2 days ago
2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron First Test: Incredibly Quick, But Otherwise … ?
Pros It's how quick?!
Home-charging port on both sides
Quickly adds range at fast chargers Cons Slow-acting charge port doors
Not as fun as the competition
Needs more exterior and interior colors
What a breath of fresh air. Where the BMW iX's extroverted design leans too hard into the future and the blobby Mercedes EQE lacks premium proportions, the 2025 Audi SQ6 slices the competition right down the middle. Here's a conventionally handsome electric luxury SUV with 509 hp to transform every green light into an adventure.
The road to success should be easy for this Audi, right?
Right ? Why We Tested an SQ6
After starting its EV game strong with what became known as the Q8 E-Tron, Audi faltered with the smaller, more affordable Q4. The latter electric SUV didn't initially meet our expectations of how an Audi should feel, and a gaping hole formed between the two.
Now, after some delays, the 2025 Audi Q6 and more powerful SQ6 are here, striking at the heart of the market—a comfortably sized five-seat SUV more luxurious than the Q4 but less pricey than the Q8 E-Tron, more or less the electric equivalent to the brand's popular Q5.
Instead of a base Q6 RWD's 322 hp or a dual-motor AWD model's 456 hp, the SQ6's dual-motor AWD setup manages 509 hp with launch control. In terms of horsepower bragging rights, the smaller Q4 doesn't come close. SQ6 Tested: A Polestar-Sized Issue
The standard Q6 does , however. In our testing, a Q6 AWD sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, a full 0.3 second quicker than Audi's own estimate. The SQ6 follows suit, beating Audi's 4.1-second estimate; in our testing, the SUV hit 60 in just 3.7 seconds.
Just a few years ago, that kind of explosive performance would have been reserved for RS models like the RS3 and RS6.
One of the SQ6's best features is how that acceleration feels in the real world. In any drive mode, slam that accelerator pedal to the floor, and as the nose of the SUV lifts, you're off.
The near-instant rush of acceleration people associate with electric cars is easier to feel here than in the Polestar 3, another similarly priced electric luxury SUV with sporty intentions, and especially compared to the regular Q6 E-Tron. And that electric Polestar is about as quick as the Audi, with a MotorTrend -tested 0–60-mph time of 3.8 to 4.1 seconds depending on model.
If your driving thrills mostly happen in a straight line, the SQ6 is a great option. It's when the road starts to curve that we start daydreaming about the Polestar 3. On the figure-eight course, our racetrack-in-a-bottle test, the Audi turned in a respectable performance of 24.7 seconds at 0.80 g (average), to the Polestar 3 AWD's 24.4–24.6 seconds at 0.81–0.82 g (average, from two 3s).
But setting the objective numbers aside, the Polestar simply feels more fun and lighter on its feet, which is interesting because it's about 250 pounds heavier than the Audi. As our test crew noted, the SQ6's chassis is composed if you take it down a few notches. But drive it at a faster pace, and the SUV just doesn't feel as fun—it's competent, not captivating.
On the road, the SQ6's adaptive air suspension strikes a good balance between comfort and a sporty feel. Just like the SUV's styling itself, ride quality is good enough that you could live with it for years to come.
That's true up to the moment you hear the hollow thrumming sound coming from the tires on the highway. There's a partial fix for that, though: Turn up the volume on the Bang & Olufsen sound system, which has a 3D sound feature and headrest speakers. The acoustic front door glass on the top SQ6 trim pairs well with the excellent sound system and adaptive cruise control to make stop-and-go traffic more tolerable. Range and Charge Testing: Hey, Not Bad
We know the SQ6 isn't the sportiest or most spacious electric SUV around, and, well, it's also lacking any claims to class-leading range. A 275-mile EPA-rated range is fine, however, and in our Road-Trip Range test—which simulates how you might drive on the highway—the Audi managed 266 miles, nearly matching its claim.
Getting that close to the EPA figure is impressive, as is what happens when the Audi is fast-charged. The 2025 SQ6 added back 160 miles of range after 15 minutes in our testing, which will make public charging stops quicker and more convenient.
Few vehicles we've run through these tests have added that many miles in 15 minutes. As a bonus, the SUV is capable of 400 kW of recuperative braking—meaning it can pile electrons back into the battery quite rapidly when using the motors to slow itself down, stretching your around-town range. What About Tesla?
What about Tesla? With the spacious Model Y SUV, Tesla has produced one of the most popular vehicles on the planet. And the newest model's updates promise improvements at a lower price than the Audi, Polestar, or BMW.
What Tesla can no longer provide is a positive status boost you can count on, like most other luxury brands. We're not just talking about the CEO's unpredictable antics but also the sales troubles faced by one of its halo vehicles, the Cybertruck.
So if any of the above—or the Model Y's ubiquity— bothers you, it's time to consider other brands. It's Fine. But Is It Fiiine ?
We like the 2025 Audi SQ6 a lot; we just don't have much love for it. The design is conventionally handsome but may look too much like the smaller Q4 at a glance. The range is decent in the real world, but that's also true of the competition.
We like the real, pull-out door handles and the cargo area's convenient netted cubbies, but what are we talking about here, a RAV4 or a luxury SUV?
The SQ6 delivers fantastic acceleration for quick thrills pretty much anywhere. We understand why Audi buyers will be drawn to it, as it's very, very Audi-like, but the BMW's interior feels richer, and the Polestar is more fun to drive.
That leaves the Audi right down the middle. We understand the SQ6's appeal, and it is quicker than a run-of-the-mill Q6, but that model more or less delivers the same verve—even without an S badge.
