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First things first: model names in motion

Looking for information about the new Audi A6 with an internal combustion engine? Then you’re not in the right place here. It will henceforth be referred to as A7. That’s because Audi has changed its model names: cars with a traditional internal combustion engine are given an odd number (A3, A5, A7), while electric models carry an even number (A4, A6, A8), supplemented by the name “e-tron.

Choice of Sportback and Avant

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the new A6 e-tron. Like previous generations, it is available as a station wagon, the familiar Avant, and as a variant that was previously going to be called a sedan, but has now been renamed the Sportback. The Sportback is not a traditional sedan, but a liftback. It has a long sloping roofline and a large tailgate instead of a small trunk lid. This makes it much more practical than a sedan. For example, you can now effortlessly put a mountain bike in the back – something that was hardly possible with the old sedan.

Most Dutch people will probably opt for the estate car, as the Netherlands remains a real estate car country. Both the Sportback and the Avant offer a luggage space of 500 liters, but in the Avant you can stack the load higher, which makes it slightly more practical. For smaller items, such as charging cables, there is a handy 27-liter frunk under the hood. A striking detail: you open the hood by simply moving your hand over the nose of the A6 – a playful and functional gadget.

Aerodynamic

Both versions are impressively aerodynamic. The Sportback stands out with a Cw value of 0.21, making it even the most streamlined Audi ever. For this minimal drag, you have to opt for cameras instead of traditional door mirrors. That saves 7 kilometers of range on a full battery charge. Then only 7 kilometers less, we think.  

Up to 503 hp

Audi offers the A6 e-tron with several electric motor options. The entry-level version delivers 286 hp and rear-wheel drive. Go up a notch and you get a more powerful rear-wheel-drive variant with 367 hp. If you opt for all-wheel drive (Quattro), power starts at 428 hp and rises to 503 hp in the S6 e-tron. That S version pops to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. We are testing the 367-hp Performance variant with rear-wheel drive. That one sprints quickly and smoothly to 100 km/h in five seconds. Although there are no official figures yet, Audi is working behind the scenes on an RS6 e-tron. Expect a power output of between 600 and 700 hp and a sprint time probably approaching three seconds.  

Driving range Audi A6 e-tron

The A6 e-tron is available with two battery packs: 79 kWh net, good for a range of 625 km, and 95 kWh net, which allows you to drive up to 756 km. The Avant gets a few less miles due to its slightly less streamlined design, but that difference is negligible. With this range, the A6 is among the best in its class.

During our first introduction, we drive the A6 on sunny Tenerife. The conditions are ideal: 20 degrees, so we do not need the air conditioning or heating. Moreover, the road network on the island consists mainly of quiet interior roads with no highways. In these conditions, you do tap those 756 kilometers.

How the A6 holds up in wet and cold conditions in the Netherlands, we’ll tell you soon, once the car is in our country. We estimate that a realistic range of 550 to 650 kilometers is achievable under normal Dutch conditions. On a cold winter day, with the heater on full power, that’s probably around 400 to 500 kilometers.  

High payload

In addition to its range, its charging power is also impressive thanks to the 800-volt on-board grid. With the larger battery, you can top up to 310 kilometers in just 10 minutes with a charging power of 270 kW. The smaller battery is hardly inferior to that, with 260 kilometers in 10 minutes at an output of 225 kW. This makes the A6 e-tron particularly suitable for long journeys. Here, too, the Audi leaves the competition behind.

Design: recognizable yet innovative

The A6 e-tron is immediately recognizable as an Audi, but there are modern touches that clearly distinguish it from its predecessors. The single frame grille has been retained, but now serves primarily as a style element. The daytime running lights are sleekly designed, with dynamic light signatures that vary by version. At the rear, the continuous oled light bar stands out, providing a fun light show when unlocked. The illuminated Audi logo is also immediately noticeable.

Interior: sleek, businesslike and modern

Inside, the A6 e-tron exudes a mix of luxury and technology. The dashboard is dominated by a curved screen, while the second screen for the passenger provides access to entertainment such as Netflix and YouTube. Smart technology prevents the driver from being distracted by this screen, as the screen becomes invisible to the driver as soon as the car starts moving.

The interior feels like a cockpit, with a sleek, businesslike finish you would expect in this segment. The panoramic roof offers extra light and space and can be darkened or made transparent at the touch of a button. The infotainment system, based on Android Automotive, is intuitive and versatile, but sometimes a bit crowded due to the amount of apps and menus.

Driving characteristics

The A6 e-tron, despite its modern electric powertrain, retains the familiar feel of a classic A6. The driving experience combines comfort with performance, just as you’ve come to expect from this model. It’s not a sleek track racer, but certainly not a gray mouse either. Not a soft French sofa, but not a hard plank either. It offers exactly what you would expect from a family car in this segment: a comfortable and pleasant ride, both for short and long distances.

Practical features

The A6 e-tron proves that electric cars can be not only innovative, but also practical. With a towing weight of 2,100 kg, you can effortlessly carry a caravan or trailer. Your range will slump considerably, but thanks to a large battery pack and high payload, this is one of the first EVs with which we would consider a trip with a caravan to a campsite in the south of France.

Conclusion: a worthy successor

With the A6 e-tron, Audi is breaking new ground. The all-electric A6 offers an impressive combination of performance, comfort and technology. It shows that electric driving is the future – without sacrificing anything in terms of luxury or versatility. And with a generous range and high payload, it leaves its well-known German competitors far behind.

Prices start at 64,000 euros for the entry-level version with the smaller battery pack and thick 600 kilometers of range. The larger battery pack – with up to 756 WLTP kilometers of range – starts at 76,000 euros. For the Avant, regardless of version, you pay an additional 1,500 euros. For the S6 e-tron you will spend at least a ton. In the video below we tell you more.