While Audi still offers gas-powered utility vehicles in the form of the Q3, Q5, Q7, and Q8, it’s the battery-powered SUVs like the 2025 Q6 E-Tron that will convince many drivers to make their own power move.
A midsize electric crossover that seats five, the 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron slots in between the Q4 and Q8 electric SUVs and rivals everything from the Tesla Model Y and BMW X3 to the related Porsche Macan EV.
With its newest SUV utilizing the brand’s second-generation electric vehicle technology, the Audi Q6 E-Tron represents the vanguard of Audi’s growing EV family of crossover SUVs. While the forthcoming price could temper our appreciation, the Audi Q6 E-Tron earns a high TCC Rating of 8.4 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Everything. It’s the first Audi offering from a new architecture dubbed PPE, and thus shares its underpinnings with the new Porsche Macan EV. Compared to other E-Tron SUVs, it has an 800-volt electrical architecture for quicker fast charging, a larger and more energy dense 94.4-kwh battery pack, more potent and efficient motors, and a hypermodern digital interface that’s more intuitive than overwhelming.
It’s not the most evocative SUV, but it still embodies SUV burliness instead of the aerodynamic jelly bean shape that’s en vogue. The interior evolves Audi’s digital design language, with a stage of screens well integrated into the tiered dash and ringed by a light bar that illuminates with navigation cues. It’s a clean, uncluttered interface, and the learning curve on all the myriad functions gets eased with voice commands augmented by artificial intelligence.
A standard single-motor rear-wheel-drive system makes 322 hp and moves the Q6 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds; we haven’t tested this model yet.
The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system can launch both the Q6 and SQ6 to 60 mph in less than five seconds, and the balance of power, efficiency, and comfort bodes well for future vehicles using this setup. It’s an evolutionary leap beyond the basic Q4 E-Tron and middling Q8 E-Tron. It takes a beat to get used to the brake feel, which is mostly done through regenerative braking.
In the real world, its 94.4-kwh usable battery pack helps boost Audi’s estimated range to 307 miles for the Q6 AWD (on 19-inch wheels), or 276 miles for the SQ6 and its flashier 20-inch wheels. The base RWD model has a 321-mile range. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, the Q6 can accept up to 270 kw to DC fast-charge from 10-80% in 21 minutes, or at 135 kw it can take 35 minutes.
Sized like the Tesla Model Y, the Q6 E-Tron front seats sit lower than some SUV shoppers may expect, but they’re remarkably comfortable, especially when equipped with available massagers. Rear-seat passengers have plenty of headroom and good legroom at 37.4 inches, but the seatbacks don’t recline.
No crash-test scores are yet available, but every Q6 E-Tron has automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and decent rearward vision despite thick roof pillars.
How much does the 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron cost?
The 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron RWD costs $65,095, including the $1,295 destination fee. It will be offered in Premium, Premium Plus ($68,895), and Prestige ($71,895) grades. Opting for the second motor and all-wheel drive costs only $2,000 more, and the range drops to 307 miles.
The SQ6 E-Tron feels like a deal at $74,195, or just $7,100 more than the Q6 AWD. Range drops to 275 miles. A coupe-like Q6 Sportback model will follow, then a high-performance RS Q6 is planned for 2025. A single-motor rear-wheel-drive version may arrive next year, and it would be cheaper and with similar range, but Audi would not confirm it for the U.S.
Neither model will be eligible for federal tax credits that apply to North American-made electric vehicles.
Where is the 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron made?
In Ingolstadt, Germany.
—Senior Editor Bengt Halverson contributed to this report.
