Is the middle class Audi the best pick between the Mercedes and BMW
Exterior – Front
So, lets start with the design of the new Audi A6 E-Tron and straight away you could say they have copied the BMW i7 in terms of design. To start with we get these very slim LED Daytime Running light units which are changeable like a lot of other Audis. In the middle we have this wide closed off grill which can be had in body colour. This does look quite sporty and very Audi like. Surrounding the grill is this gloss black panel which hides the lower central air vent which has a big radar in the middle. It also hides the side vents and the main headlight units a bit like what the BMW i7 M-Sport looks like. Overall though the front-end design is quite luxurious looking
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side and we have some important things to talk about. To start with we have a lot of body, but it has been separated by this panel to make the car look sleeker and sportier. Now it has to be this deep because it is hiding the batteries underneath the car. We also get some flush door handles which look good, and we also get door cameras like what the Audi Q8 E-Tron has. This helps aerodynamics. Talking of aerodynamics, we also get some cool looking wheels.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back and we get a very executive but sportier Audi look. To start with we have this light bar connecting the taillights together. Now these taillights hold a neat design to them. Now like the Audi Q6 E-Tron these headlights have pixel OLED technology so they can project symbols or different designs on them and even tell the car behind it that it is getting too close. It is a very cool design and is also a great safety feature. We also get a light up Audi logo which is another first. Moving lower down and we get a reasonable bumper design to add some style to it. We also get some side reflectors that are connected to the panel parts from the side of the car. Lets have a look and see what battery and motor options you can have with the new Audi A6 E-Tron
Car and engine specs and price
So, there are 3 battery and motor options to choose from. Let’s start with the base model. This has a 283 bhp rear mounted motor but this increases to 323 bhp when you launch the vehicle. With this you get an 83-kWh battery pack which gives you a decent range of about 340 miles depending on conditions. 0-62 is also decent at 7 seconds or 6 seconds under launch control conditions. The next option is called Performance. This uses a more powerful rear mounted motor which has 364 bhp or 378 bhp under launch control conditions. With this the battery has also increased to 100 kWh which gives a range of 415 miles roughly depending on conditions. The 0-62 is also decent at 5.4 seconds. The power is also sent to the rear wheels. The final version is called Performance Quattro and as you may be able to tell this has 4-wheel drive and a dual motor setup. This gives the car 442 bhp or 458 bhp under launch conditions. The 0-62 time is also good at 4.6 seconds. This setup uses the same 100 kWh battery pack as the regular performance model, but the range is still decent at 390 miles. All of the options have a maximum charging rate of about 270 kW which is very good if you can find a charger which accepts that, but it should roughly mean you can do a 10-80% top up within 21 minutes. The price of the new Audi A6 E-Tron starts at £65,075 which isn’t that bad. Right, lets have a look and see what the interior is like.
Interior – Design
Moving inside and we get a very modern and digital design let’s say. Now I want to mention that this is very similar to the Audi A5 as well as the new Audi Q6 E-Tron. This means we get this 3 screen setup. . To start with we get a digital instrument cluster with new and improved graphics which look very modern and sleek. Next to this we get a new 14.5-inch infotainment system running Android Automotive and it works very well and is easy to use. The only disappointing item is though that the climate controls are on the screen. Finally, the last screen is the optional passenger screen. This is becoming more common, and I would recommend specing this option as you are left with a blank panel, and it would look like there is an item missing. Going back to the driver area you get on the door your light and mirror controls on a touch sensitive panel and your window switches lower down. You also get a new steering wheel too which is modern and good looking but sadly it does have touch sensitive buttons which is a shame. In the centre console we get a lot of piano black material as well as some buttons and your gear selector toggle. I also want to mention that you also get some screens on the door for your door cameras. Now in the Q8 E-Tron they were placed too low and in an awkward position but in the A6 E-Tron they have rectified this issue and have moved them higher on top of the door card where you would look at the actual door mirror. This makes them easier to use but personally I would not spec these as normal mirrors work just as well. Finally, you also get these seats which are very supportive as well as premium. Right, lets have a look and see what the rear seats are like.
Practicality
So, climbing into the back of the Audi A6 E-Tron and you get a very premium feel in the back with premium materials on the doors as well as ambient lighting. The seats are also very comfortable, and I can sit in the back easily with plenty of legroom and headroom too even with this panoramic sunroof. You also get your own climate control, air vents, rear heated seats and an armrest too as well as USB C ports. Let’s have a look in the boot.
Boot Size
So, opening the boot to the new Audi A6 E-Tron and as you may already notice just like the A5 it isn’t really a saloon but more of a coupe designed hatchback. Now this is a good thing as it makes loading items into the boot much easier than before and lets you make use of the decent boot size. So, with the seats up you get a decent 502 litres and if you fold the seats down 40:20:40 you get up to 1,422 litres. These measurements are much more than what you get on the BMW and Mercedes. You also get a 27-litre front boot too to store your charging cables in which is a very good feature.
Summary
So, in summary then, what do I think of the new Audi A6 E-Tron. Well, it looks like an executive Audi. So much so that it makes the A8 look cheap. It also has a lot of technology and compared to the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE it definitely is a high-end car and easily puts the Mercedes to shame. Really if you want an executive electric car with attitude, I would have said to go for the BMW i5 a few months ago but this has changed my mind. This is the best executive electric car you can buy.
Exterior 4.5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 5/5
Total 14.5/15
Model | Audi A6 E-Tron S-Line Performance |
Engine | 100kWh Battery Pack, Single Motor, 364bhp, 0-62 = 5.4 Seconds, 415 Mile Range, Rear Wheel Drive |
Transmission | Single Speed Electric Motor |
Price | £72,570 |
On Sale | Now |
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