Audi’s newest all-electric sedan has a ride that is luxury-car smooth and composed
Even after how long electric cars have been on the market, some still who turn up their noses because there’s no way they’re a match for performance gasoline vehicles. And so, I give you the 2025 Audi A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron.
What powers the 2025 Audi A6 e-tron?
As with all of Audi’s all-new models, the A6 e-tron rides the automaker’s equally-new Premium Platform Electric (PPE). It uses a newly-developed lithium-ion battery with 100-kWh gross capacity and 94.9-kWh net; and with 800-volt architecture and DC fast-charging capacity of up to 270 kW.
Globally, the A6 e-tron will be offered in four versions. Two will be rear-wheel-drive only, including a smaller-battery entry model, but we won’t be seeing either of those in Canada. There’s also an Avant wagon, which we won’t get either.
The performance S6 e-tron’s two electric motors bump the output to 496 horsepower, with 543 hp available in launch control. Top speed is governed to 240 km/h, and reaching 1o0 km/h should take 3.9 seconds.
Neither has been rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) for range, but in European testing – which isn’t necessarily the same as ours, but for reference – the A6 e-tron is rated for 716 km on a charge, and the S6 e-tron at 675 km.
What’s the Audi S6 e-tron like to drive?
This was a global first-drive event, and the only model there destined for Canada was the S6 e-tron, so I got in it first. The roads ahead were mostly hairpin-turn up a volcano, which gave this car an opportunity to shine.
The S6 e-tron is deliciously fun to drive; it’s exceptionally fast but never feels so overpowered that it’s a chore to pilot it. The Quattro system favours the rear wheels – the front motor produces 202 lb-ft of torque, while the rear unit churns out 427 lb-ft. An air suspension is standard on the S6, optional on the A6, and the ride is luxury-car smooth and composed.
Audi’s engineers worked to really differentiate the drive modes, and they succeeded, if perhaps to a fault. The progressive steering is beautifully weighted and with great feedback in Dynamic mode, and exactly right for the mountain curves. The switch over to Comfort mode was not; the steering became too light and vague. For everyday commuting, the Balanced mode isn’t quite as quick as the sportiest setting but with great connection to the road.
The car uses regenerative braking, capturing and storing otherwise wasted energy during deceleration. To keep everything composed and balanced, the two braking systems work progressively on each end of the car. When you take your foot off the accelerator, the regenerative system first slows the rear wheels, and then the front ones. If you then press the brake pedal, the hydraulic brakes first slow the front discs, and then squeeze the rear ones.
The regenerative level can be increased to the point of one-pedal driving, where it brings the car to a stop without using the hydraulic brakes. The no-brake braking added extra fun to the mountain switchbacks: take your foot off the accelerator, let the regeneration scrub off enough speed for the next curve, and then put your foot back into it. I could gladly have done that all day.
What’s the A6 e-tron like on the road?
The only A6 e-tron available was the rear-wheel-drive Performance, a step up from the 281-horsepower entry model. The Performance’s single electric motor makes 362 horsepower, while our two-motor Quattro version will make 422 horsepower.
Even so, the Performance is no slouch. The general impression is of a very smooth gasoline-powered Audi that happens to be electric; it’s quick and nimble, and a good daily driver that can also tackle the twisties on weekends as desired. The Quattro driveline should only make it better.
Both the A6 and S6 produce artificial gas-engine sounds in the sportier driving modes – they’re silent in the Comfort setting – and while it’s a gimmick, it’s a pretty good one. It’s louder in the S6, but never so noisy that it’s annoying. Should you think otherwise, it can be turned off.
What’s the Audi A6 e-tron like on the outside?
The A6 e-tron’s styling of an “inverted” grille and thin headlights will be a signature look for all of Audi’s future battery-powered models. The door handles are flush-mounted, but you put your hand under them to open. They don’t electrically pop out as some do, which always seems kinda-iffy to me in a climate where it’s not uncommon for cars to be covered in ice.
An available panoramic sunroof contains a liquid crystal technology that turns the glass dark or light as preferred. It does that in sections, similar to moving a sunshade forward – those in one set of seats can have darker glass overhead, while those in the other can enjoy the sunshine.
The rear hatch is hands-free, and if you walk up to the car with the key, it shines an arrow on the ground indicating where to kick your foot to activate it. There’s also a 27-litre front trunk, and the hood pops open for access if you move your hand sideways in front of the car’s nose.
What’s the Audi A6 e-tron like inside?
Audi’s cabin redesign is working its way across all its new models, including what it calls a “digital stage.” A single piece of curved glass contains the 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. A 10.9-inch screen can be added in front of the passenger, which can display some of the centre screen’s information such as navigation, or handle its own entertainment content through phones or apps, which can’t be viewed by the driver.
The seats are comfortable in typical German fashion, supportive rather than cushy, and I like that the S6 e-tron’s bolsters are effective but not so large that they make it tough to get in and out. While buttons are less distracting than screen icons, the climate controls on the bottom of the centre screen are at least easy to figure out. But there’s a lot happening on the driver’s door, where the control pad there not only handles locks, windows and mirrors, but also the headlights.
Final thoughts
Canadian pricing and an on-sale data are still to come. The 2025 Audi A6 e-tron Quattro will come in two trims, and having driven one with rear-wheel, I’m looking forward to piloting our all-wheel version. As for the S6 e-tron, well, if you don’t think electric can’t be electrifying, you really need to get behind the wheel and see for yourself.
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