► Audi’s first all-electric performance estate
► 543bhp, 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds
► Priced from £99,300
We’ll start this review of the Audi S6 Avant e-Tron with a public service announcement because if you thought you’d got your head around Ingolstadt’s latest naming strategy then think again. Remember the switch to even-numbered Audis being EVs and odd-numbered cars using fossil fuels? Well don’t bother, it’s changed again.
Following customer feedback, the numbers will once again refer to the size of the car rather than its powertrain. So along with the electric A6 and S6 variants, Audi will also be producing petrol and hybrid equivalents which, until this announcement, were presumably going to be referred to as A7 and S7. Confused? Us too, let’s get back to the actual car.
What we have here is an electrified version of Audi’s famous fast estate. We’re not talking RS6 levels of performance, but it’s not a million miles off. As in, 543bhp and 428lb ft of torque levels of performance… This is wrapped up in Audi’s brand-spanking PPE platform co-developed with Porsche and it’s the first time that we’ve seen it on a car rather than an SUV.
Has Audi successfully transferred its fast estate talents into an electric vehicle and is it a match for other premium EV wagons? Keep reading to find out.
At a glance
Pros: Extremely comfortable, packed with kit, plenty quick enough
Cons: Should be more practical, effective but not especially fun to drive
What’s new?
Since this is the first Audi S6 Avant not powered by fossil fuels, pretty much everything… Compared with the regular A6 Avant, however, the changes are less dramatic. Sure, it’s got more power, but the S6 has the same 100kWh battery, dual-motor all-wheel drive setup and torque figure as the A6 e-Tron Quattro.
The S6 Avant e-Tron does, however, get air suspension as standard – something that (despite being offered in Europe) is not available on the regular A6 Avant e-Tron.
What are the specs?
At the time of writing, the S6 Avant e-tron is only available in flagship Edition 1 spec. That means hardware such as 21-inch Audi Sport wheels and adaptive S air suspension with dynamic damper control is standard, as is Matrix LED headlights, a 10.9-inch passenger display, electrically adjustable front seats in Dinamica microfibre and heated outer rear seats.
As for performance, the S6 Avant e-Tron gets a 100kWh battery, two electric motors meaning AWD and 551hp and 580Nm of torque, 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 149mph. Claimed range is 388 miles for the Avant, while max DC charging speed is rated at 270kW. The Avant stats at around £2k more than the Sportback, with a list price from £99,300.
How does it drive?
Whatever the name might suggest, it’s clear that Audi hasn’t gone all out to make the ultimate in electric fast estates. Sure, there’s plenty of pace on tap and the delivery and responses are expertly-judged, but this S6 Avant does merely feel like an upgraded version of the fastest A6 Avant.
As such, it’s incredibly comfortable. The standard-fit air suspension does a phenomenal job of shrugging off just about everything your average UK car journey can muster in terms of poor road surfaces, while the overall refinement and cruising manners are deeply impressive. Honestly, as a car to cover long distances in it’s truly a joy.
Mind you, if you’re hoping to see anything like the WLTP range figure (especially in winter), then you might want to temper your expectations. With a full battery, we reckon a real world run of 240 miles is achievable in single-digit temperatures and normal driving conditions.
Dynamically, the S6 Avant e-Tron does the normal large, EV thing of hiding its 2.4-tonne kerb weight in the vast majority situations, yet its keener to reveal it – when pushed – than sharper, sportier rivals such as the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. The steering also isn’t as crisp or confidence inspiring, while the whole car does feel that bit larger on the road.
The Quattro all-wheel drive is a welcome ally on an unfamiliar stretch of tarmac – especially in poor conditions – and there’s clearly been a conscious effort to push more of the power to the rear-wheels. Get on the accelerator early out of a tight corner and there’s a little slip to be had from the rear end, yet there’s nothing to shuffle torque between each rear wheel in order to get the most out of it. Effective, but also not the most fun and far more one-dimensional than the equivalent Taycan.
What’s the interior like?
There’s a strong argument that Audi interiors peaked around ten years back before The Great Invasion of the Screens, but if you can get on with the numerous displays plastering the S6 e-Tron’s cabin then it’s a lovely place to spend time in. Quality is excellent across the board and it’s only the touch-button steering wheel controls that feel a touch cheap.
Otherwise, you’ve got an 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit, a 14.5-inch MMI central display and a further passenger display showing huge amounts of info in a clear, well-laid out manner. There’s also an excellent head-up display and, just to be thorough, two further displays mounted in the corners to make up for the lack of wing mirrors.
Audi claims the A6 e-Tron is the most aerodynamically efficient car in the company’s history and some of this is down to the Virtual Mirrors. Hugely controversial when they came out, I struggled to get on with them initially yet after a period of acclimatisation I now find the futuristic system to work reasonably well.
Field of view and visibility at night and in poor conditions (the lens never seems to get dirty) are often superior to regular mirrors, yet it’s still tricky trying to judge the distance to objects when reversing at low speed.
Meanwhile, rear seat space is decent but could be better, while it’s a similar story for bootspace. At just over 500 litres you’re unlikely going to be short of luggage capacity, but bear in mind the BMW i5 Touring offers around 70 litres more. The Audi does however have an additional 25-litre frunk – super handy for storing cables.
Before you buy
We’d really think carefully about whether you want the optional Virtual mirrors. They look impressive and are a positive impact on range, but some may just find them a step too far in terms of tech that’s not strictly necessary. They’re also tricky to use in some circumstances, so make sure you take a test drive first if you’re planning on speccing them.
Also consider the rivals available for similar money. If it’s got to be an estate, the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo and BMW i5 M60 Touring are both exceptional cars and are worth a look alongside the S6 Avant e-Tron.
Verdict
If you’ve got your heart set on a comfortable, tech-laden estate with decent practicality and class-leading range the S6 Avant e-Tron is a strong choice. It does all of the above and more, all while delivering rapid performance and formidable cross-country ability. However, there’s two questions you need to ask yourself before pulling the trigger.
The first is whether the Quattro or Performance spec cars would suffice. They’re cheaper and have superior range while not giving away a great deal of real-world performance aside from the omission of air suspension. Meanwhile, the second is whether you might prefer the sharper driving Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. For similar money, it’s mighty tempting.
