Audi's highly anticipated electric Q6 e-tron SUV is set to debut this summer. With promises of elevated performance, extended range, rapid charging capabilities, enhanced driving dynamics, and innovative design, it's poised to set new standards in the electric vehicle market. From our side, it's certainly a model worth keeping a close eye on.

Performance

This marks the debut of the first production model based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), a collaborative effort with Porsche, promising an exhilarating driving experience. The Q6 boasts a system output of 285kW, while the SQ6 e-tron ramps up to 380kW. Acceleration is swift, with the all-wheel-drive Q6 quattro hitting 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds, and the SQ6 achieving it in just 4.3 seconds.

When it comes to handling, expect lively performance attributed to enhanced steering, torque distribution, and the innovative PPE platform. A majority of the chassis components are freshly developed, including a partial redesign of the front axle.

The Q6 e-tron features the standard array of drive modes, spanning from Efficiency to Dynamic, with the latter focusing on enhancing the car's responsiveness for a more spirited driving experience. Engaging Off-road mode elevates the car's ride height and enables finer accelerator control at lower speeds, facilitating navigation through challenging terrain. Prioritising efficiency, the Q6 e-tron predominantly operates in front-wheel drive mode, channelling power to the rear wheels only when additional traction is needed.

Range and Charging

In addition to its compact electric motors, the Q6 e-tron boasts a new lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 100 kWh, delivering an impressive, claimed range of up to 625km. The charging capabilities are equally impressive: equipped with 800V technology and a standard maximum charging capacity of 270kW, you can recharge the Q6 e-tron with High Power Charging (HPC) and gain up to 255km of range in just 10 minutes.

Enhancing convenience, the charging process is fully automated. When encountering a charging station utilising 400V technology, the Q6 introduces a novel feature called bank charging for the first time. This innovation automatically divides the 800V battery into two batteries with equal voltage, allowing them to be charged simultaneously with up to 135kW each. Additionally, AC charging will commence with a maximum of 11kW, but we have been informed that it will eventually increase to 22kW.

Design and Interior

The Audi Q6 e-tron embodies typical Audi SUV styling with a further refined e-tron design language. Externally, a standout design feature is the LED daytime running lights, which can be set to illuminate in a choice of eight different patterns.

As you’d expect there’s plenty to discuss inside the cabin. The MMI panoramic and passenger display system is a standout, featuring a slim, curved panoramic screen with OLED technology, an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit, and a 14.5-inch MMI touch display. Complementing these is a 10.9-inch front passenger display with Active Privacy Mode, ensuring it doesn't distract the driver while providing entertainment or assistance with navigation for the front passenger.

The advanced voice assistant understands over 800 voice commands and continuously learns from user interactions, offering proactive suggestions, recognising recurring tasks like adjusting seat climate control, and managing intelligent lists such as phone numbers. Your spoken commands are also displayed on the screen for confirmation.

Other notable features include a head-up display with augmented reality navigation, dynamic ambient lighting throughout the dashboard, an impressive 830-watt Bang & Olufsen premium audio system upgrade, ample storage space of 526 litres, and support for over-the-air updates for software and features, ensuring your Audi remains cutting-edge over time.

Cost Considerations

Irish prices for the Audi Q6 e-tron haven't been disclosed yet, but it's anticipated that the mid-range model will be priced at approximately €85,000. This positions it as a more affordable option compared to some of the luxury electric SUVs currently available in the market. Additionally, we anticipate that Audi will maintain its typical trim-level structure, offering Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige versions, each catering to different preferences for luxury and features.

Conclusion

As orders are slated to open in the upcoming months, the Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron models appear ready to challenge the top contenders in the current market of EV crossovers. We're especially eager to witness the real-world performance of the Premium Platform Electric architecture and to gauge how closely these models align with the Macan EV.

Interested in Audi’s other electric models? Check out our other Audi EV reviews here.