14 hours ago
Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron Review 2025
This is the Q6 Sportback e-tron, which is Audi code for coupe – the slinkier version of the Q6 SUV that was launched in 2024. Was the model line created solely so someone at Audi HQ could sleep more soundly with a full flush of SUVs from Q2 through to Q8? Perhaps.
It's a slightly confusing model to have in the lineup as it's barely a credit card bigger than the Q5 in any direction, but harks back to the bizarre era of about 15 minutes in length where Audi announced it was going to have petrol-based odd numbered models and electric ones with even numbers.
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It looks very similar to the Q5 styling-wise, save for the sleeker headlight treatment up front. But then if you wanted to do any form of virtue signalling as an electric car driver an Audi SUV possibly isn't the thing to use. And how's it different to the actual Q6?
Audi says the exterior is different from the shoulder line up, so there's a more rakish windscreen, swoopier 37mm lower roofline and obviously a sleek boot. But Audi also thinks if you look at it from the side you'll be reminded of a first generation TT, so salt pinches at the ready people.
That curved roof does make it more slippery through the air – a drag coefficient of 0.26 makes it better than a bus but worse than a fish and good for up to 408 miles of range. It looks quite big.
It does look big, but then all cars are huge these days aren't they? It's actually on par with some of its rivals – not surprisingly the same size as the Porsche Macan, with which it shares its technical undercrackers, mostly the same size (but a chunk shorter) than the Mercedes EQE SUV and Polestar 3.
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Does anyone really want a coupe SUV?
It appears they do, because carmakers keep building them. Audi reckons that 25 per cent of the Q6 models it sells will be the less practical Sportback model, and demand is particularly strong in its home market Germany.
To be fair, if you're going to get a large heavy electric SUV you might as well really lean into it and go for a coupe version. The Q6 Sportback looks surprisingly good when you're standing next to it, but to our eyes the Polestar 3 does a much better job of blending rakish pretensions and reasonable taste. Talk batteries to me.
The Q6 Sportback comes with the same set of powertrains from the standard Q6 SUV – batteries in large (83kWh or 75.8kWh usable) or XL (100kWh or 94.9kWh usable) and rear-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive propulsion.
Audi says its thermal management of the batteries is 'impressive' (well it would, wouldn't it?) and that along with the 800V electrical architecture makes for peak 270kW charging (in the 4WD models) and a 10 to 80 per cent charge time of 22 minutes. If the stars align and you find a plug that delivers what it promises. So how far will it go?
The rangiest model is the RWD Q6 Sportback e-tron performance model that's rated at 408 miles WLTP – the smaller batteried car will get you a still decent 339 miles and the SQ6 Sportback is rated at 377 miles.
Once we've driven the car in the UK we'll have a better idea how close you can get to those figures in everyday driving. Check out the Driving tab for more info on batteries and performance. Does it drive alright?
The Q6 Sportback has been engineered to please the home crowd and that's fine – it's impressively refined on the motorway, even at crazy autobahn speeds, staying quiet inside the cabin at 90/100mph. You won't be doing that in the UK of course, but it's still nice and quiet at traffic jam speed.
We've only driven the car on the buttery smooth roads around Ingolstadt so far (and on optional air suspension too), so we can't comment too much on whether your teeth will fall out on UK roads, but the handling is direct and assertive, giving the car a perkiness that belies its size. The hotter SQ6 version was almost, dare we say it, quite fun.
The only thing we didn't like was the brakes, which offer a good initial response but then get snatchy just before you come to a stop. Audi's managed to conjure up a smooth blend of discs and regen on some of its other cars, so it's a shame it's not quite managed it here.
Our choice from the range
AUDI
225kW Performance 100kWh S Line 5dr Auto
£69,450
See prices and specs
What's the verdict?
' Looking for an electric coupe-SUV and you really want an Audi? Bosh, the Q6 Sportback does the job '
Audi can churn out quick, dependable, tech-laden SUVs with its eyes closed. And the safety kit is almost good enough that they could stay closed. The whole Q6 offering doesn't do a great deal to stick out in your mind when you think of electric SUVs, but it fills a little gap in the company portfolio nicely. Looking for an electric coupe-SUV and you really want an Audi? Bosh, the Q6 Sportback does the job.
One of the main virtues of this car is that it's simple to use and easy to live with – Piccadilly Circus-inspired dashboard notwithstanding, but that's really down to taste. We can think of more interesting cars, but if you're more worried about listening to a podcast in heavy traffic or trying to hustle the kids down the motorway, look no further.
