that healthy 463-mile figure above. This is the version we’ve tested in the UK, averaging around 350 real-world miles from a charge. It can take up to 270kW for a 21-minute 10-80% rapid charge time and gets from 0-62mph in a snappy 5.4 seconds.
If you want four-wheel drive, you’ll need an A6 e-Tron quattro. Obviously. An additional electric motor for the front axle helps take total power to 456bhp and drops the 0-62mph time to just 4.5 seconds. Range does take a hit, dropping to 438 miles, though. There is also an A6 e-tron Avant if you want a more practical estate car and S6 e-tron if you want something sportier still.
How does it drive?
We were impressed by the way the A6 e-tron drove on the original launch, but were slightly concerned as every single car at the event had air suspension – an option that weirdly isn’t offered to UK buyers. You’d need the S6 to get that fitted as standard.. The good news is that even on the standard coils, it rides well, feeling settled for the most part and generally absorbing the worst of Britain’s tarmac, though we imagine the smaller-wheeled version is what you want where maximum comfort is concerned.
The steering is typical Audi: not communicative, but precise and pleasingly weighted if you avoid Dynamic mode. It’s easy to string corners together, helped by a brake pedal that feels remarkably normal unlike many EVs out there. Various levels of regen are available, with handy paddles behind the steering wheel used for most selections.
Tip it into a corner and you’ll find precious little body roll and plenty of grip from the Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres. The front-end hangs on gamely, and the ESC’s sport mode will even let you adjust your line with the throttle.
Heavy braking or a quick direction change reminds you of just how heavy the A6 is, but it’s no worse in that regard than the competition. It certainly feels like a far more polished product than the Mercedes EQE.
What’s it like inside?
The A6 e-Tron feels like a big, spacious car up front. The seat winds back a long way, there’s reasonable headroom and a wide armrest separating driver and passenger. It’s a very screen-heavy interior, with the latest generation of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit now spanning 11.9-inches, and the main touchscreen 14.5-inches.
We’re a big fan of Audi’s older Virtual Cockpit, but this looks far too busy and the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel are more of a pain to use than the old physical ones. You often press the wrong button by accident if you have your thumb in the wrong place. That’s also true of the touch panel on the door for stuff like the mirrors. At least the graphics look sharp, and the software is responsive, just like the main touchscreen.
Annoyingly you must use it to change temperature, although those controls at least sit at the bottom of the screen and there is voice control. Similarly, there are some shortcut icons that make it easier to get where you need to be. I’m pleased to report the lane assist is a button press away from deactivation, while the speed limit warning requires a press of a button and a poke of the screen.
Quality is for the most part good, save for some surprisingly hard and scratchy surfaces. The gloss black centre console, which seems a staple of every modern Audi, isn’t a great idea and the cup holder cover feels susprisingly cheap. I’d live with it in something A4-sized and significantly cheaper, but it’s less acceptable on a car that starts at £60k and rises to over £85k. Bear in mind that we’re talking about the regular A6 e-tron range – the S6 is near enough £100k…
Rear space is a bit disappointing for something just 7cm shy of five meters long. Headroom is tight, legroom not particularly generous and the floor is high. I really don’t have long legs, but my knees were pointed at the ceiling. The A6 Avant e-Tron we review elsewhere has a higher roofline and therefore more headroom, but the other issues remain. Anyone in that middle rear seat will also find their head bashing up against the overhead lighting unit.
Boot space is a decent 502-litres, or exactly the same as the A6 e-Tron Avant. You’ll need to fold down the seats and load to the roof to appreciate the extra load space.
Before you buy – trims and rivals
Continuing to ignore the S6, there’s a choice of three trim levels. Entry-level Sport has all the kit you really need, with next-rung S Line only really providing visual changes for a not insubstantial price increase. If you want more kit, you’ll need to jump to Edition 1 or just raid the options list.
A6 e-tron prices start from £62,540, rising to £83,540 for a top-spec Quattro model. We also strongly recommend NOT optioning the £5,495 ‘Sound and Vision Pro’ pack, if only because it includes Audi’s silly digital door mirrors, which remain just as unintuitive and annoying as when they first launched on the original Audi e-tron back in 2019.
The A6 e-tron’s biggest rivals are undoubtedly the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE, although there’s always the more spacious Volkswagen ID.7, too, which is available for considerably less money.
Verdict
Audi’s second outing for PPE is for the most part a success. The heavy focus on aero has helped it jump to the top of the class for range, and the rear-drive A6 e-trons are significantly quicker than their equivalents from BMW and Mercedes, too.
It’s good to drive with a polished feel to the controls and chassis tuning. We just wish it was more accommodating in the back, and the interior quality was a bit better in places, but even despite that, it’s probably the best electric Audi so far as an all-round package.
*Specs are for Audi A6 e-tron Edition 1 Performance*