Audi A6 e-tron review

A quick disclaimer – so far, we’ve only driven the A6 e-tron in single-motor Performance form and in the mid-range S Line trim. We have sampled both the Avant and the Sportback, but Audi only made cars available that were fitted with adaptive air suspension that won’t actually be an option on the A6 in the UK. Doh. Just the S6 will get air suspension on our shores, but Audi does say that it will “review the technology offering during the A6 e-tron’s lifecycle and react to customer demand where necessary”.

Best start campaigning now if you want an A6 on air, then.

What’s the electric powertrain like?

Performance models get a single 375bhp motor, rear-wheel drive and should do 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. Acceleration is predictably smooth and progressive, but the e-tron does feel quite weighty so it’s not exactly rapid even in Dynamic mode.

Of course, you’ve no gearing to worry about so the full 417lb ft of torque is available at all times and will aid overtaking, and you’ve got wheel-mounted paddles to adjust the level of brake regen and to engage the driver that little bit more. The brake pedal itself is nice and firm and seems to blend regen and friction braking successfully.

What about the steering?

The A6 e-tron gets a progressive steering setup and, with drive being sorted by the rear wheels, the Performance turns into corners keenly. It is a little light on feel, but if you’re already an Audi driver then you won’t notice much difference as you transfer from combustion power to electricity. There’s plenty of grip through corners too despite the Performance’s lack of all-wheel drive.

How is that air suspension?

The roads we tested the A6 on were pebble-smooth, but on first impressions the air suspension setup is really rather impressive. This is a very comfortable car even on large 21in wheels. It stays flat through corners and bumps are isolated from the cabin. It’s also impressively refined, with its aero profile ensuring wind noise isn’t much of an issue, while road noise is well resisted too. At motorway speeds it’s supremely quiet.

Anything else I need to know?

A few points. The A6 e-tron gets a heavily raked windscreen and a surprisingly high scuttle, meaning that from the driver’s seat there isn’t actually a huge gap to see through between the rear-view mirror and the bottom of the windscreen. Rear visibility isn’t great in the Sportback either with just a small, lozenge-shaped rear window.

It does seem that all of that aero work has paid off in terms of efficiency though. We saw 3.6 miles per kWh in the Sportback after a mixed drive on town, country and motorway routes despite some erm... enthusiastic testing.