2025 Audi Q6 e-tron review: Australian first drive

Just like a good cheese, technology also needs time to mature and fully develop – and EVs are no different in this regard.

If you’ve been hesitant to jump aboard the EV train thus far because, like a good cheddar, you’re probably waiting for EV maturity, well, your patience has finally paid off with the arrival of the Audi Q6 e-tron.

Not only is this the right shape and size to be a sales hit in Australia, but it's also boasting a next-generation platform that substantially improves range and charging speeds.

Has Audi delivered the ultimate electric car? We’re about to find out.

Though the entry-level Q6 e-tron Performance can be had from $115,500 before on-road costs, Audi didn't have one available at the Australian launch.

Instead, the range available included the all-wheel-drive Q6 e-tron quattro for $122,500, and the flagship – for now – SQ6 e-tron for $151,400. The Q6 e-tron Performance is set to arrive in the next few weeks.

What do you get for your spend? Quite a lot actually, and tech heads should take note because there are more than a few cutting-edge features here.

As standard there are some desirable features such as matrix LED headlights, electronic driver's seat adjustment, heated front and rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, and a powered tailgate.

The entry-level Q6 e-tron Performance features 19-inch wheels, while stepping up to the Q6 e-tron quattro or SQ6 e-tron nets buyers 20- and 21-inch wheels respectively.

The bottom line here is that even in the base Q6 e-tron, you will want for nothing in a premium electric SUV.

And while the added equipment in higher grades are all nice-to-haves, and of course there are option packs to add features such as a panoramic sunroof, augmented-reality head-up display, and up-rated sound system, the biggest consideration for an EV should be, well, its EV bits.

Here, the headline feature is that each Q6 e-tron features a 100kWh battery – one of the largest in this class of car.

And what that means is you get seriously impressive driving range and fast-charging capabilities, but more on that further down the review.

Just because it’s an efficient and cutting-edge EV doesn’t mean the Q6 e-tron has lost its edge.

In this mid-spec Q6 e-tron quattro, there are two electric motors that punch out a combined 285kW, and 275Nm from the front unit and 580Nm from the rear, and enough to accelerate this electric SUV from 0–100km/h in as little as 5.9 seconds.

Even the base car has a potent 225kW/485Nm output to the rear axle – enough to hit the landmark triple-digit speed in as little as 6.6sec.

Of course, the top-spec SQ6 e-tron is the most potent, with 360kW, and 275Nm/580Nm front/rear, at its disposal, which cuts the 0–100km/h run to just 4.3sec with launch control activated.

Find your nearest Audi dealer here to check out the Q6 e-tron in the metal, and take note that all customers buying new will have access to ChargeFox's EV charging network for the first year free.

As a mid-size SUV, the Q6 e-tron affords owners the space and practicality even for families.

Measuring 4771mm long, 1965mm wide, 1675mm tall and with a 2899mm wheelbase, the Q6 e-tron is slightly larger in all dimensions than a Q5, but, as an EV, has a neat trick up its sleeve.

Without an engine in the front, the bonnet opens to reveal a 64-litre cavity that is handy for charging cables or small bags. This is in addition to the boot with a 526L capacity with all seats in place, expanding to 1529L with the rear seats folded.

In the rear seats, my 185cm-tall frame fits comfortably, even behind my preferred driving position.

And because it's an EV, the floor is almost flat, making even the middle seat useable if you don’t mind sharing shoulder space with other passengers.

Audi’s usual premium appointments are all featured throughout here too.

The leather is soft and supple, the seats are supportive and comfortable, with other amenities extending to rear air vents, bottle holders in the door pockets, back-seat map nets, and a fold-down centre armrest.

Up front, space is great, thanks to plenty of adjustment in the electronically adjustable seats, and this flat top and bottom steering wheel for extra leg space.

And of course, there is plenty of space to empty your pockets, with large door pockets, two cupholders, a storage tray positioned ahead of the shifter with a wireless smartphone charger, and a deep underarm storage cubby.

Aside from its EV powertrain, the coolest thing about the Q6 e-tron might be the interior tech on show.

A big, bright, and clearly legible 11.9-inch virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster sits ahead of the driver, which is customisable and configurable.

Sitting between the front passengers is a massive 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto support.

Supplementing this is a wireless smartphone charger, which in usual Audi style requires you to wedge your phone sideways into an elastic flap that risks scratching the screen. It's not the best implementation of a wireless charger, but at least it puts the phone out of easy access for drivers to focus on the road ahead.

And if two screens weren't enough, there is a third 10.9-inch touchscreen display for the front passenger, which allows control over music, satellite navigation, and more. This screen 'turns off' for the driver once in motion, so there is no distracting display in the corner of your eye while on the move.

I'm happy to report that all three screens feel smooth and snappy, and function very well jumping through different settings.

An augmented-reality head-up display is also available, as standard on the SQ6 and available in the $8900 Premium Pack for the Q6 e-tron Performance and Q6 e-tron quattro, which is once again a pretty cool piece of tech.

The system overlays turn-by-turn navigation instructions straight onto the road, and has small touches like a speedometer that gets bigger the harder you push the throttle as a way to convey a sense of speed to drivers.

Audi's new Q6 e-tron has not been crash-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, and therefore does not have an official safety rating.

Despite the lack of crash-safety rating, the Audi Q6 e-tron is offered with a comprehensive suite of advanced systems.

As standard, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition, lane-departure warning, surround-view monitor, and an exit warning are fitted to all Q6 e-trons in Australia.

In fact, stepping up the model tree does not afford buyers any extra safety gear.

Audi Australia boasts 30 advanced safety systems in the Q6 e-tron, most of which had to be locally tested and validated before coming to market, but there is one notable omission.

Namely, the Q6 e-tron does not feature lane centring, which works in conjunction with the adaptive cruise control to keep the EV between the white lines on the road.

This is a technology that is available in rival models, as well as more affordable alternatives, so it's especially egregious in the premium-priced and positioned Q6 e-tron.

With a new PPE platform underpinning the Q6 e-tron, the improvements to in-cabin technologies and charging and driving range are evident, but there are also 30 active safety systems at play.

Arguably the headline feature on the Audi Q6 e-tron is its driving range, backed up by a 100kWh battery – one of the largest in this class of car.

Of course, driving range varies depending on variant, with the performance-honed SQ6 e-tron boasting the longest ADR-certified 568km range. This is due to the standard fitment of adaptive suspension, which allows it to better slice through the air.

The entry-level Q6 e-tron Performance features a 558km driving range, while the Q6 e-tron quattro boasts 542km.

It was hard to ascertain accuracy of these claims during the launch event, and these Australian figures are down on the WLTP claims of over 600km on some variants.

Still, a circa-550km driving range is impressive, but even more remarkable is the Q6 e-tron's fast-charging capabilities, which can take a rate of up to 270kW from an appropriate outlet.

Of note, the Q6 e-tron Performance will only charge up to 260kW, whereas the rest of the line-up will take 270kW.

And that means you can add about 250km of range in around 10 minutes – or as long as it would take to order a cup of coffee.

There are certain expectations you have when you get into a brand-new Audi model – it’s got to be comfortable, it’s got to be plush, and it has to have a sporting edge.

And the 2025 Q6 e-tron delivers on all fronts.

I’ve already walked you through all the premium appointments, but when you’re driving, that premium experience is really elevated by this model being an EV with a silent powertrain.

But what's different about this Q6 e-tron, even when compared with rival EV competitors, is the smoothness of the power delivery.

There’s no sudden jolt off the line and no sudden burst of speed, even when you floor it as the power delivery is very linear and befitting the Q6 e-tron's premium car status.

Even the more potent SQ6 e-tron doesn’t feel all that much faster than the Q6 e-tron quattro, and both just carry on building speed without much fuss or theatre.

And what's also great is that the Q6 e-tron doesn't run out of huff, even at freeway speeds, so overtaking is a breeze.

Power delivery is more in line with an internal combustion engine with a linear progression and a throttle pedal that isn't too sensitive to a poke, which is a very good thing.

That's to say the Q6 e-tron isn't quick, because the 275kW output in the quattro allows for a 5.9-second 0–100km/h acceleration time, despite weighing two-and-a-half tonnes.

The SQ6 e-tron nudges outputs to 360kW, cutting that 0–100km/h time to 4.3sec, but with the way the Q6 e-tron line-up lays down that power, it feels effortlessly, rather than viscerally, quick.

And where the Q6 e-tron comes into its own is ride comfort, as it feels plush and compliant, as you would expect from a model wearing an Audi badge.

A call-out here is that the adaptive air suspension, standard on the SQ6 e-tron and available as an option on the Performance and quattro for $4900 in the Tech Pro pack, is excellent, and able to deliver on comfort and sportiness in equal measure.

That isn’t to say the Q6 e-tron quattro with standard suspension is uncomfortable or it can't handle a bend, it just doesn’t have the variability the adaptive suspension affords it.

All of Audi's signature handling characteristics are there, the steering is well weighted and suspension feels hunkered down, and push things too hard and you can induce bouts of understeer – so if you've owned an Audi in the past, you'll be right at home here.

I'll also call out the flat-topped steering wheel, which, I found, actually aids forward visibility to a measurable degree.

With tech moving at such a rapid pace, it can be hard to know when to pull the trigger on something like an EV.

But every now and then, something like an Apple iPhone gets released that hits that sweet spot of price, features and useability for the most amount of people.

The Q6 e-tron is Audi’s iPhone, offering an attractive equipment list and upmarket appeal, and addresses the shortcomings – namely a short driving range and staid driving dynamics – of EVs that have come before.

If you’ve been on the fence about an electric car, I guarantee you, the Q6 e-tron will change your mind.

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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.

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