It seems that the EV marketplace has changed considerably, with the government pulling back on the hefty rebates they were offering, many manufacturers are hedging their bets.
But not completely – case in point is the all-new Audi A6 Sportback e-tron EV, proof that the carmaker remains committed to an electrified future, and with the all-new A6 e-tron, we’d say that future looks bright, indeed. Ready for a test drive? Let’s go!

Family Familiar

While it may be all-new, it’s also instantly recognizable as an Audi with tasteful, conservative lines and strong hints of performance.
The front is sleek and aggressive, with slim LED headlights and digital Daytime Running Lights. A large pentagon shaped grille, wide vertical intakes to cool the brakes and a lower mesh grille add up to a clean but purposeful look. And of course, Audi’s signature 4 rings sit proudly front and center.

The profile is especially sporty, thanks to a small greenhouse, sweeping liftback roofline, and handsome 20-inch, 5-spoke, bi-color rims that really fill out the wheel wells.

The rear keeps the clean, aero look with LED taillights, dynamic turn signals and a light bar that spans the width of the rear. Audi’s familiar 4-ring logo is the only bit of bling, while a sporty lower fascia adds to the overall vibe. Our tester was finished off in Plasma Blue Metallic, a low key, rich blue that looks premium and sophisticated.

Screens, screens and more screens!

OK, we’ve seen quite a few new vehicles with dual screens that create a wall of info and info-tainment, and Audi certainly has one of the best. But for the all-new A6 it raises the game with an additional screen just for the front passenger!

Take out your scorecards – it starts with a curved OLED display, featuring an 11.9- Audi Virtual Cockpit directly in front of the driver. Typically Audi, the information is clear, concise and driver configurable.

Our tester also had Audi’s augmented reality head-up display (AR HuD), that reflects a large, tilted image plane across the windshield towards the driver. One of the best we’ve seen, it serves up relevant information such as speed, traffic signs, assistance, and navigation symbols, all without having to look away.

Info-tainment is handled by a massive 14.5-inch touchscreen, and we found it to be awesome with great definition, and the gargantuan size made maps, and apps like our WAZE big, bold and beautiful. While the screen also handles climate control duties as well as niceties like heated/cooled seats, dedicated touchpoints mean you won’t have to go fishing through screens just to warm your buns or defrost the rear window.

This is a tech tour de force, using a new Android Auto OS operating system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto just the appetizer, and cool stuff like the vehicle’s self-learning voice assistant that controls numerous vehicle functions.

Like a sci-fi movie, the system can provide proactive suggestions based on previous user behavior, smart routines where it automatically recognizes recurring operating sequences, such as using the seat climate control from certain outside temperatures and even intelligent lists such as call lists. Wow!

As we mentioned, the passenger no longer needs to feel left out – an available 10.9-inch screen serves up all sorts of fun, with Active Privacy Mode that allows the front seat passenger to enjoy entertainment content like movies or streaming content, without distracting the driver.

When you feel like sharing, the 830-watt, 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system features speakers in the front headrests not only for optimum sound, but also providing personal surround sound, personal navigation announcements, and even one-on-one phone calls.  

Other cool goodies included the panoramic glass roof that changes from opaque to transparent at the touch of a button. It even features four settings to control the light coming in. Doesn’t open, however!

Adding to the light show, the interior also features an 84 LED light strip that spans the full width of the interior below the windshield and can serve a variety of functions, including a welcome function, mimicking the dynamic turn signals or adjustments to the climate control system – it even features a red dynamic indicator light to alert the driver of danger.

 And if you’re worried you need to be a qualified 777 captain to operate all this tech, it’s all friendly and approachable.

All this tech and luxury too, with have exceptionally comfortable heated and cooled front seats, real wood trim that’s just beautiful, and a two-tone interior that’s just as elegant and high quality that you’d expect from an Audi.

The rear seats that have a surprising amount of headroom, despite the swept back roofline (unlike the BMW M235 we recently tested), and an impressive cargo hold – especially considering as an EV, Audi has to share the area with parts of the battery pack. We were even more impressed with the rear hatch’s large opening and with the rear seats folded down there’s tons of space – you might not need that SUV after all!

The Audi of EV’s
Driving the A6 Sportback is pure Audi goodness.
There seem to be two camps in the EV world. One that goes out of its way to hit you over the head with EV uniqueness – vehicles like the Hyundai Ionic 5 and 6 come to mind. The other direction is to make the experience as close to the gas-powered engine as possible. We think the BMW i4 is a perfect example of that.

And so is the A6 e-tron – anyone coming from a non-EV would find just about everything familiar – outside of charging instead of fueling, of course.

The A6 comes with a choice of powertrains. Rear wheel drive models get a 375-horsepower electric motor, good for an impressive range of up to 392 miles.

Step up to the quattro all-wheel drive like our tester, and you get a second electric motor and a solid bump up to 456 horsepower. That’s a meaningful bump, and along with being impressively silent, the quattro is very quick, with 0-60 in just 4.3 seconds. That’s plenty fast, and with all that power coming on instantly you’re easily one of the kings of the stoplight Grand Prix. (if you need even more, the S6 is offered with 543 horsepower!)

Our e-tron also had excellent range, with an EPA estimate of up to 377 miles with the available Ultra package. Charging is another strong point, with 800-volt technology and a maximum DC charging capacity of 270 kW, the e-tron quattro can be recharged from 10-80% at an appropriate DC fast charging station in as little as 21 minutes. Just enough time to grab a quick lunch or a coffee and check your emails.

Back on the road, the A6 treats you like royalty, especially with the optional Adaptive Air Suspension, with a choice of luxurious and sporty modes depending on what your highness prefers at the moment. A cool feature, in efficiency mode, the suspension lowers the body by nearly an inch to improve aerodynamics, optimize energy consumption and increase range. Neat stuff!

Otherwise, the A6 e-tron is pure Audi with light, precise steering, unflappable ride and ability to cover long distances in impressive comfort. We especially liked the great feel from the brakes, impressively natural feeling for an EV.

Audi also makes sure you’re at the forefront with protective tech, with all sorts of goodness, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with emergency assist, front and rear cross traffic assist, rear turn assist, camera-based traffic sign recognition, distraction and drowsiness warning, exit warning and more.

How much if I elect to go electric?
Like most European brands, it’s a matter of controlling your instincts to load up with tempting options. No doubt, the A6 is a premium model, and our e-tron quattro started at $67,900. It also carried an impressive array of options, including Plasma Blue metallic paint ($595), Prestige package ($6,300) and Warm weather package ($1,1500). Add in $1,295 for Destination, and we range the bell at $77,240.

Competition would include the BMW i4 xDrive 40 at $77,920. Both great cars, you just have to decide if you’re more an Audi type, or a BMW type. And if you wanted to go break the piggy bank, the Porsche Taycan 4S is lovely, but it starts at over $120,000 and goes from there. Porsche goodness comes with a Porsche price tag!

Swift, handsome, with impressive tech and luxury, the all-new 2025 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron quattro is an amazing European sport sedan that just happens to be an EV!