Audi A6 Avant e-tron review
Audi's A6 Avant e-tron is an impressive electric estate with excellent performance and range
Our opinion on the Audi A6 Avant e-tron
While Audi first joined the EV fray with SUVs, the A6 Avant e-tron is arguably a better prospect than any of the pure-electric models that came before it. The combination of an estate car body and a powerful electric powertrain taps into a particular niche that Audi carved for itself with its petrol and diesel-engined cars. With a long range and fast-charging capability, the A6 Avant e-tron also delivers the kind of tech the company is famous for.
There’s not quite as much space inside as you might expect from such a large family car, though, which might be a deal breaker for some buyers tempted to make the switch to an EV.
About the Audi A6 Avant e-tron
Before we start, let’s clear something up on behalf of Audi, which is in the habit of confusing people with its recent model-naming policies. While the brand had previously said that it would reserve even model numbers for its electric cars and odd ones for internal-combustion models (the reason why the A4’s replacement is called A5), the Audi A6 e-tron has been joined by another Audi A6, which is available with a combustion engine and varying levels of hybrid assistance. This car is not related to the e-tron mechanically.
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To see exactly what Audi A6 Avant e-tron ownership is like, our head of digital content, Steve Walker, lived with one as part of our long-term testing fleet. While he found the car to be an excellent long-distance cruiser, his family were a little disappointed by the rear seat space on offer.
Seeing as there are various A6 models to choose from, we also have dedicated in-depth reviews of the Audi A6 e-tron saloon, along with the combustion-powered Audi A6 saloon and Audi A6 Avant.
Performance & driving experience
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The three powertrain options in the A6 Avant e-tron deliver performance that ranges from decent to strong, while the S6 version takes things to another level.
Kicking off the line-up is the 281bhp standard model. which also has 435Nm of torque. However, every version of the A6 Avant e-tron is fitted with launch control, which gives a brief power boost on the standard car to 322bhp, although torque remains unchanged.
For the Performance model, there’s 362bhp and 565Nm of torque, while the launch control boosts power to 375bhp. For the quattro model, there’s 422bhp and a torque split of 275Nm front and 580Nm rear, while the launch control boosts the power output to 456bhp.
For the S6 Avant e-tron, the electric motors combine to offer up 496bhp, which increases to 543bhp when launch control is selected. Then there’s the torque, which stands at a thumping 855Nm.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| A6 Avant e-tron | 322bhp | 6.0 seconds | 130mph |
| A6 Avant e-tron performance | 375bhp | 5.4 seconds | 130mph |
| A6 Avant e-tron quattro | 456bhp | 4.5 seconds | 130mph |
| S6 Avant e-tron | 543bhp | 3.9 seconds | 149mph |
Electric motors, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
Acceleration figures for the A6 Avant e-tron are decent, with the base model managing 0-62mph in seven seconds exactly, or six seconds when launch control is activated. The Performance model has a quoted 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds (but no quoted time with launch control), while the quattro version has a time of 4.7 seconds, or 4.5 seconds in launch control mode.
We’ve tried the S6 Avant e-tron, and as you’d expect from a fast Audi estate, there has been no holding back. While it shares its PPE tech with the SQ6 SUV, there’s even more punch on offer here. The full 543bhp that is deployed to all four wheels delivers a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds – not bad when there’s just over 2.4 tonnes to shift.
On the road, that shove doesn’t feel dramatic; without the flare of noise and gearshifts we’re used to in fast Audi estates, the feeling here is a silent, relentless surge. It appears effortless – in everyday driving it seems like there’s always so much power in reserve. Long pedal travel and a linear throttle response mean it’s easy to modulate that power, so it doesn’t feel intimidating to drive.
Top speed for every regular version of the A6 Avant e-tron is limited to 130mph, but the S6 model is given a higher threshold, at 149mph.
Town driving, visibility and parking
The standard A6 e-tron gets about town in a very composed manner. The suspension lets you feel the bumps in the background but isn’t upset, even by the bigger craters. The flagship S6 e-tron rides on air suspension, and despite sitting on huge 21-inch wheels, its ride comfort has proven to be excellent on our tests. It manages to float over rough surfaces, doesn’t throw its occupants around over larger bumps, and knocks and bangs from drain covers and potholes are well isolated from inside the cabin.
While the A6 e-tron is undeniably large, the smoothness of the controls makes it a relaxing car to drive at low speeds. The biggest grip is the adaptive brake energy regeneration system; as with so many systems of its type, it can be unpredictable and the inconsistent responses are a little unnerving.
Country road driving and handling
The A6’s generally excellent comfort may lead you to believe that it’s going to be out of its depth on a twisty road, but instead it manages to use that compliance to its advantage. Thanks to an uncanny ability to control its mass, the chassis can tackle some difficult B-roads without the suspension bucking at the end of its travel, as is the case in many other hefty EVs.
Although the steering isn’t loaded with feedback, the weighting and response feel ideally matched to the chassis, which – combined with strong grip – enables it to flow along a road at an impressive pace. This factor alone makes the A6 more pleasing to drive than the BMW i5 Touring. You can feel the car’s weight in direction changes and nimbleness of the best petrol executive saloons is missing but on the whole Audi’s engineers have done a top class job.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
The A6’s slippery body shape pays dividends at higher speeds, where it barely creates a whisper of wind noise around the passenger compartment. Much like at lower speeds. However, more tyre rumble makes it through to the cabin than in the BMW i5. The Audi’s high-speed ride and stability are excellent, though. And when you ask for it, the muscular performance of the powertrain gives an effortless air to progress on long journeys.
“A decade ago, the equivalent Audi may have been packing a big diesel, and the e-tron has something of that flexibility, but you don’t get that rumble from the engine or the plume of unmentionables from the exhaust.” - Steve Walker, head of digital content.
Range, charging & running costs
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The A6 Avant e-tron features the same batteries and efficient electric powertrain as the Sportback version, and range figures are around 20 miles short of what that sleeker model can achieve. Official figures for the standard car with its 83kWh battery claim a range of up to 364 miles, while the 100kWh Performance model can travel up to 444 miles on a single charge.
The quattro model has a slightly shorter range at 420 miles, but that’s still impressive for an EV. A strong range of 394 miles for the S6 Avant e-tron is likely to be as much as you’ll get from a petrol estate with similar firepower.
We used the A6 Avant e-tron as part of our brutal electric cars vs winter range test, alongside the Mercedes CLA and Tesla Model Y. With a nearly full battery, the mid-range S Line e-tron Performance we had offered a rather disappointing projected range of 301 miles – a long way off the official range of 430 miles.
After several hundred miles on motorways, B-roads and around cities, we managed to cover 249 miles in the Audi from one charge and achieved an average efficiency of 2.6 miles per kWh, not the 3.7 to 4.1mi/kWh Audi says it can do. The A6 Avant e-tron was the least efficient of the five cars in our test but it did better when we lived with the car for a few months in warmer weather. We were able to average around 3.5mi/kWh with more than 4mi/kWh possible at a gentle cruise.
When we tested the S6 Avant e-tron in mild conditions – around 12 degrees Celsius – we achieved around 3.1 miles per kWh. Given that the S6 is the high-performance version of the A6 Avant e-tron line-up, and a large proportion of motorway mileage contributed to that figure, that’s a reasonable return and it means that the real-world range would be just shy of 300 miles. While that’s down on the official claim of 391 miles, we’d expect things to improve in warmer weather.
When you do need to stop to top up the battery, you won’t need to wait too long before you get going again. Audi says that the A6 e-tron will charge at up to 270kW, ranking it among the fastest-charging electric cars on the market today. That means a 10-80 per cent charge of the 100kWh battery – the equivalent of adding 206 miles based on our real-world efficiency figures – can take as little as 18 minutes.
Those looking to charge their A6 Avant e-tron at home using a typical 7.4kWh wallbox charger will find it’ll take a little over 12 hours to fully recharge the 83kWh version. The 100kWh version will take a little longer due to its greater capacity, at just over 15 hours.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| A6 Avant e-tron | 83kWh | 364 miles | 43 |
| A6 Avant e-tron performance | 100kWh | 444 miles | 44 |
| A6 Avant e-tron quattro | 100kWh | 420 miles | 48 |
| S6 Avant e-tron | 100kWh | 394 miles | 50 |
Insurance groups
Depending on model, insurance groups range from 43 for the entry-level A6 avant e-tron up to group 50 for the S6. This means premiums will be pretty hefty across the board, but the BMW i5 Touring finds itself within the same insurance group spectrum, so this problem isn’t exclusive to the Audi.
Tax
As with all electric cars, the Audi A6 Avant e-tron is liable for the standard rate of VED road tax. However, due to prices starting from well above £50,000, the luxury car tax surcharge also applies. This will add £440 onto your annual VED bill between the second and sixth year of ownership.
Company car buyers will benefit from the lowest Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates due to the e-tron’s zero-emission status.
Depreciation
Our market data shows that the A6 Avant e-tron will retain between 40 and 42 per cent of its original value after three years or 36,000 miles. This is a much stronger outcome than the BMW i5 Touring can manage, as that car only holds on to 33 to 36 per cent after the same period. The Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer also falls short of the Audi, at 38 to 39 per cent.
Interior, design & technology
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The cabin is loaded with outstanding tech and it feels suitably luxurious – but it can’t quite match the high-quality finish or sense of occasion of the BMW i5.
Interior and dashboard design
Audi’s latest-generation cars seem to be lacking a bit of creativity when it comes to their appearance, and the huge screens are the culprit. With two large displays crowding out the rest of the dashboard, there really isn’t much scope for the designers to make the A6 look any different from the latest Audi A5, or the Q6 e-tron SUV.
The overall appearance is fairly clean and tidy, and although the large touch panel mounted on the door, which controls the lights, locks and mirrors (or rear-view cameras, when fitted), looks glitzy, it isn’t as tactile as real buttons would be.
Materials and build quality
It didn’t feel like too long ago that Audi blew its competition clean out of the water when it came to fit and finish. While the A6’s cabin certainly feels special at first glance, it doesn’t quite seem so flawless under closer scrutiny. Some trim panels don’t line up with the precision that we’ve seen from Audi in the past, and some areas in particular – such as the surround for the digital rear mirror screens – look a little like an afterthought.
It is by no means poor in isolation, but the BMW i5 feels like a more expensive product – but then, it is. Just not substantially enough for the Audi to not feel inferior.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
Audi hasn’t held back with its tech. The top-spec S6 features the latest in the brand’s OLED lighting technology at the rear; both tail-lamps feature five segments, each housing 45 triangular OLED panels. These can be customised to display several preset patterns, including one which appears to gently twinkle. Audi says that they’re lighter and more efficient than LED lights, and that the intricacy of those elements allows the tail-lights to display animations, including moving graphics to warn other drivers of hazards ahead.
Slightly less ground breaking but no less glitzy is the panoramic glass roof. It’s made of nine panels with switchable transparency, which Audi calls a ‘digital curtain’. Whatever you want to call it, it does look quite cool as the panels switch from transparent to translucent at the touch of a button – although they still let some light through at all times.
Ahead of the driver, an augmented-reality head-up display projects driving data right into their field of view. The set-up can present nav instructions with moving arrows before a turn, and display warnings if it thinks you’re an unsafe distance from the vehicle in front.
The infotainment is reasonably intuitive to use, especially if you’re familiar with the Google software interface. There are fixed on-screen controls for the temperature and shortcuts in a bar down the right of the screen that help navigation. The voice control proved a bit hit-and-miss on our tests though, often failing to understand what we were on about.
A piece of tech we’d definitely steer clear of are the ‘virtual’ side mirrors. The small cameras are among the better examples of this tech that we’ve tried, but they still make parking manoeuvres unnecessarily trickier than with traditional mirrors.
“The Audi A6 e-tron’s software quickly and accurately showed local chargers that weren’t in use. It also gives you the speed of the chargers and how many plugs are vacant. It’s simple to re-route to your chosen one.” - Steve Walker, head of digital content.
Boot space & practicality
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For such a large car, the Audi doesn’t offer as much cabin or boot space as we’d like or expect.
Dimensions and size
Compared with the combustion-engined A6 Avant, the A6 Avant e-tron is slightly shorter but with a longer wheelbase, plus it’s a little taller and wider. Overall the A6 Avant e-tron is shorter and lower than the BMW i5, but it’s wider in an effort to increase interior space.
| Dimensions comparison | |||
| Model | Audi A6 Avant e-tron | BMW i5 Touring | Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer |
| Length | 4,928mm | 5,060mm | 4,961mm |
| Width | 1,923mm | 1,900mm | 1,862mm |
| Height | 1,493mm | 1,505mm | 1,551mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,946mm | 3,000mm | 2,971mm |
| Boot space | 502-1,422 litres | 570-1,700 litres | 605-1,948 litres |
Seats & passenger space
As we’ve come to expect from Audi, the driver’s seat has a huge range of adjustment. And with a steering wheel that also offers near-endless permutations, it means that drivers of all shapes and sizes can get comfortable. Taller drivers will appreciate the extendable seat cushion that gives extra support to your legs, it proved a real benefit to long distance comfort on our tests.
Rear leg room isn’t quite as generous as we’d hope for a car in this class, and the A6 Avant doesn’t offer significantly more space than some family hatchbacks – never mind big estate cars. The floor is a little high relative to the seat base, which means that under-thigh support isn’t outstanding. But at least there’s plenty of foot room under the front seats.
Boot space
Much like the rear passenger area, the luggage space doesn’t quite hit the mark. At 502 litres, the A6 Avant’s boot is by no means small, but it’s not exactly outstanding for a near five-metre-long estate car, either.
The BMW i5 Touring offers much more at 570 litres, but the A6 does have a modest frunk, which is a great place to store charging cables. On a trip to France the frunk held all the charging cables, a first aid kit and some hi-vis vests meaning that the space under the boot floor was free for cargo. Drop the Audi’s rear seats, and the volume grows to 1,422 litres – still behind the competition.
Towing
Every A6 Avant e-tron is rated to tow up to 2,100kg, which makes this one of the stronger EVs for lugging a trailer or caravan. In comparison, the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer can only handle a maximum of 1,200kg, although the BMW i5 Touring is much closer to the Audi at 2,000kg.
“The rear bench seat is very low to the car’s floor, so taller occupants have to bunch their knees up to an extent that you don’t really expect from an executive car. My near-six-foot-tall son wasn’t too happy about the legroom, but he got used to it and was cheered no end by my “hilarious” attempts to use the voice control.” - Steve Walker, head of digital content.
Reliability & safety
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The A6 e-tron aced its Euro NCAP assessment in 2025, chalking up a maximum five-star rating. Its score of 92 per cent in the Adult Occupant Protection is the best mark of any car tested this year to date. Every model comes with adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, driver-tiredness monitor and front and rear cross-traffic assist, to name just some of the safety systems onboard.
Unfortunately, Audi’s performance in the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey continues to disappoint. The brand wound up in a rather meagre 23rd place out of 30 in the best manufacturer results, with owners not feeling too happy about their cars’ powertrains or ride and handling. Build quality and infotainment were two of the brand’s saving graces, though.
| Euro NCAP safety ratings | |
| Euro NCAP safety rating | Five stars (2025) |
| Adult occupant protection | 92% |
| Child occupant protection | 91% |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 75% |
| Safety assist | 80% |
Buying, prices and deals
Best buy: Audi A6 Avant e-tron Sport Performance
Pricing starts from around £65,000 for the base Audi A6 Avant e-tron. Adding the Performance powertrain ups this to nearly £71,000, but we think the range boost is enough to justify paying the extra cash. The base Sport trim is already well-equipped, so we don’t see much point in moving up this particular list.
This is a pricey electric estate car, no matter which way you slice it, but you’ll be pleased to hear that you can save on the list price by building your new Audi A6 Avant e-tron with the Auto Express Buy A Car service. We also have a selection of A6 Avant e-tron leasing deals, and you can sell your car with us as well.
Audi A6 Avant e-tron alternatives
The main rival for the A6 Avant e-tron is the BMW i5 Touring, which is better for interior space and upmarket quality. Its official range figures aren’t quite as long as the Audi’s, though. The Mercedes EQE isn’t available as an estate, so your only alternative there is the SUV variant.
A far better option is the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo, which is great to drive. The only other thing we’d suggest is asking yourself if the Avant offers anything more than you need over the A6 Sportback e-tron – the hatch version offers slightly more range for a couple of thousand pounds less than the estate.
Audi A6 Avant e-tron pictures
Key updates of the Audi A6 Avant e-tron review
17 September: Latest impressions from Steve Walker's long-term testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Audi provides a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty on all of its models, including its electric range, plus three years of roadside assistance and breakdown cover. A separate warranty covers the battery for eight years or 100,000 miles.
Deals on the A6 Avant e-tron and alternatives
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