Rising up, I at all times noticed Audi’s automobiles, design language and general vibe as probably the most trendy, daring, and stylish of any automaker within the U.S., however over current years the model appears to have misplaced its means a bit. One in every of Audi’s largest distinguishing options these days are its OLED lights that may be programmed to show a unique mild signatures, however general the issues that as soon as set the model aside simply don’t anymore. Now Audi is dealing with its largest collection of latest mannequin launches ever, because it plans to launch 20 new or up to date fashions by the top of 2025, and the Q6 E-Tron is the mannequin kicking that off. So does it bode nicely for Audi’s new wave of latest automobiles? Let’s focus on.
Full disclosure: Audi was beneficiant sufficient to fly me as much as California’s world-renowned wine nation to present its new Q6 and SQ6 E-Tron fashions a primary drive. The fantastic people at Audi had me keep on a winery and fed me Michelin Star meals paired with regionally grown wines, all whereas I obtained to soak up the breathtaking surroundings of California’s northern coast.
Let’s begin with the styling of the Q6 and SQ6, a class that Audi as soon as topped virtually unanimously. As an all-electric tackle Audi’s best-selling Q5, the model seems to have leaned towards evolution relatively than revolution, and why mess with one thing that already sells nicely? Having mentioned that, not less than in white like my check automobile, I concern the Q6 has usurped the Kia Soul as the brand new champion of the Automotive That Seems Most Like A Storm Trooper Helmet award. Except for that similarity, the Q6 and SQ6 look wonderful, simply not groundbreaking or distinctive just like the Audis of yore. It’s nonetheless sharper wanting than a few of its opponents just like the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and Tesla Mannequin Y, not less than. Styling is subjective, although, so what do you suppose?
Audi’s newest design fixation are customized digital lighting signatures. High-trim Status fashions get probably the most adjustability in entrance daytime operating mild design selections, with a minimum of eight barely completely different designs to select from. Solely the SQ8 Status trim is on the market with OLED tail lights that additionally get selectable lighting designs, although they aren’t independently selectable from the entrance mild designs. Every completely different entrance mild design is paired with a tail mild design, annoyingly. This can be a nifty characteristic, however not one which’s significantly compelling in my eyes.
All Q6 fashions, together with the spicier SQ6, include a 100-kWh battery pack with 94.4 kWh of usable capability. The entry-level Audi Q6 E-Tron begins at $65,095 (together with $1,295 vacation spot) and makes do with rear-wheel drive, with a single motor producing 302 horsepower below regular use. Launch management bumps that determine as much as 322 horsepower and permits for a 6.3-second 0-to-60-mph time. Improve to the Q6 E-Tron Quattro for simply $2,000 and alongside including dual-motor AWD, energy output jumps as much as 422 horsepower below regular use or 456 hp when launch management is energetic, which shoves it to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. For much more energy and pace, the $71,605 SQ6 E-Tron is perched on the high of the mannequin lineup, and it makes use of a dual-motor setup with 493 horsepower usually and 509 horses in launch mode, permitting for a 4.1-second 0-to-60 time. Audi didn’t present any torque figures, nor did it present any rear-wheel-drive Q6 E-Trons for us to pattern on this journey.
Audi has not but mentioned plans for when it can launch the Q6 with an NACS charging port and even supply an NACS adapter, so for now all Q6 house owners might be restricted to CCS chargers or Magic Dock Superchargers. The bottom Q6 E-Tron is EPA rated at 321 miles on a cost, although that’s solely with the elective 18-inch wheels, whereas the Q6 E-Tron Quattros have 307 miles of vary on the usual 19-inch wheels and the SQ6 has a most vary of 275 miles. These numbers are aggressive, placing the Q6 simply behind the Tesla Mannequin Y, on par with the Cadillac Lyriq, and higher than the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. The Q6 makes a case for itself with its spectacular charging capacities too; Quattro fashions can cost at speeds as much as 270 kW, which might juice it from 10 to 80 p.c in simply 20 minutes. Solely obtained 10 minutes on a quick charger? No drawback, the Q6 can add about 135 miles of vary in 10 minutes. Fairly spectacular.
Past the nerdy technical stuff, the Q6 E-Tron feels just about, as Audi positions it, like an electrical Q5. It’s constructed on the Volkswagen Group’s PPE structure that additionally underpins the brand new Porsche Macan EV, which I drove in Germany not way back. Although Audi and Porsche are a part of the identical household, the 2 crossovers really feel sufficiently completely different. The Q6 Quattro shares the Macan EV’s well-calibrated EV-isms, like impeccable brake mixing, a thoughtfully tuned throttle pedal, and excellent charging capabilities although we weren’t capable of cost on our drive.
Not like the Porsche, the Audi Q6 is able to full one-pedal driving, with 4 whole regen ranges. Utilizing the steering wheel paddles, drivers can toggle from no regen in any respect, to delicate regen that seems like an ICE automobile’s engine braking, to a reasonable degree that may be a good center floor. To have interaction one-pedal drive you must flick the shifter again once more to have interaction “B” mode. In B mode, the regeneration is highly effective and constant however not abrupt, unrefined, or movement sickness-inducing, contributing to the general feeling of powertrain refinement. The SQ6’s calibration felt equally well-sorted.
On the highway the Q6 Quattro has greater than sufficient energy for any state of affairs, feeling peppy even whereas lugging its 5,369-pound weight and two passengers up the scenic hills in wine nation. The journey in my check Q6 Quattro Status was fairly compliant and comfy with its trim-standard adaptive air suspension, and that consolation doesn’t sacrifice cornering skills, both. Truthfully, the Q6 Quattro seems like the only option within the lineup, because it balances good energy and pace with the best ranges of consolation within the Q6 lineup, and prices simply $2,000 greater than the bottom automobile. Audi didn’t carry any Q6s with out the adaptive air suspension that my testers have been outfitted with, so sadly I can’t converse to the journey high quality in these fashions.
You don’t really feel such as you’re lacking out on something within the Q6, however for those who really need extra energy, that’s what the SQ6 is for. It has a typical sport-tuned suspension that feels noticeably firmer than the Q6’s, even when in Consolation mode. The journey isn’t harsh in Consolation however it’s fairly busy, particularly over uneven pavement. I’ve to say, the SQ6’s steering truly felt fairly good. Audi talked about how the Q6’s steering module is mounted on to the chassis with no bushings, however the SQ6’s steering supplies much more directness, and it offers the motive force an inexpensive understanding of what’s occurring with the entrance wheels. I used to be impressed — it is likely to be the very best Audi steering at the moment out there. The SQ6 handles nicely, too, although not noticeably higher than the common Q6. That’s much less of a dig on the SQ6 and extra of a constructive of the Q6. It doesn’t roll a lot, however the platform’s heft is felt when the entrance finish begins to push broad.
As with the outside, the brand new inside design is good, nevertheless it’s comparatively typical feeling and looking, not significantly distinctive within the present market. It’s obtained a spacious entrance cabin with loads of sensible storage options, a strong cooled wi-fi cellphone charger, wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, loads of cargo house, and a rear seat that’s enough for average-sized people, or above-average-sized people if the entrance occupants are keen to scoot up a bit.
The Q6 is the primary mannequin to debut the model’s new inside design language and its new curved MMI infotainment system. The point of interest is Audi’s new curved panoramic OLED display that integrates an 11.9-inch digital cockpit gauge cluster and a 14.5-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. The middle display is sort of drastically curved, so working issues from the passenger seat generally is a bit difficult, however who cares in regards to the passenger. Effectively, within the Q6’s high trims, the passenger will get their very own 10.9-inch touchscreen referred to as Audi Digital Stage that lets them do as they please with out disturbing the motive force. It’s principally the identical system because the Porsche Macan EV, which was the primary passenger display I truly loved. That is the second.
As somebody aware of the present Audi digital ecosystem, the brand new MMI interface is a slight enchancment in usability for many issues, although I truly miss the devoted local weather management display. The rows of shortcut buttons on the left of the display are often obscured by the steering wheel, however they’re straightforward to succeed in and choose whereas driving, and the “hey Audi” digital assistant is surprisingly useful. As with the Macan EV, the Q6 has an elective augmented actuality head-up show that’s very vivid, very excessive decision, and does some nifty issues with debatable profit. In fact, the massive information is the augmented actuality navigation directions that superimpose arrows within the driver’s line of sight to make clear instructions. Whereas cool, I don’t discover the AR nav to be as a lot of a game-changer as others, however to every their very own. The elective Bang & Olufsen sound system has headrest-mounted audio system that announce navigation instructions completely by the motive force’s headrest, which is kinda spooky, but additionally good because it prevents music interruption for different passengers.
Should you’re on the lookout for an opulent electrical crossover, the Q6 is a strong, if a bit dear choice to contemplate within the crowded area. Should you love Audi’s design language or its person interface and also you need an electrical crossover, then the Q6 E-Tron is a superb alternative for you if it’s within the price range. (As of now, federal incentives for EV leases are nonetheless in play, so I’d suggest taking that route if potential.) The Q6 E-Tron has nice charging capabilities, handles confidently, and does every little thing nicely, nevertheless it’s simply not significantly thrilling or compelling. Having mentioned that, it’s a midsize crossover in spite of everything, so it’s not essentially made to be thrilling. It’s meant to be an opulent runabout that may do household duties with aplomb, and the Q6 has enjoyable tech too, which appears to high the listing of contemporary luxurious automobile consumers.
