2025 Audi S6 e-tron: Comfortably Powerful
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Following in the footsteps of the Q6 e-tron, the A6 e-tron puts the manufacturer's PPE (Premium Platform Electric) to profit to propel Audi into the full-electric midsize luxury sedan segment. And in this era where SUVs multiply like there’s no tomorrow, being handed the keys to a “good old four-door” is always a godsend, especially when it's a performance variant.
The Car Guide travelled to Tenerife, Spain, to put the 2025 Audi S6 e-tron Sportback to the test.
Sportback and Avant for Europe, Sportback Only for America
Well, “four-door” isn’t quite accurate in this particular case, as the A6/S6 Sportback technically has five, the automaker's Sportback designation swapping the rear trunk lid for a large hatchback. This allows the electric mid-size sedan to retain a sporty coupé look with a drag coefficient limited to 0.21 – which is technically the best coefficient ever achieved by the German automaker, whose engineers went above and beyond in terms of wheel, front bumper and undercarriage design to pull it off.
The large hatchback also allows the S6 e-tron to extend its rear cargo volume to 502 litres, and 1,330 litres with the rear seats folded down. Add to this a small 27-litre space under the front hood.
Europeans can choose between the Sportback and Avant wagon configurations. But the latter obviously won't make it to North America, as is the unfortunate custom... but we were able to take it for a quick spin to get a taste of this forbidden fruit.
Inside, the S6 e-tron presents itself as a spacious midsize that focuses on occupant comfort, with sports seats that are surprisingly well suited to long-distance driving. The dashboard is packed with screens, with an 11.9-inch instrument cluster paired with a 14.5-inch touchscreen. Our S6 e-tron was even equipped with a smaller 10-inch unit for the passenger. While OLED technology gives these screens crystal-clear clarity, a new S6 e-tron owner will need to invest some effort in learning its various functions, as there are plenty!
While we deplore the lack of simple manual controls for essential systems and the exhaustive use of plastic in the centre column, we commend the original, Alcantara-leather-wrapped split design of the dashboard.
Quite Comfortable for an S
Down below, the Audi S6 e-tron is geared with two electric motors (one positioned on the front axle, the other on the rear) that unleash a combined cavalry of 496 horsepower. With the Launch Control feature, this can be increased to 543 hp. The mechanical duo is powered by a 100 kWh battery, of which 94.9 kWh are usable.
Range is rated at 675 kilometres according to the European cycle. The EPA's less optimistic figures have not been made official, but we're talking about an estimated 520 kilometres, which isn't bad at all for a sport sedan. Finally, the platform allows up to 270 kW of recharging power at a Level 3 station, enough to invigorate a battery showing a 10% charge to 80% in 21 minutes under ideal conditions.
In terms of pure straight-line performance, the S6 delivers the goods with great conviction, providing torrential acceleration capable of riveting a driver and his passengers in their seats. What stands out most, however, once you drop the S6 e-tron into the urban jungle or onto a winding road, is its comfortable, composed character. On our test circuit, planned on a winding, uphill road, braking proved consistent with this comfort philosophy, offering a crisp pedal feel in lively driving, and smooth, seamless transitions when opting for the one-pedal regenerative function.
The S6 e-tron is lower than its A6 counterpart, and sports different suspension parameters. And switching from Comfort to Dynamic will only slightly alter S6 e-tron's character. Apart from its rather intrusive driving aids (which can be deactivated each time you take the wheel), the S6 e-tron nonetheless proved to be agile in corners, expertly handling its electrified weight.
An RS 6 e-tron on the Horizon?
Emulating the gas-powered German sedan’s driving experience where the differences between the base and sport models are definite is proving difficult for all manufacturers who are embarking on the electrification journey. While the S6 e-tron tends more towards comfort than sportiness for its S badge, we believe it offers a categorically more dynamic experience than its Mercedes-Benz EQE rival, even despite the latter's big power in its AMG variant.
What's more, we know that an RS variant is in the pipeline for the Q6 e-tron SUV, which shares essentially the same electric components. Perhaps the RS badge will make the S6 e-tron give up some of that plushy comfort for more feedback and interaction. Canadian pricing for the 2025 Audi S6 e-tron has not yet been announced, but this information should be made public closer to launch date of the A6 line, which is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.
