► Like an A6 e-Tron, but faster
► 543bhp, 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds
► Sportback or Avant
Unlike its slower sibling, the Audi S6 e-Tron is far less of a break from tradition. Ignoring the electric propulsion bit for a second, this is still a four-wheel drive executive express that’s also available as an estate. Power is significantly up on the regular A6 e-Tron Quattro whilst still leaving space for an RS6 e-Tron.
Full electrification doesn’t come cheap, with both versions an option or two away from £100,000. You may wince, but BMW and Mercedes’ alternatives cost a very similar amount and have much longer option lists.
To find out if the S6 e-Tron was any good, I headed to Tenerife for the international launch. If you’d like to know how we test at CAR magazine, there’s an explainer page for you.
At a glance
Pros: Just as liveable as the A6, more entertaining than the old S6, packed with kit
Cons: Feels surprisingly sluggish, over-complex interior, high rear floor
What’s new?
Like the A6 e-Tron, the S6 sits on the all-electric PPE platform that Audi co-developed with Porsche. We’ve already seen it underpin the Q6 e-Tron and Macan electric, but this is the first use in a car instead of an SUV. Aerodynamic efficiency has been a focus, with camera-based rear-view mirrors available to cut drag further.
There’s a single motor front and rear in the S6, and no particularly clever chassis tech save for standard air suspension. The interior is very reminiscent of the Q6 e-Tron, with heavy reliance on screens and touch sensitive icons. It’s all next-gen stuff, and there’s plenty of other new electronic assistants, too.
What are the specs?
A headline power output of 543bhp looks a little off the pace compared to the i5 M60 and AMG EQE 53, and that’s the launch control figure. Trample on the skinny pedal in normal use, and you’ll get a maximum of 496bhp – still way up on the 339bhp offered by the outgoing diesel S6.
Acceleration times tumble thanks to the additional power. A full launch control start takes a mere 3.9-seconds, and it’ll top out at 149mph. For those of you with access to an autobahn, that’s 19mph more than the other A6 e-Trons. Range from the 100kWh battery does drop to 405 miles, with an impressive 10-80% recharge time of just 21 minutes if you find a charger capable of 270kW or more.
How does it drive?
As is tradition, the S6 doesn’t feel much different to the A6 in regular driving conditions. The standard air suspension provides good comfort, dealing with what imperfections I could find on Tenerife’s smooth roads well. An unplanned detour down a far craggier surfaced single-track pass confirmed it should work in the UK, too.
In fact, it could be the most comfortable version of the A6 e-Tron available in the UK. While air suspension is optional in Europe and was fitted to all test vehicles, the UK gets conventional steel springs and non-adaptive dampers, with only the S6 receiving air.
Dynamic mode lowers and stiffens the S6, providing impressive agility with a distinct rear bias to the drivetrain. It’s especially noticeable if you slacken the stability control’s grip and proves far more fun than its understeer happy predecessor.
Is it i5 good? Well, the S6’s steering is precise and has reassuring but not over the top weighting, but no great sense of connection, and it certainly doesn’t have the M60’s firepower or physics-defying chassis tech. The S6 handles itself well, but you’re more aware of the car’s 2.4-tonne mass more of the time.
And while I’m not saying the S6 feels slow, it does feel a significant step behind the M60 and AMG EQE 53 in terms of pace. That’s especially true if you take launch control out of the equation. Those stepping from the old S6 won’t feel shortchanged, though.
What’s it like inside?
The S6 e-Tron feels like a big, spacious car up front. The seat winds back a long way, there’s reasonable headroom and a wide armrest separating driver and passenger. It’s a very screen-heavy interior, with the latest generation of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit now spanning 11.9-inches, and the main touchscreen 14.5-inches.
I’m a big fan of Audi’s older Virtual Cockpit, but this looks far too busy and the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel are more of a pain to use than the old physical ones. At least the graphics look sharp, and the software is responsive, just like the main touchscreen.
Annoyingly you must use it to change temperature, although those controls at least sit at the bottom of the screen and there is voice control. Similarly, there are some shortcut icons that make it easier to get where you need to be. I’m pleased to report the lane assist is a button press away from deactivation, while the speed limit warning requires a press of a button and a poke of the screen.
Quality is for the most part good, save for some surprisingly hard and scratchy surfaces on the door cards below the armrests. I’d live with it in something A4-sized and significantly cheaper, but it’s not acceptable on a car that’s £100k.
Rear space is a bit disappointing for something just 7cm shy of five meters long. Headroom is tight in the Sportback, legroom not particularly generous and the floor is high. I really don’t have long legs, but my knees were pointed at the ceiling. The Avant e-Tron has a higher roofline and therefore more headroom, but the other issues remain.
Boot space is a decent 502-litres, in both the Sportback and Avant. You’ll need to fold down the seats and load to the roof to appreciate the extra load space of the latter’s higher roofline and squarer tail.
Before you buy – trims and rivals
There’s only one S6 e-Tron, and it comes with all of the toys. Options are limited to interior and exterior colour, a tow bar to tug a braked trailer up to 2100kg, a storage pack and virtual mirrors. These extend the range a little but just aren’t as good as regular mirrors.
The S6 e-Tron’s biggest rivals are undoubtedly the BMW i5 M60 and Mercedes-AMG EQE 53. Alternatively, there’s the more practical and far cheaper Hyundai Ioniq 5N.
Verdict
If you liked the old S6 and want to go electric, you’ll probably like the S6 e-Tron. There’s the same easy-going performance car vibe, asking virtually no compromises over lesser A6 e-Trons.
The newfound rear bias to the four-wheel drive makes for a more entertaining balance, but it’s still not the last word in involvement, not that it should be. Slightly disappointing rear space aside, things bode well for the first electric RS6.