Audi Q6 e-tron range, price and performance confirmed

Audi has announced prices and technical details for its new Q6 e-tron electric SUV, promising a ‘technological leap’ forward.

The rival to the BMW iX3, Jaguar I-Pace, Polestar 4 and Tesla Model Y will be available to order from April, with prices starting at £68,975.

The Q6 e-tron is the first car based on the (PPE) platform shared with the incoming Porsche Macan and, predictably, slots in between the Q4 and Q8 e-tron models. Audi says the new platform allows it to set new standards in range, performance, charging and driving dynamics as well as introduce new technology to its electric line-up.

At launch, the Q6 e-tron will be available in two all-wheel-drive variants — the Q6 e-tron quattro and the SQ6 e-tron. Cheaper, more efficient rear-driven versions will be added to the range later.

Both all-wheel-drive versions will feature a rear-biased torque distribution for a more dynamic drive. In the regular Q6 e-tron, the dual motors will produce a total of 383bhp, offering a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds. The higher-spec SQ6 e-tron will pack 510bhp when launch control is active, taking the 0-62mph time down to 4.3 seconds. Top speeds are 130mph and 142mph respectively.

The Q6 e-tron uses a new 94.9kWh battery which Audi says will offer up to 381 miles of driving, immediately placing it among the longest-range models on sale. The PPE platform’s 800V architecture means that charging at 270kW is possible, taking the Q6 e-tron from 10-80% in 21 minutes and adding up to 158 miles in just 10 minutes. The Q6 e-tron also features plug-and-charge for more convenient topping up on the go.

Visually, the Q6 e-tron is immediately identifiable as part of the Inglostadt stable. At 4.77m long, it’s around 10cm longer than the petrol-powered Q5. The EV platform allows a long wheelbase with short overhangs and there’s a mixture of sharp creases and softer lines that are a blend of e-tron GT and Q5 but, overall, it’s a fairly conservative SUV design.

Audi, however, is making a big deal of the Q6 e-tron’s lights. The front and rear digital OLEDs are broken up into multiple segments which can be activated and dimmed every 10 milliseconds to create different patterns. Apparently this means “the light in the new Audi Q6 e-tron appears livelier and more intelligent than ever before”. It also means drivers can choose from eight different light signatures to personalise the look of their car.

Inside, the cabin brings a new design philosophy and a clear focus on the driver. The main instruments and touchscreen curve around the driver’s seat, with a 11.9-inch digital instrument panel and 14.5-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system features voice control which can understand up to 800 commands, and is powered by Android, which allows for dozens of third-party apps to be installed. With the display curved towards the driver, front seat passengers get their own 10.9-inch screen on which they can manage the media and navigation or stream films and TV shows.

Audi is using recycled materials, including reused polyester, to make the q6 e-tron more sustainable, and is also using recycled plastics for areas such as the plastic “frunk” cover. The bodywork also reuses material, with elements of the roof made from scrap steel.

Orders for the Q6 e-tron open in April. The q6 e-tron quattro will cost from £68,975, while the SQ6 will be priced from £92,950. Pricing for other versions will be announced once orders open but the entry-level single-motor version with a smaller battery (83kWh) is expected to start at around £55,000.