Audi is primed for one of its busiest years yet, with a plethora of new metal set to launch in Australia and this is one of its most important: the new Q6 e-tron. A battery-powered luxury mid-size SUV with shared Porsche roots, it’s the most technologically advanced Audi yet. Sporting superior recharging capabilities, fantastic dynamics, more touch-screens, and a cabin fit for royalty, the new Q6 e-tron is packaged to impress… but it’ll cost you.
The all-new 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron range lands in Australia in three flavours with pricing that spans from $115,500 to just over $150k.
Opening proceedings is the entry-level Q6 e-tron Performance grade, which is the only single-motor rear-wheel drive option, delivering 225kW/485Nm and a claimed 558km of EV driving range from the 100kWh NMC li-ion battery (used across the entire range).
It’s also the only grade that wasn't available in time for the local launch, so we couldn't test it, however Audi says examples are now arriving in showrooms along with the rest of the range.
The mid-spec Q6 e-tron quattro comes priced from $122,500 (plus ORCs) and brings a claimed range of 542km and a more powerful 285kW/580Nm all-wheel drive powertrain.
Topping the lot – unless Audi confirms a mega RS Q6 e-tron – for now is the 360kW/580Nm SQ6 e-tron quattro ($151,400 plus ORCs), which Audi claims will travel the furthest between recharges (568km).
Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, tri-zone climate control, heated front and rear (outboard) seats, 360-degree camera, and three interior screens: an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit, 14.5-inch central touch-screen, and a 10.9-inch display for the front passenger.
The Q6 e-tron quattro adds larger 20-inch alloys, an S Line exterior package with dark silver and accents and a body-coloured grille, along with an S Line interior package which adds a black headliner, aluminium pedals, and illuminated door sills with S logo.
In the sportier SQ6, 21-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels are standard, along with red brake callipers, tinted windows, adaptive air suspension, metallic paint, OLED tail lights, ambient interior lighting, S sports seats with massage function, Nappa leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, electric steering column, Bang & Olufsen sound system, and an augmented reality head-up display.
A range of option packs are available for those wishing to add larger wheels or other tech and styling goodies.
Generous service intervals are set for every 24-months (or 30,000km), while Audi covers the Q6 e-tron range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while six years of roadside assistance, and an eight-year (or 160,000km) battery warranty also comes standard.
Buyers also get access to a free 12-month Chargefox subscription.
The 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron makes a lovely first impression, from its glittering LED headlights that dance to your desired (pre-set) lighting signature, to the luxe cabin fit out; there’s an air of ambience to the cabin that makes it feel special.
Navigating the long stretches of idle (and often narrow) country roads that take you from Hobart and up north to Oaklands, the SQ6 we hopped in for the first leg proved supremely quiet.
Hushed cabin aside, the SQ6 delivers enough speed to keep most happy, good for a zero to 100km/h sprint in a claimed 4.4 seconds (4.3sec with launch control engaged) and comfort levels are top notch, thanks to the standard fitment of air suspension.
Even the Q6 e-tron quattro – the second of our test mules – proved punchy off the line, even though it can’t quite match the SQ6 for speed. The mid-spec Q6 will hit 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.9 secs.
Both are encouraging to hurtle around in and there’s little to complain about from the driver’s seat and while the SQ6 e-tron’s ride is the plusher of the pair, the Q6 e-tron still delivers plenty of comfort, riding on smaller 20-inch alloys with chunkier Pirelli rubber.
There was a notable difference in NVH levels between the two SUVs, however, and the Q6 e-tron quattro sounded as though it could’ve done with more sound deadening materials.
Ultra-fast recharging (maximum 270kW DC charging) is also a huge boon for those with an affinity for road trips, where you’ll be able to take advantage of rapid charging stations as more pop up.
We didn’t have time to test its charging capabilities on launch, however, Audi says you’ll get around 250km of range from just 10 minutes on charge.
Another fun addition are the games on board, which even the driver can get amongst using the new augmented reality head-up display. Game options are limited but you ‘ll probably appreciate the sentiment, nonetheless.
Although there’s much to like about the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron & SQ6 e-tron, it’s not perfect.
Around town, the electric SUVs can feel cumbersome, partly due to a vagueness from the steering as well as the hefty 2.4-tonne mass each is lugging around.
The driving range on our testers also proved significantly less compared to Audi’s claims, although given the nature – and high-speed roads – in which they were driven, we’ll hold our full judgement until we spend more time with them.
We calculated a real-world range of closer to 390km for the Q6 e-tron quattro and around 460km for the SQ6 e-tron quattro on test.
Meanwhile, that fancy new augmented reality head-up display (HUD) can be difficult to get used to. The display is designed to ‘float’ which means it bounces around as the car moves rather than sitting static as it does in most other vehicles.
At first, we developed what could’ve been a mild bout of motion sickness from looking at it because of its many alerts/functions; it’ll not only show speed but lane markings and distance to the car in front when using adaptive cruise control.
It also does this wacky thing where, upon hard acceleration, the speedo digits on the HUD enlarge and race towards you. According to Audi, because EVs are so quiet, there are less ‘clues’ about what speed you’re going, so the visual element is designed to help.
We experienced a few minor tech glitches during the launch, one of which included the passenger’s LCD screen constantly flicking back to a home screen while trying to use it while the privacy function (to block the driver from seeing the screen) wouldn’t work on another car.
Audi assured us an imminent software update would cure those issues.
There’s more to like than dislike when it comes to the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron.
It feels and looks the part, with oodles of tech, loads of refinement, plenty of performance, and cabin finishes that feel as premium as its price tag suggests.
But it’s a pricey proposition and for little more than $13k, you could be getting into an entry-level version of the related Porsche Macan EV, which brings more power and all-wheel drive.
Even still, it’s worth a look – and test drive – for those in market for a battery-powered mid-sizer with luxury roots.
2025 Audi Q6 e-tron quattro at a glance:
Price: $122,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Asynchronous motor (front), permanent magnet synchronous motor (rear)
Output: 285kW/580Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 100kWh lithium-ion gross (94.9kWh net) NMC lithium-ion
Range: 542km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 17.0-19.6kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested