2024 Audi Q6 e-tron S-Line Review

Closely related to the new electric Porsche Macan, it’s no surprise the Audi Q6 e-tron S-Line drives similarly and costs almost as much.

Following on from our experience in the new electric Porsche Macan, we were into a close relative, the Audi Q6 e-tron. They share plenty of mechanicals.

Initially, two models are on offer, the first being the Q6 e-tron Advanced single-motor, rear-drive version. It has output of 225kW/485Nm, a zero to 100 time of 6.7sec and a sticker price of $134,990. 

Both this and the S-Line AWD variant ($155,990) you see here share a 100kWh (94.9 net) battery pack. That imparts a claimed 638km of WLTP range for the Advanced and 567km for the S-Line. 

With dual motors the latter packs 285kW of power and 580Nm of system torque, taking the sprint time down to 5.9sec. This is a bit beneath that of the Macan 4 we drove recently (300kW/650Nm, 0-100 in 5.2sec claimed and costing $168,350) but it’s close for a bit less of an outlay. 

Should you want more, there’s evidently an SQ6 e-tron on the horizon, sporting 380kW and capable of gapping it to 100 in 4.3 seconds.

All variants, plus Macan, ride on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture. While there are clear differences in styling, both look modern, sleek, athletic and up for it in general. Audi likes to think of its Q6 e-tron as the SUV version of its e-tron GT. While that’s perhaps a visual stretch, the styling cues are undeniable. Still, you’d hardly regard this as a raised up version of the electric speedster. Whatever, it has a bit more animal in it than some of Audi’s previous SUV designs. 

Big on the outside

Oddly, in the metal it looks smaller than what it actually is. Length is 4771mm and width is 1939mm while height is 1685mm. So you’d expect a vast interior but that’s not quite the case with either Macan or Audi Q6 e-tron. Both fall a little short on rear seat leg room expectations. Not that it’s tight, just hardly generous. But luggage capacity of 526-1529L isn’t to be sniffed at. And there’s an extra 64L of frunk space available, which handily fits the charger and spare cable. That then leaves an underfloor space at the rear, though the luggage blind makes accessing that space tricky. Either install it or leave it in your garage. Whatever, there’s really good visibility out the rear window, and a good surround and reversing camera. 

Big on the scales too

Oddly, kerb weight doesn’t show up on the Audi Q6 e-tron spec sheet. With a 100kWh battery pack slung beneath, there’s a lot more weight than an ICE power equivalent. Only there isn’t one; it’s EV only is the Q6. Audi quotes 2325kg without driver which is virtually the same as the 2330kg that Porsche reckons its Macan weighs. In a straight line the more potent Porsche is quicker. All 0-100s were around 5.5sec, a half second down on Macan 4. However, the overtaking times for the e-tron were only a tenth slower. Weight clearly influences energy use and range, but more important is how you drive it and where; these have a huge impact on how far that battery charge will take you. This doesn’t feel especially quick, not like some dual-motor EVs. But it’s dead quiet on the go, fitting in a premium vehicle. Performance and range are a real balancing act for new energy machines.

Read more 2024 Audi SQ7 TFSI review

Audi says 18.7kWh/100km is the combined energy use figure. On our photographic jaunt out of town, we’d say low 20s is about right, rising to mid20s during the shoot as that involves a lot of stop, turn around and start again manoeuvres. We saw high teens on the motorway using cruise control.

How is human machine interface? 

Pretty darn good, as it happens. Rather than controls for adaptive cruise being on the wheel, they’re on a wee wand attached to the left side of the steering column. You might think this is a retrograde step but once you’re familiar with such, it works well and leaves the wheel spokes free for more important stuff. 

As is so often the case, the shortest distance interval to the car ahead while using adaptive cruise control allows all and sundry to pile in while cruising along. Guess you’re doing the NZ driving public a favour while staying safer in heavy traffic.   

Unlike most of the Chinese electric machinery, the Q6 e-tron is mercifully devoid of audible safety warnings. Occasionally it might sound off when it thinks there’s a possibility of a forward collision; amusingly it makes a ‘ding’ noise. But when exceeding the local speed limit it leaves you to sort that. The only thing we opted to turn off each time we returned to the Q6 was the lane departure warning because the steering felt better without it. And there’s a shortcut for that.

Interior brimming

This is really rather alluring inside, quite something with its ambient lighting, leather and gloss black finishes, and large curved screen that includes both digital instruments and infotainment. The passenger has a screen too. Seats are fully adjustable, and very comfy. We took it out on a stinking hot day and being dark blue it soon began to cook inside when stopped up. However, you can always leave the car on with AC running. 

There are some aspects that make this premium but you can’t help think they might go wrong at some point, where a lighter, simpler mechanism would suffice. Like the charging port; access to it being motorised. A spring release is quicker and simpler. At least the cable is easy to disconnect after charging; there’s a pushbutton that unlocks the plug.

You get lots of spec here. Even the base model comes with matrix LED lights, dynamic indicators, privacy glass, customisable DRLs. Move to the AWD version and you get S-Line exterior and interior trim, digital OLED rear lights with various signatures, an augmented reality head-up display, a Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System, adaptive air suspension, 20-inch Audi Sport wheels and quattro all-wheel drive. 

Clever charging

Replenishing a big battery with its emergency charger is certainly possible but it takes the better part of 24 hours to get from around 50 per cent to full again. So a wall charger is clearly the go. This has both in one, an emergency charger (1.4kW) as a three pin, and a 7.2kW charger as a wall mount unit and three-phase supply.

On a road trip you can make the best use of the hyperchargers available because of its 800v architecture, adding 255km in 10 min and taking 25min for a full recharge. 

What else about this dazzles? Well, the augmented reality head-up display is a step up. At its lowest point, the numbers seem to be skimming along the road so they don’t interfere with forward vision. 

And when you change speed zones, the traffic sign recognition icon in the head-up display expands momentarily to stress the point. It reminds of the effect The Mask had on Stanley Ipkiss. Guess you had to be there. We like the ambient lighting up front too, pulsing when the charger is connected. 

Overall the Q6 e-tron is not only easy to operate but works well too. Especially the variable recuperation, done by paddles. More on the left, less on the right. Only the left paddle has a negative sign, the right a positive. Clearly these were shift paddles in another life. And that was poor decision making by the bean counters on a circa $160k vehicle. Especially when build quality is otherwise so solid.

At least the paddles work well, with off being coasting, the intermediate setting being moderate regen and the top setting being akin to gentle braking. Pulling back on the shift lever, such as it is, to the B setting initiates even more regen which genuinely feels like one-pedal driving. Brakes are good too, without being special. 

Can it corner though?

Well, yes, it can, at least for a moderately heavy high-riding vehicle. It’s rather like the Macan in that regard. There’s really not a whole lot of difference between them, both the versions we drove with adaptive air suspension. Of note, the Individual setting has no power or responsiveness variability. But you can change up things like suspension, noise etc.

There are quite marked ride differences between the Comfort and Sport settings. The former is just cushy, the latter imparts a firmer, better controlled ride and less roll for improved cornering performance. And like in Macan, it all works nicely. Only you’re always aware of the weight beneath. Which is why it’s nice with Macan that you have the option of going for an ICE model still, only it won’t be zero emissions. 

When it’s all said and done, these are SUVs and just how dynamic do you need them to be when they’re all about getting family from A to B safely, quietly, securely and preferably without having to stop to recharge. If you do, try to ensure it’s a hypercharger to make the stop short and sweet. 

And if Q6 e-tron seems all a bit much, the Q4 45 e-tron version is scaled back in every way but is rear drive, still quick enough, and offers luggage space of 520L and range of 550km. Better yet, it kicks off at $104k.  

Audi Q6 Specifications and NZ pricing