Audi A6 Sportback e-tron vs Volvo ES90

There are plenty of reasons to get a fastback over a conventional sedan.

The sleek design of a gently sloping roof has its own undeniable appeal, for starters. And then there's the fact that these cars also typically offer a large opening when you're loading/unloading luggage.

If you're shopping for an all-electric premium fastback from a premium brand, the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron and Volvo ES90 we have gathered here not only offer these advantages, but they both also are relatively new to our shores. So, just which is the better pick?

Both the A6 Sportback e-tron and ES90 are visually appealing in their own right, but the Audi just looks a bit more planted, and its proportions just a bit more correct

Brimming with style

Both cars appeal in their own ways when it comes to exterior design, but having the benefit of being able to place them both together, I find the Audi just manages to eke ahead when it comes to sheer visual appeal.

Its proportions just seem a little more correct, its stance more planted, and I absolutely adore its illuminated logo at the rear (even if internet consensus seems to be that it is rather gaudy).

But it's not hard to see why others may be drawn to the Volvo. Its blank grille is a perfect match with the rest of the car's clean surfaces, while its LED elements on either side of its rear windscreen and those Thor's Hammer lights endow it just the right touch of visual interest. It looks neither boring nor over styled.

But I do think that that rear of the Volvo ES90 sits a little too tall - a necessary touch, perhaps, to hide its significant 1,546mm total height.

Finding what you need from the 14.5-inch infotainment display of the Audi is simple enough, but the 14.5-inch item in the Volvo charms with its unique icons and layout

Mighty sensible

And it's not as if that translates to significantly more boot space: The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron offers a total of 502 litres here next to the Volvo's 424-litre item.

But Volvo has the Audi soundly beat when it comes to accommodations for passengers. You not only get more leg and knee room in the rear seats of the Volvo, but it also comes with ventilated front and rear seats (even if you opt for yours in the lower 'Ultra' specification), on top of a four-zone air-conditioning system where the Audi makes do with a three-zone one. 

And the ES90 matches the A6 e-tron by having air-conditioning vents for rear passengers both at its B-pillar and at the end of its centre console. Although the Audi trumps the Volvo here by featuring a dedicated display that the front passenger can play with.

The Volvo ES90 not only comes with ventilated rear seats, but also has the Audi soundly beat when it comes to knee and leg room for rear passengers

Eager and Ready

And I found the Audi the better car to sit in if you're only going to be dropping into the driver’s seat.

Both cars are accomplished and proved more than capable of delivering the comfort and cabin insulation you'd expect of an executive sedan. But the Audi A6 e-tron simply offered the more settled ride between these two, both on the highway and when navigating slower streets.

Still, if a cushy ride tops your list of needs from a car, you'd do well to pick the ES90: It scores particularly well when it comes to pliancy over larger road obstacles. I also found its steering offered just the right weight and pace to make the ES90 effortless yet engaging to drive at speed.

The A6 Sportback e-tron, meanwhile, feels more firmly sprung, but also exhibits greater body control and composure when shown a set of sweeping curves. You also only get the option to change the level of regenerative braking in the Audi via steering wheel-mounted paddles, with the Volvo only offering you the option to turn one-pedal driving on or off, or to set it into an automatic mode.

On the move, it is the Audi that feels more accomplished. Poor surfaces will disrupt the serenity of the Volvo's cabin

I found it easier to find a comfortable driving position in the Audi as well - a consequence that I suspect stems from the slightly elevated stance of the Volvo.

You'll also want to note that both cars here offer precious little visibility out of their rear-view mirrors thanks to their sloping rooflines. But the Volvo ES90 is the greater offender here, compromising much of its remaining view out with an obstructive headrest at its second row.

Done with your drives? Then you'll also want to note that the Volvo not only comes with a slightly larger battery, but also can be charged up at a greater power: the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron comes with an 83kWh battery that can be charged at a maximum of 225kW, while the Volvo ES90 comes with a 92kWh (that is, gross capacity) battery and can be charged up at a maximum power of 310kW.

Both the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron and Volvo ES90 are sure to deliver if quiet and comfortable transportation is what you're after

More than capable

So, which is the all-electric fastback for you? At $412,999, this 'Edition 1' Audi A6 Sportback e-tron is asking for just a small premium $392,000 above the Volvo ES90 in its 'Ultra' trim level (all prices as of press time, inclusive of COE).

Those who are shopping for a car but place passenger comfort high on their list of priorities can’t go wrong with the Volvo. It’s spacious accommodations for rear passengers, ventilated rear seats, and the fact that it comes with a larger battery will prove irresistible draws for the practically minded.

But for those that want a car that offers that sport ride and handling match the sleek exterior of that fastback body, the A6 Sportback e-tron should prove the more appealing car. It impressed the first time we drive it in December of 2025, and again only continued to do so with its fine balance of body control and insulation from road imperfections with this second drive.

And how can I be expected to say no to its gorgeous exterior? Good looks are the reason why you're shopping for a fastback to begin with right?

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