Audi Q6 e-tron RWD 83kWh Review

The Q6 e-tron isn't the most ostentatious nor biggest electric SUV in Audi's lineup, but it's arguably the most alluring one sold by the brand currently.

The smaller Q4 e-tron shares some of its mechanical innards with the Volkswagen ID.4/5 and Skoda Enyaq, while the Q8 e-tron rides atop of a heavily re-tooled architecture that started life serving combustion rather than electric power.

The Q6 e-tron, however, is that unassumingly brilliant middle child of the family - built not just for full electrification from the ground up, but also to fulfil Audi's premium mission well. A sleeper car, possibly disguised as Just Another Audi to the uninitiated. But a significant, next-chapter machine that marks the first model to ride atop of Audi's shiny new weapon for the electric era: A latest-generation electric platform called the Premium Platform Electric (PPE).

Understated suit of armour

Not that its special status would be crystal clear to someone setting first eyes on the car.

In typical Audi-fashion, the Q6 e-tron wears its sheet metal in a manner that would immediately mark it out as a descendant of Ingolstadt, even without the four rings on its tailgate and octagonal front grille.

With its slim daytime running lights (clever designing means the main beams are tucked to the sides of the grille instead) and blocky jaw, you'd never mistake the Q6 e-tron as an offering from any other brand. This should come as no surprise; one would be more likely to find terms like 'familiar and 'understated' rather than 'outlandish', after all, within the liner notes of an Audi design brief.

Larger items would certainly serve the Q6 e-tron's muscular aesthetic better, but the standard 19-inch wheels do the job well enough 

This base model does without the brand's dazzling rear OLED tech - but still has a sleek light bar at the rear that can put on a little light dance when unlocking the car

But conservative doesn't mean unappealing. The Q6 e-tron is handsome, brawny, and well-proportioned for a mid-sized SUV. Even on this base trim, the entry-level 19-inch wheels aren't ill-fittingly small, though you could absolutely appeal in upgrading to the larger items on the 'edition 1'.

Speaking of which, it's worth noting that the car we got our hands on does away with the groundbreaking (if slightly showy) rear OLED lighting technology found on said 'edition 1' trim. Still, even when stripped bare of the most sophisticated tech, the Q6 e-tron comes with its own magic tricks. Its tail lights put on a little dance when you lock and unlock the car, and eight daytime running light signatures present themselves for selection. Whoever said the Germans don't know how to have a bit of fun, even when staying within a safer realm of styling?

Beneath the surface 

It's on the inside, however, where the Q6 e-tron's new-generation identity will be made clearer.

Electric architecture aside, part of the PPE package is also a new digital ecosystem, gifting the Q6 e-tron a heavy dose of screens that - in less-typical Audi-fashion - feels more revolutionary than evolutionary.

New-age, but still intuitive: Audi's latest MMI infotainment system retains most of its predecessor's usability even when cutting out physical buttons

Regardless of whether we're talking the mass-market or luxury scene, single, curved panels housing multiple screens are admittedly not new. Yet Audi's later arrival into the game with its own iteration dubbed the 'Digital Stage' is still wonderful to embrace, since it's been executed with nearly unimpeachable polish.

Despite its eye-catching new layout, the MMI infotainment touchscreen - nicely angled towards the driver - retains the usability of its predecessors. The graphics are crisp, but perhaps more importantly, navigating the system never devolves into a frustrating guessing-game, because the icons are well-labelled and the pathways are logical. Bonus points, too, for the fact that the system’s wireless support for phone mirroring is seamless and speedy.

Audi's latest-generation Virtual Cockpit is a visual treat that manages to include just the right level of detail you'll want in a modern instrument cluster

Likewise, while some digital displays are desert-like, and others inundate you with too much detail, the Q6 e-tron finds middle ground quite naturally once again. Audi may have moved its infotainment system into a new generation (admittedly, reminiscing over physical buttons for controlling fan speed is inevitable), but all things considered, the brand hasn't forgotten about its trademark touch of intuitiveness. 

As standard in Singapore, the front passenger is gifted their own touch display in the Q6 e-tron - but its real utility was slightly unclear on our three-day drive. The one here certainly delighted and bewildered all of the folks we drove around for a good total of 10 minutes, as they took charge of the car’s audio infotainment or played with the map; the fiddling about stopped quite abruptly and completely thereafter.

You'll find yourself reaching for the ventilated seats (a cost option that comes as part of the beige upholstery) quite often; the passenger's display, not so much

You could imagine it being put to good use on a longer road trip, though, with the direct integration of apps like YouTube serving as in-car entertainment for those onboard.

Again, opting for the base model cuts out a number of bells and whistles you'd enjoy from the 'edition 1' trim, including a Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System, and Audi's cutting-edge augmented reality head-up display.

But those were truthfully easy to miss because of the presence of a standalone cost option here, not tied to any of the trims: Ventilated seats. (Audi Singapore's configurator indicates these are a compulsory add-on as part of the Beige upholstery pack). These probably have the most immediately palpable effect on your quality of life in the car.

Drivers should find plenty of space in which to chuck their items, given the car's 526-litre boot and 64-litre frunk

While the actual space on offer for rear passengers is generous thanks to the Q6 e-tron's long wheelbase and wide body, the car's high shoulder line does means that the sense of space in the second row rear bench doesn't hit as strongly as in some other rivals. The car's 526-litre boot does, however, edge out what you'll find in the BMW iX3 and even the larger Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, and is further supplemented by a decently-sized 64-litre frunk.

Continuing to find the right balance

Speaking of those rivals, the Q6 e-tron rises exactly to the sort of bar you'd expect from a large, electric Audi SUV.

It's competent on all fronts - to an almost clinical extent - mastering the jack-of-all-trades quality you'd expect from a car with the four-ringed badge. Getting comfortable with the high dashboard and the car's sheer size takes a bit of time, but once you're through that door, it's highly confidence-inspiring from behind the wheel.

Light arrows on the lanes next to your virtual Q6 e-tron function as a subtle but effective supplement to the car's blind spot monitor

A generous suite of driving assistance features are offered as standard on the Q6 e-tron

Confidence to push comes from a surprisingly quick and well-weighted steering rack (just leave the steering feel permanently in Sport), and body roll is commendably controlled too through bends for such a high-riding car. The brakes (linear, with just enough firmness) are yet another area of excellence, while the paddle shifters provide sweet, immediate support for adjusting regen. 

While this rear-wheel drive Q6 e-tron doesn't get the adaptive air suspension of the dual-motor quattro variant, its non-adjustable sports suspension fits the entire setup just right too. Despite excelling very well as a cruiser with its settled ride and quiet cabin, the car gets just enough of a sporting edge to delight whoever's at the helm.

Nicely-weighted paddle shifters for adjusting regen are an Audi staple at this point - and the Q6 e-tron is all the better for it 

Most drivers won't find it lacking in power either. Propelled by a single motor that can send up to 185kW and 450Nm of torque to the rear wheels, this 'base' Q6 e-tron gets up to speed with all the effortlessness one needs to execute overtakes or get the upper hand on a merging lane.

Even more commendable is the composure with which it holds speed. Behind the wheel, one is consistently reminded that this was a car that was engineered on, and for Germany's high-speed Autobahns.

The only area in which the Q6 e-tron might leave a driver wanting more is in terms of driving range. 

The Q6 e-tron's range isn't particularly outstanding - but charging it up promises to be a speedy affair thanks to its powerful electric architecture

We were on track to achieve the equivalent of around 430km on a full charge given our driving patterns - meaning the average Singaporean driver could realistically only need to plug in every four to five days, before facing the anxiety that inevitably comes with seeing the number dip below 100km.

On its own, this would objectively not be a bad figure at all - but it's also not a particularly outstanding when one considers both the competition today, as well as the fact that this rear-wheel drive Q6 e-tron is powered by a sizeable 83kWh battery.

Thankfully, juicing it back up promises to be a speedy affair with the car's powerful electric architecture supporting DC charging at up to 225kW. The presence of charging ports on both sides of the car is also a nice, extra convenience too, even if you'll only be able to chuck a fast charger into the car's rear left.

Crushingly competent all-rounder

Keen to deal more in familiarity rather than breathtaking shows of grandeur and pizzazz, the Q6 e-tron may lack some of the sparkle bursting out of a number of (Chinese) electric rivals on the market today. It may not seem the most bang-for-buck either against the Chinese crowd, which has undeniably found some level of success by trading brand prestige for heavier feature-sets and lower price tags.

Still, it's perhaps fairer to consider the Q6 e-tron against its traditional German contemporaries, at which point it immediately feels far more price-competitive. Furthermore, its subdued air, sense of measure, and ability to perform well on nearly every front - even in base form - all arguably build towards a package that remains unmistakably Audi.

Turning the page over to the next chapter, after all, doesn't always have to bring about a big tonal shift - especially if the story being told is one that has always been buoyed by welcome consistency. In the Q6 e-tron now, and for the new electric era, Audi's well-crafted tale of all-rounded competency continues. 

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