Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback review

Back in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, speed and elegance were very much in the consciousness of anyone well-heeled enough to travel long distances. The cars and trains of the era were deliberately sleek and delicately styled – for the aerodynamic benefits as much as the style and sophistication of an era obsessed with looking good.

You only need to look at Japan’s bullet trains to see the concept hasn’t gone away. Or indeed, the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback.

Of course, there’s no getting away from the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s considerable dimensions or weight, but the sloping coupé SUV rear end certainly delivers some visual punch over the regular Q6 e-tron SUV. And as it was a century ago, that sleeker styling helps the Sportback to scythe through the air that little bit more effortlessly, in turn boosting range to figures not yet seen by any other electric Audi e-tron model.

Electric coupé SUVs are not exactly ten a penny at the moment, so its closest direct rival is the Polestar 4. Buyers considering cheaper versions of the Q6 e-tron Sportback might also be looking at the Tesla Model Y while those digging a little deeper could also consider the mechanically similar Porsche Macan Electric.

So will the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback deliver the first-class experience its looks suggest? Time to find out.

When it comes to choosing how fast and how far you’d like your Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback to go, things are refreshingly simple, with two battery sizes and three motor options, plus the high-performance SQ6. 

Even the entry-level Sport model is swift, with a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds – or 7.0 seconds if you engage launch control. In normal driving, the motor produces 248bhp but that increases to 288bhp if you use Launch Control.

It’s a similar story with the Sport Performance variant, which is our pick of the range, because for a relatively modest amount of additional outlay, it’ll accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds thanks to the extra thump from the 302bhp motor. With Launch Control engaged, those figures are 6.6 seconds and 322bhp.

The Sport quattro variant cuts the 0-62mph to 5.6 seconds, but given the cost we’d only recommend it if you really need four-wheel drive or to tow a trailer or caravan. The quattro has a maximum towing capacity of 2400kg against 2000kg for other versions.

At the top of the range sits the high-performance SQ6 e-tron Sportback, which delivers sports car pace. It’s the only model in the range to feature air suspension – as it should, because it costs the equivalent of a family hatchback over the next most expensive model

Unless budget is a real constraint, we’d look past the entry-level Sport because its battery with 75.8kWh of usable capacity delivers 334 miles of range under official figures. For a little extra, the Sport Performance and Sport quattro, with 94.9kWh batteries, are good for 406 and 392 miles respectively – both further than the Polestar 4 or Porsche Macan Electric can manage.

Those figures are slightly higher than the regular Q6 e-tron SUV because the Sportback slips through the air more freely.

At speed, the Q6 e-tron Sportback is very composed, with a smooth and quiet ride, even on models with larger wheels. You feel the bumps a little more at lower speeds, but it’s still a relaxing car to spend time in. That might be improved by the air suspension fitted to the SQ6 but we’ve yet to drive that version.

Despite its name, the Q6 Sportback is no sports car, although it does feel fractionally more agile than the regular Q6 SUV – perhaps as a result of the slightly lower roofline – although the Polestar 4 and Macan Electric are more fun on a twisty road.

The brakes are very good, though, and provide a positive feel through the brake pedal that is confidence inspiring and free from the rather remote feeling you get from some systems that employ regenerative braking technology.

“A range of drive modes are available at the press of a button but I didn’t think they transformed the car’s personality as much as they could. I’m pleased they’re there, but I don’t think many will use them that much.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

There’s no doubting the visual impact of the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback’s interior, dominated as it is by a huge curved display, elegant lighting, comfy seats and some handsome styling.

It’s a shame, then, that the beauty is only skin deep, because while most surfaces are covered in faux leather or suede, you only need to tap the materials to feel the rather low-rent materials beneath, and the door tops have only a thin layer of soft materials to rest your arm.

It certainly doesn’t deliver the feeling of solidity that Audi was famed for, nor does the quality befit the price. The Polestar 4 has the Audi licked here.

That apart, the interior is a pleasant place to while away the miles. The driving position is excellent, as it is in the regular Q6 e-tron, and the seats are very comfortable and highly adjustable. They’re heated as standard, but are only electrically operated in high-spec Edition 1 trim (they're electric in every Polestar 4 and Porsche Macan Electric).

The Q6 e-tron Sportback pulls ahead when it comes to infotainment though. It mates a 11.9in Virtual Cockpit digital driver's display with a 14.5in touchscreen to form (almost) one single unit stretching two thirds of the way across the dashboard.

Edition 1 models get an additional screen for the passenger to operate audio and navigation functions, and use a wide range of apps including YouTube and a karaoke system. The genius of it is that the passenger can watch videos, yet the screen is completely invisible to the driver to avoid distractions.

While the infotainment takes a bit of acclimatising, it’s actually one of best touchscreens around. It provides crisp graphics and responds well to inputs, and the steering wheel buttons are easy to use. There's also an AI-based voice-control system that can understand a wide range of commands using natural language.

A special mention goes to the head-up display that forms part of the optional Sound & Vision pack. It's highly detailed, large and has an excellent depth of field, meaning you don’t need to refocus your eyes to read the information beamed on to the windscreen.

“You don’t need to dig too hard to find trims that feel flimsy and low rent. I think that’s really disappointing in a car with this price tag.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Coupé SUVs are, almost by definition, less practical than their squarer, more upright SUV equivalents. And the same applies here – but by far less than you might expect. The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback's roofline is 37mm lower than in the regular Q6 e-tron, with a more rakish windscreen and a roof that curves down towards the rear of the car.

It gives the car a far more squat stance but appearances can be deceiving. Yes, six-footers will be brushing their heads on the roof in the back, but there’s a decent amount of leg room so taller adults can slouch a little. However, specification can play a part in the perception of space: models with dark upholstery and tinted glass can feel a little claustrophobic.

There’s no shortage of space up front – as you would expect for a wide SUV. There’s plenty of head, shoulder and elbow room, and visibility from the driver’s seat is good.

That applies to the view through the rear window, too: it’s far better than you might expect given the squat stance and raked rear screen. There’s no rear wiper, but the glass remains surprisingly clear of dust and road grime, presumably due to the improved aerodynamics.

Storage space is a little more of a mixed bag, because while there’s quite a lot of it, the cubby beneath the armrest is an awkward shape and the wireless charging pad is out of sight in a storage spot at the base of the dashboard. 

You might think that the coupé SUV stance means the boot in the Q6 Sportback is smaller than that of the Q6 SUV – and you’d be right. But the Sportback only gives 15 litres away to its squarer sibling – which is the same difference as the Skoda Enyaq and the Skoda Enyaq Coupé.

There’s 511 litres of boot space – less than the 526 you’ll get in a Polestar 4 but more than in the Kia EV6 (490 litres). However, while the Polestar 4 also has 15 litres under the bonnet, if you pay for front boot option on the Q6, you gain 64 litres of storage.

The boot itself is a good, square shape, and there’s a small, fixed parcel shelf attached to the back seats. The rest of the cover is attached to the bootlid, which means there’s nothing to slide out of the way, making access easy.

“While the official figures suggest the Sportback’s boot space is close to the regular Q6 SUV, I suspect the sloping bootlid will mean it’ll be harder to carry taller or irregularly-shaped items.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback’s starting price looks appealing compared with the Polestar 4, but that’s because the Audi has a smaller-battery version for which Polestar doesn’t really have an answer.

As you walk up the range, the gulf in price widens, making the Polestar look better value. Indeed, it doesn't take long until Q6 prices are close to more modestly specced versions of the Porsche Macan Electric.

However, while the Q6 e-tron Sportback isn’t especially cheap to buy, it’s predicted to hold its value more keenly than the Q6 e-tron SUV – and that model is among the best in the electric SUV class in that regard, although the Macan Electric is better still.

And as one of a small number of electric coupé SUVs, it makes more sense as a company car than conventionally powered models such as the BMW X6 or Mercedes GLE Coupé (which don’t come in all-electric form).

That pragmatic appeal is strengthened further when you consider charging speed. While the smaller battery Sport model can accept a par-for-the-course 225kW charge, the Sport Performance can charge its 94.9kWh (usable capacity) battery at 260kW, whilst the Sport quattro can manage 270kW.

For context, the Polestar 4 accepts up to 200kW, the Kia EV6 258kW and the Tesla Model Y 250kW. In optimal conditions, that means the Q6 takes 22 minutes to charge from 0-80%.

Sport trim kicks off the range and covers off most of what you’ll likely want, including 19in alloy wheels, front sports seats, adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights.

Mid-spec S line brings visual racy touches such as 20in alloys, sporty bumpers, tinted glass and a heated three-spoke steering wheel.

Edition 1 models add 21in wheels, sports suspension and matrix LED headlights (which you can unlock by paying a subscription service on other models). 

The Q6 e-tron Sportback hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP but the regular Q6 e-tron has. It was awarded a full five-star rating thanks to strong scores for adult (91%) and child (92%) occupant protection.

Reliability gives rise to some concern. Although the Q6 didn’t feature in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, Audi came a disappointing 24th out of 31 brands – way behind BMW and just below Mercedes, Polestar and Porsche.

“Some features are only available by monthly subscription. I’m not a fan of this philosophy, especially for such an expensive car, but they can be ordered quickly and easily via Audi’s smartphone app.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

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