The 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron.Mark Hacking/The Globe and Mail
The world of electric vehicles moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss some things. Case in point, the all-new 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron. It’s the latest all-electric venture from the luxury brand, which now has 10 battery electric vehicles in its lineup.
The Q6/SQ6 e-tron slots in above the Q4 e-tron line and below the Q8/SQ8 e-tron models. In Audi nomenclature, “e-tron” designates the company’s all-electric offerings, “S” models are higher-performing variants and “RS” models are the highest performing of all. All “RS” models (gas-powered or battery-powered) and the outgoing R8 coupe/spyder also fall under the “Audi Sport” sub-brand.
These are important distinctions because they help explain why the SQ6 e-tron is decidedly more engaging than the Q6 e-tron, despite the differences on paper seeming slight.
Both models are built on the same platform, called the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), which was developed in partnership with Porsche. The PPE will underpin mainly medium-sized and large EVs from both brands. The all-new Porsche Macan, available for ordering now, was the first vehicle to emerge from this strategy.
The platform can accommodate single-motor rear-wheel-drive models and dual-motor all-wheel-drive models. Both the Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron driven in the north of Spain fall into the latter category. (Here in Canada, more often than not, we don’t get non-AWD versions of SUVs.) The platform utilizes an 800-volt architecture and has a maximum charging capacity of 270 kilowatts.
With the proper DC fast charger, Audi reports that the battery pack can surge from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 22 minutes. According to the Audi Canada consumer website, the expected driving range will be in excess of 480 kilometres.
Although the SQ6 e-tron doesn’t seem like a lot more on paper, it drives like a different kind of vehicle. Turn-in is more crisp, throttle response is more immediate. It’s still not a sports car, but it has the goods to leave many a sports car in the dust on the winding mountainous roads near San Sebastian on the Atlantic Coast.
It’s still a sizable vehicle, you still feel the weight of it. From a dimensional perspective, it’s a large-ish mid-size SUV and the roads in Spain are narrow, barely a lane-and-a-half wide in places. It’s not the vehicle you would choose for this purpose; it’s more suited to cruising the nearest highway. But it’s not so unwieldy that you can’t have more than your fair share of fun on a twisty stretch of tarmac. One small caveat: we drove European-spec versions of both the Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron, and the difference between the two may not be so great when the models arrive in Canada later this year.
Tech specs
Sharp creases on the lower side sill and belt line convey a sense of power and performance.Mark Hacking/The Globe and Mail
2025 Audi Q6 and SQ6 e-tron
- Base price: €74,700; €93,800 estimated – Canadian pricing is not yet available
- Motor / battery: 285 kilowatts; 380 kilowatts / 100 kilowatt-hours
- Horsepower / torque: 422 (launch control mode: 456); 483 (launch control mode: 510 ) / To be announced
- Drive: All-wheel drive
- Power consumption (NRCan ratings) / charging capacity: To be announced / 270 kilowatts
- Curb weight: 2,404 kilograms
- Range (claimed): 625 kilometres (WLTP) / 480 kilometres
- Alternatives: Acura ZDX, Cadillac Lyriq, Genesis Electrified GV70, Lexus RZ, Mercedes EQE, Porsche Macan, Tesla Model X
Looks
Considering the competitive set of all-electric SUVs on the market, the Q6 e-tron is more handsome than most. Both versions land on the sporty side of the sport utility sliding scale, with sharp creases on the lower side sill and belt line conveying a sense of power and performance. New LED lighting signatures, front and back, give the Audi a genuine road presence.
Interior
The back seats of the Q6 are a standard size for this size of vehicle.Courtesy of manufacturer
Comfortable, luxurious, technology-infused. The drive days totalled about 300 kilometres on the road and at no point did the trip feel like a burden. The rear seat is not overly roomy; legroom is decent, but not remarkable, standard operating procedure for a mid-size SUV. The curvature of the seats themselves is well considered, though; a session spent in a rear seat on a challenging road was comfortable enough and drama-free.
Performance
Two stories here. The version of the Q6 e-tron driven felt bland compared to the SQ6 e-tron. Both vehicles featured air suspension, but the SQ6 had more aggressive suspension tuning, larger anti-roll bars and more direct steering feel. The set-up of the SQ6 made you want to attack the tight corners; the set-up of the Q6 did not inspire that same level of passion.
Technology
The dash of the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron has an optional third screen for the front-seat passenger.Courtesy of manufacturer
While some may bemoan the transition to digital displays and touchscreens, the execution here is a cut above. The single piece of glass incorporating the instrument panel and central infotainment system is not beautifully shaped, but the graphics are stellar. There’s also an optional third screen for the front-seat passenger and an optional augmented reality head-up display that verges on the intrusive, but manages to provide excellent guidance.
Cargo
The cargo area in the back has 526 litres of storage space – not stellar, but workable. The 40/20/40-split rear seat folds down to increase the area capacity to 1,529 litres. There’s also a 64-litre “frunk,” which is large enough for charging cables and weekend bags.
The verdict
Without a doubt, the Audi Q6/SQ6 e-tron is a noteworthy entry in the all-electric luxury SUV segment. Once we hear final details on specifications and starting prices, we can make a more definitive assessment.
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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