Written by Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 9 June 2025

Overview

Should you buy one?

If we’re being sensible, we’d go for the SUV over the Audi Q6 E-Tron Sportback to save a few quid and get a bit more boot space. However, if you want that coupe roofline and don’t want to pay Porsche money for a Macan, the Sportback certainly appeals.

With the BMW iX3 currently between generations and the Mercedes EQE SUV proving mediocre, the Q6 looks to be a good premium bet.

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What’s new?

I won’t need a lot of space to introduce the Audi Q6 E-Tron Sportback, this electric SUV is exactly what you think it is. Following on from the Q6 E-Tron SUV, the Sportback offers a 37mm lower roofline with a rakish, coupe-like profile.

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As we’ve come to expect from the smaller Q4 E-Tron Sportback, you pay for those looks not just with a higher list price. Boot space is also down, and you might struggle with that chest of drawers you’ve had your eye on once the rear seats are folded.

Rivals for the Q6 Sportback include the Porsche Macan Electric and Genesis GV60, with the BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQE SUV being denied coupe versions. Read on for my review, and if you want to know how we test cars at Parkers, have a look at our guide.

What’s it like inside?

Like a Q6 E-Tron SUV, just with a little less headroom. Audi has gone for dual screens – 11.9-inches for the driver’s display and 14.5-inches for the central touchscreen – and it certainly looks more contemporary than the older Q4.

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It worked well enough on our Q6 Sportback test cars, although we have experienced a few gremlins with this new system on other Audi models. Although it certainly looks sharper than Audis older systems, it isn’t as easy to navigate and there are too many touch-sensitive control panels.

Quality is for the most part good, with some scratchy plastics to be found low down on the doors. A Macan is better here. Passenger space doesn’t take too much of a dive over the Q6 SUV, with good headroom in the back despite the lower roof.

Like the SUV, the Q6 Sportback just isn’t all that much bigger than the much cheaper Q4 inside. Bonus points for it having a useful 40:20:40 seat split, though.

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Range, charging and motors

Surprise surprise, the Q6 Sportback’s motor and battery range is the same as what you’ll find in the SUV. Things kick off with a 252hp (or 292hp with launch control engaged) rear-wheel drive model that draws power from a 75.8kWh battery. It’ll do up to 334 miles on a charge officially, and takes just 21 minutes to get from 10-to-80% on a 225kW rapid charger.

Next up is the rear-wheel drive Performance. It has 306hp (326hp with launch control) and a 94.9kWh battery to boost the driving range to 406 miles. The maximum charging rate increases to 260kW, so the 10-to-80% rapid charge time only goes up by a minute.

Quattro is the cheapest way to get twin-motor four-wheel drive, with power increasing to 388ps and range dropping to 392 miles on the same 94.9kWh battery as Performance. Top SQ6 models are boosted to 490hp (517hp with launch control) and do up to 369 miles on a charge. These range figures are up on the equivalent SUV due to the Sportback’s more aerodynamic shape, although efficiency still isn’t the Q6’s strongest area.

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What’s it like to drive?

Admittedly, it’s been a while since I’ve driven a Q6, but the Sportback’s driving experience felt very familiar. The steering has good weight, feel and precision, with the suspension set up with more of a comfort bias than the closely related Macan Electric.

You can hustle it along at a fair old rate, although the motors are set up for smooth, linear acceleration rather than an instant hit of electric energy. The twin motor Genesis GV60s feel faster than their Audi equivalents despite having less power, while Macan Electrics are also quicker.

Handling is best described as tidy, with any exuberant behaviour that would fly in the Macan quickly sorted by the stability control, even with it turned ‘off’. Still, bodyroll is very well controlled, grip levels are strong and the neutral balance is just what you want from a family SUV.

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It’s certainly at its best cruising, with low levels of wind, road and motor noise making for relaxed progress.

What models and trims are available?

Again, it’s the same line-up of trims you’d find in the Q6 SUV. Things kick off with Sport trim which gets 19-inch wheels, auto main beam, adaptive cruise control, fancy LED lights front and rear, leather seats and three-zone climate control amongst loads of other luxuries.

S Line gives you sportier bumpers front and rear, 20-inch wheels, privacy glass, a heated , squared-off steering wheel, sportier seats and stainless steel pedals. The top ‘regular’ Q6 Sportback in the Edition 1 which gains sports suspension, 21-inch wheels, red brake callipers and a passenger display.

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SQ6 doesn’t get all of Edition 1’s luxuries, but you do have 21-inch wheels and red callipers plus air suspension, Nappa leather sports seats, heated front and rear seats, and a Bang and Olufsen stereo. We’d stick to Sport and maybe add the Sound and Vision pack.

What else should I know?

Unlike most electric cars, the Q6 Sportback has a charging port on both the left and right side. Both are roughly where you’d expect a fuel filler to be, although only one side is rapid charge compatible.