Here we are. Audi finally has an electric sedan that is not an exceptional model. Of course, the e-tron GT had few rivals on the market, apart from a certain Taycan, but at over 100,000 euros, the battle was at heights quite far from reality. Let's be clear, the new A6 e-tron is not what you would call an affordable car. At over 62,800 euros, it is part of the premium segment, but it is facing more classic vehicles, including an essential Tesla Model 3 Performance. It is the latter that the A6 e-tron has chosen to face and the duel promises to be exciting.
Summary
We were able to take the wheel of the Audi A6 e-tron and more specifically its sportiest version, the S6 e-tron Sportback on the magnificent roads of Tenerife, at the foot of Mount Teide. A mountainous and demanding environment in which we were able to put the electric sedan with the four rings to the test. Result: a near-flawless performance that we will summarize in seven steps.
1 – Tout pour l’aéro
When it was unveiled, the final version of the A6 e-tron was mainly praised for its resemblance to the concept from which it was derived. The transition from concept to production version is often synonymous with sacrifices and a gradual disappearance of design specificities in favor of more reasoned choices. The German designers did not want to make such compromises and have made a game of seven differences between this A6 and its concept. So much so that the commentators’ gaze may have been diverted from the essential: the car’s aerodynamics.
Applauding the beautiful curves of the sedan also means highlighting the excellent work that has been done to limit the wind resistance of the A6. On this point, Audi has simply beaten its own standards. The A6, particularly in its S6 version, displays a Cx of 0.21, the lowest figure ever achieved by an Audi. Even the sportiest of the brand's electrics, the e-tron GT, despite being focused on aerodynamics, had to make do with a respectable 0.24. The new sedan therefore does better and even its estate version displays a record value of 0.24. This score is not only attributable to the slender shape of the A6. Indeed, it was necessary to deal with its almost 5 m long and just under 5 m wide. The overall design is partly responsible, but it is a whole set of small things that contribute to gaining a few tenths of Cx and thus improving the car's autonomy. Among these "small" things, we will distinguish four elements:
- The rims: unlike other electric models, they are not solid, but were designed with the aim of better redirecting air flows. Combined with tires cut for electric, they have allowed to gain 6 km of autonomy.
- The controlled suspension, which is mainly known for improving comfort and driving performance. It is energy-hungry, but it would allow Audi to gain 6 km of additional autonomy on this A6.
- The cooling system has undergone a complete overhaul. It benefits from the flat floor of the car and better efficiency, which saves 12 km more.
- The second-generation camera mirrors: their gain is estimated at 7 km, but they are not a real novelty. On the other hand, Audi has listened to the criticism to improve them on their two weak points. Now, they can retract when the car is stationary. Above all, the screens in the passenger compartment are much better positioned. While the one on the driver's side still requires some time to adapt, the other, on the passenger side, has been placed directly in line of sight and is used very naturally. This option is still a bit of a gimmick, but we can only appreciate its constant improvement.
The A6 e-tron and the S6 e-tron are masters in the subtle art of aerodynamics and this has consequences in terms of autonomy, we will come back to this.
2 – A platform tailored for the future
We have sometimes been harsh with the Volkswagen group's first platform, the famous MEB, and it is probably no coincidence that Audi's most efficient electric vehicle to date, the RS e-tron GT, has chosen to turn away from it. Certainly, the technical architecture that took over from this MEB, the aptly named PPE, is much more solid. For those who have trouble following, it is this technique that served as the working basis for the electric Porsche Macan and the Audi Q6 e-tron, two of the most notable vehicles in 2024. The A6 e-tron therefore takes up the same bases and with the same success. The strengths of the PPE platform? They are now known: a capacity to carry large battery blocks (the A6 is available in 83 kWh or 100 kWh), the possibility of having four powerful engines (we will come back to this) and above all a high-flying recharging capacity at 270 kW of power. In a word: the 800 V in all its glory.
3 – MMI and company
If under the hood, the standards are particularly high, the passenger compartment is also well-appointed. We will be brief on this point since the dashboard of the A6 e-tron is exactly the same as that of the Q6 e-tron that we were able to discover a few months ago and which we strongly recommend you read. The triple-screen interface (the third is for the passenger) is still governed by the MMI system, supported by Google Automotive. The operating system is full of customization possibilities, but it will require long minutes of use to be mastered. On the other hand, it demonstrates Audi's interest in new technologies and its desire to integrate them into its platform, even if sometimes this integration seems to have required a shoehorn. This cult of technology is also found, and it is now a habit at Audi, on the optics, the display of which can be customized in a dedicated menu. New in the A6 e-tron: an illuminated rear logo that integrates with the lights and which, under its air of technological joke, also adds a touch of safety. The function is a gadget as desired but it will undoubtedly please. Finally, and to finish on the passenger compartment, it would be a shame to pass on a basic but essential aspect. You feel good there, both in the driver's position (which gives the impression of being in a cockpit), and in that of a passenger, very comfortable.
4 – Stronger than Tesla on range
No false suspense here: we will not pretend to be able to deliver real range measurements after our first Audi A6 e-tron test. As superb as they are, the roads of Tenerife are not what you would call classic roads. When the route involves going from sea level to the foot of the highest peak in Spain at over 2,200 meters above sea level, consumption is anything but classic and cannot be considered a reference value. So while we wait to get our hands on the wheel of the A6 e-tron again, and to obtain more adequate consumption, we will be content to comment on the official information, which predicts that Audi's electric sedan will have the best ranges in its category.
In fact, when we combine such work on aerodynamics with large batteries and software management of engine performance that has continued to improve over the years, we can only arrive at interesting values. Thus, depending on the battery level and the type of A6 (sedan or estate), we oscillate between 627 km and 756 km of autonomy (WLTP). These data are obviously to be correlated with the fast charging capabilities of the A6 e-tron, up to 270 kW, which allow to go from 10 to 80% of battery in less than 20 minutes. But that's not all.
As on the Q6 e-tron, Audi has equipped its sedan with a very advanced energy recovery system that can be customized using the steering wheel paddles. In addition to the four levels of energy recovery, there is a very clear One Pedal mode. The driver will find an additional reason to play with eco-driving.
5- The Audi A6/S6 e-tron, what is it worth on the road?
Blazing acceleration (0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds), a dynamic and responsive chassis, controlled suspensions that respond to the slightest bump in the road... How difficult it was to find fault with this S6 e-tron. The credit goes not only to the electronics that instantly correct the slightest clumsiness of the driver, but to an ultra-smooth assembly that puts a smile on your face. In smooth driving, in its comfort mode, the electric A6 enjoys rocking its occupants in cathedral silence. It's pleasant and relaxing. Set to dynamic mode, the sedan shows off its muscles and its 405 kW of engine power. You then find yourself adjusting the driver's seat to the tightest setting and playing with the accelerator with the impression of being glued to the asphalt. The curves follow one after the other, the speed does not weaken and with it the impression that we are on board one of the most pleasant electric vehicles that we have been allowed to drive.
6 – The Audi A6 e-tron faces the competition
Finding some of the sensations we experienced during the Q6 e-tron test on the A6 e-tron reminded us of the essential thing: how good it is to be able to drive an electric sedan! We could almost forget it, but the number of these models can be counted on the fingers of two hands and those that are able to compete with the latest Audi are even fewer.
On the other hand, we regret that the entry ticket is so high. The cheapest A6 e-tron starts at 62,800 euros, but the price soars when you opt for a 100 kW battery, or an estate model and reaches new heights when the sedan is awarded the S badge. Thus, our test model, the S6 e-tron, is barely under 100,000 euros. From then on, the list of potential competitors is even narrower. On the 62,800 euro version, its most obvious rival is none other than the Tesla Model 3 Performance or the BMW i4. If the match with the former seems almost unbalanced, the A6 also keeps the advantage over the latter due to its substantial autonomy. As for the versions with higher prices, they enter into direct competition with the historic competitor, Mercedes and its EQE. Here again, the 756 km of autonomy of the A6 e-tron weighs heavily in the balance sheet.
7 – Verdict of the test:
With this new A6 e-tron, Audi confirms a few months after the excellent Q6 that it has entered the second generation of its electric era. The time for approximations is now over and the brand with the four rings is back where we expect it to be in the electric car market. Of course, the A6 e-tron and even more so the S6 that we tested are premium cars, but with a certain driving quality, high-end equipment, a substantial battery and an express charging speed, they can fully assume a higher price than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. Of course, the A6 is not perfect, but its strength lies, in our opinion, in a rather rare ability to easily hide its few flaws to see only its many qualities.
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