I step on the brake with my left foot, press the accelerator to the mat with my proper—then, slip off on the left. Motors whirl to life as they whorl out warp-speed ahead thrust. Visitors cones fly by within the facet home windows like mailboxes on a rustic highway till I let off the pedal and let “B” mode’s regenerative braking lasso this electrical SUV down for a gradual proper flip again into its parking spot.
Even the briefest publicity to Audi’s new electrical SUV, the 2025 Q6 E-Tron, it’s straightforward to see the promise within the first totally conceived, best-executed EV from the model.
Audi nonetheless sells some good-to-great gas-powered SUVs, however the EV companions like this Q6 E-Tron are those that can catapult it into the long run, powerfully.
The Q6 E-Tron marks the primary Audi automobile on a brand new VW Group structure it developed: PPE, which it shares initially with the Porsche Macan EV. Promised to be Audi’s best EV but, it’s mentioned to be a 3rd extra environment friendly and a 3rd extra highly effective on the identical time than its E-Tron SUV predecessor (now the Q8 E-Tron).
With seats for 5 and a footprint like its meant goal, the Tesla Mannequin Y, the Q6 E-Tron additionally pits itself towards Hyundai’s E-GMP trio of the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Genesis GV60, whereas Ford’s Mustang Mach-E additionally elements in the identical measurement and battery class. The Audi commits not one of the high quality fumbles of the Tesla (or the Ford: see inside trim), whereas it angles towards the Hyundai trio for expertise and high quality. It’s fancy with out the frippery—and it’s quick with out foibles.
It arrives within the U.S. late in 2024 as a 2025 mannequin. I’ve solely pushed it for very quick distances, however I can see the promise in its new structure, its battery selections, its dual-motor drivetrain, and its high-end suspension.
2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron
2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron
2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron
2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron
What’s the 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron powertrain?
The inspiration of the Q6 E-Tron on this rendition of PPE sits below its 5 seats. It’s a 100-kwh (gross) battery pack that may use as much as 94.4 kwh of that capability. Its 12 modules of 180 prismatic CATL cells, assembled in Ingolstadt into packs which comprise the ground of the Q6, weigh about 1,257 kilos. A ten-module, 83-kwh (gross) model will issue into automobiles made for markets outdoors the U.S.
Within the PPE universe, Audi bets on larger battery modules, and fewer of them, to ease manufacturing and to chop supplies use—and due to this fact, planet-load. PPE requires fewer battery connectors, whereas it additionally permits higher cooling and warming for the battery with predictive administration, which helps keep optimum situation.
Audi has chosen to profit from the pack’s capability from the outset; it hasn’t reserved some vitality for future upcharges and upgrades delivered over the air, as Mercedes and different manufacturers have finished. It does sport a vastly extra highly effective computing construction, which leaves ample room for OTA updates in addition to future V2X makes use of.
In comparison with first-gen E-Tron, Inexperienced Automotive Studies Finest Automotive To Purchase 2020, Audi experiences the Q6 E-Tron’s battery vitality density has risen 62 p.c, whereas vitality consumption has dropped 30% and drive-unit prices have dipped 15 p.c.
Audi farms twin motors for the Q6 E-Tron in Hungary, rated at 140 kw in entrance and 280 kw within the rear. Whole system output hits 422 hp within the core Q6 version, which weighs about 5,150 kilos, however in a higher-draw “enhance” mode, it may well ship as much as 456 hp. Audi quotes a 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds with launch management, as I’ve stomped my approach by means of below the fittingly steel-gray sky close to the Munich airport.
The upper-performance mannequin, the SQ6 E-Tron, faucets battery vitality extra voraciously, to ship 483 hp to all 4 wheels, or as much as 510 hp within the enhance mode. That’s good for a 0-60 mph run in 4.2 seconds, Audi says, whereas the SQ6 may also high out at 143 mph.
No specs have been quoted for essentially the most environment friendly model to return, a single-rear-motor model—or for the highest efficiency version, an RS Q6.
Audi has confirmed the Q6 E-Tron will tow as much as 4,400 kilos, although it gained’t provide a selected off-road mannequin. That’s simply as properly: with its typical metal suspension or its upgraded air suspension and adaptive dampers (customary on SQ6, an choice on the Q6), this SUV and Audi SUVs as a style have shied away from any hardcore rock-crawling or trail-clambering connotations—particularly those who would have an effect on on-road efficiency.
2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron
2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron
2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron
2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron
How does the Q6 E-Tron drive?
With simply two laps in a car parking zone gymkhana, we are able to’t say a lot if something about the way in which the Q6 E-Tron drives. Launch mode has the catapult impact that’s meant, although final acceleration is extra according to a Mach-E than a Plaid. With three ranges of paddle-controlled regenerative braking and a one-pedal “B” drive mode that the Q8 E-Tron lacks, the Q6 E-Tron guarantees to mix in its typical brakes higher and later than most methods. Audi believes that’s a extra environment friendly and smoother option to ship its most of 0.3g of deceleration in one-pedal mode. That’s greater than the Finest Automotive To Purchase 2022 Lucid Air generates, and within the Audi, our very quick drive telegraphed some silken transitions between motors and friction brakes, one thing we additionally famous in our 2024 Q8 E-Tron take a look at drive evaluation.
How briskly does it cost, and what’s its battery vary?
The EPA hasn’t examined the Q6 E-Tron but, however Audi has dedicated to greater than 300 miles of vary for the bottom Q6 “60” mannequin with twin motors. With an AC cost port on the proper and a CCS port on the left, the Q6 arrives too quickly for Audi’s transition to the Tesla-style NACS charging interface, although it’ll transition into it quickly.
The Q6 E-Tron will settle for as much as 270 kw of DC fast-charging and can have the ability to high off its battery pack from 10-80% in as little as 21 minutes. The place potential on lower-output chargers, the Q6’s 800-volt system can separate its pack into twin 400-volt digital packs; the automobile will deliver each to the identical state of cost first, then cost the banks in parallel at as much as 135 kw. Plug & Cost connectivity might be fitted from the get-go.
For residence charging—which accounts for the overwhelming majority of luxury-priced electrical automobiles—the Q6 E-Tron will have the ability to recharge in about 10 hours on a 40-amp 240-volt AC charger.
2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron
2025 Q6 E-Tron: acquainted styling, higher infotainment
The Q6 E-Tron weaves itself tightly into Audi’s present electric-SUV household. The defend at its entrance finish wears its four-ring emblem proud atop a set of energetic shutters that give the not-grille texture, even when the body-color base mannequin swaps into grey and black on higher-trim editions. From the facet the Q6 resembles nothing lower than a Bentley Bentayga, with pronounced brows over 19- to 21-inch wheels rendered in near-flush spokes that talk of a number of aerodynamic consideration. Audi gained’t have the ability to provide the trick dynamic LED lighting that it’s going to promote elsewhere: the NHTSA code means its LED signature should stay mounted on American roads, whereas Chinese language and Polish and Irish drivers will have the ability to flip by means of eight completely different lighting arrays on a whim. U.S. drivers will get to decide on a much less formal Sportback roofline, however not within the first mannequin 12 months.
The Q6 E-Tron exhibits off a brand new inside that wraps across the driver in a cool tech embrace. It empanels an 11.9-inch digital “digital cockpit,” in Audi-speak, that blends mapping, infotainment, and automobile shows in a fancy present of pressure. The central 14.5-inch touchscreen splits off navigation and automobile and infotainment capabilities within the (barely) extra conventional approach, wearing pencil-thin fonts and crisply outlined icons. A ten.9-inch passenger display has a digital privateness blind that blocks the driving force from watching a film on the go—however permits it for the entrance passenger. Android Automotive OS kinds the core of the working system, however wi-fi Apple CarPlay comes free of charge, and a tremendously expanded set of acknowledged voice instructions liberates the cabin from the outdated haptic interfaces in favor of voice and contact.
Each nestle in an surroundings outlined by dogbone-shaped, softly padded sprint and door panels capped by wooden or metallic trim. It’s a clubby place, not relentlessly stark just like the Mannequin Y suite.
At 187.8 inches lengthy, 64.9 inches tall, 78.5 inches broad, and with its 114.1-inch wheelbase, the Q6 E-Tron tangles most instantly with the Mannequin Y, although. Our temporary publicity confirmed the enchantment of Audi’s styling selections and of its traditional excessive grade of seat consolation. And with as much as 53.9 cubic toes of cargo house behind the entrance seats and a 2.2-cubic-foot frunk, the Q6 E-Tron doesn’t come up shy on room.
It leans in with security expertise too, from customary automated emergency braking, to adaptive cruise management, blind-spot displays, and automated excessive beams.
Costs haven’t been confirmed, however an entry sticker of about $70,000 appears a protected guess, with a $90,000 invoice for the SQ6 E-Tron in sight. Neither model will qualify for federal tax credit, nevertheless, for the reason that batteries come from CATL and get put collectively in Germany.
We’re desirous to spend extra time in what’s clearly Audi’s finest first shot at a brand new EV structure but. Keep tuned: we’ll drive the Q6 E-Tron later this 12 months, upfront of its on-sale launch, anticipated by early December 2024.
Audi paid for the journey bills to and in Munich that enabled this firsthand report.