Can this facelift on the Mazda 2 keep it fresh enough to consider it against its main rivals?
Exterior – Front
Now I just want to mention that the Q6 E-Tron is no small car. In fact it is 4mm wider than the Q8 e-Tron which is very wide so driving on UK roads wont be as easy as a Q5 but visibility is quite good. So lets start with the platform. The new Audi Q6 E-Tron is based on the PPE Platform which also underpins the new Porsche Macan Electric. Along with the Porsche having a new design language the Audi does too. To start with we get what looks like a conventional set of headlights up top which are actually the customisable LED Daytime Running Lights. The centre of the front is taken up by the the new octagonal grill with a fake mesh pattern and new Audi Logo. We also get a decent central air vent too. what is different is the side vents. They are connected to the Central air vent and above them we get the main headlight unit that looks hidden when it isn’t lit up. This is a very similar look to what BMW are doing and to be honest on a car like this it does look quite good. This is the new look we are expecting to see on the new Q5 and A6 E-Tron. Let’s hope it looks as good as this.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side and we get a crease above the front wheels and rear wheels. You also get a black bar lower down to break the body colour to make it looks sportier and less off-roader style. You also get a sleek profile along the side too and this is helped by some nice modern wheel designs.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back and we get a typical Audi design. We get some slim taillights which we will talk more about in a moment. They are also connected with a light bar and the overall profile looks very similar to the Q8 E-Tron, just much sleeker and modern. The bumper is also sleek and has some more gloss black cladding. Right let’s talk about the taillights. They have this OLED technology and just like the LED Daytime Running Lights you can change the pattern. But there is also another few features to talk about. There are safety features built in too because it will tell the driver behind if there is an obstacle ahead or if they get too close it will change its design to warn them. it also has this cool animation with triangles that changes. You may think that this is distracting but it is dim enough not to be. Right, lets have a look at the battery and motor choices that you can get with the new Audi Q6 E-Tron as this is the most important part to this car as it is in a tight rivalling segment.
Car and engine specs and price
So, there are 2 versions of the base Q6 E-Tron and there is also the SQ6 E-Tron. Let’s start with the base models first you get a 303 bhp motor with rear wheel drive and this gives you a 6.7 second 0-62 time. The battery size is 100 kWh with 94.9 being useable and this gives you around about 370 miles of range which is quite good. Charging speeds are also decent at 260 kW too. The next version is the Quattro version. This has 386 bhp and a 5.9 second 0-62 time. This is also a dual motor setup with one being on the front and one being on the rear, but it is rear wheel biased. The electric only range has been reduced to about 350 miles though which is still pretty impressive. The battery size is also the same at 100 kWh and as to is the charging speeds. Now for the SQ6-Etron model. You get 487 bhp but this does increase to 514 bhp when launch control is activated. This gives you a 4.4 second 0-62 time and a 142-mph top speed. This is also a Quattro setup. Battery and charging sizes are the same but the range is about 355 miles which is still decent. Overall then a not to complicated setup that is easy to choose from. All the options are decent options, and you won’t feel like you want more from the option you pick. The price of the new Audi Q6 E-Tron starts at £62,645 and the price of the SQ6 E-Tron starts at £92,120. Right let’s have a look at what it is like on the road quickly as there is some things I want to talk about that.
Drive
Now, out on the road the Q6 E-Tron feels big on small roads like I said at the beginning but on open roads the Q6 is an excellent car to drive. It is also the first Audi to feature true one pedal driving for the first time too and it works very well. It has different strengths of regenerative braking, and this is controlled by the steering wheel paddles. The most aggressive option brings the car to a complete stop without touching the brakes. You can also switch it off if you prefer. Right let’s have a look at the interior.
Interior – Design
So, climbing inside the new Audi Q6 E-Tron and you are welcomed to an all-new interior that we haven’t seen before in any Audi. Let’s start with the dashboard. On this model, you get 3 screens. You get an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster with new sharp graphic on it. You also get a huge 14.5-inch infotainment system with all new software. This also now houses your climate control system that stays in place. It has sharp graphics, and it is very easy to use, and you have shortcuts near the driver for your media and navigation. The main screen has a widget layout which is very similar to the Volkswagen system. If you want a review on this system, then let me know in the comment section below as this will be in all the new Audi’s that are coming out this and next year. Moving to the passenger side and we get another screen which has essential information on it for the passenger. It is optional on the higher the of the range, which is a shame, but it works very well. The door cards also have a new design with and there is a touch panel which houses your light controls, seat controls as well as your mirror controls and door locks. The overall design is minimalistic and true Audi, however. The centre console is very premium although it is mostly covered with Piano black plastic. It houses the usual gear selector as well as some shortcut buttons. The seats are also new and are supportive and comfortable for long journeys. Practicality is also decent too. Overall, then this is a nice place to be, and it has stepped up the interior design and quality over other Audi’s and I look forward to seeing this on new Audi’s very soon. Let’s have a look at the rear seats.
Practicality
So, getting into the back of the Audi Q6 E-Tron and with the driver seat setup for a 6 foot person, I have plenty of legroom in the back and I am also 6 foot. Head room is also decent too and the premium feel continues in the back. You also get your own air vents with your own climate control system as well as heated rear seats and an arm rest and practicality is also very decent too. talking of practicality lets have a look at the boot.
Boot Size
Opening the boot to the Q6 E-Tron and you are welcomed with a 526-litre boot size which is smaller than the Q5 which is the petrol version, but it is the best out of the BMW iX, and Mercedes EQE SUV. Folding the seats down and this increases to 1,529 litres. You also get a front boot which is 64 litres in size and can easily store the charging cables.
Summary
So, in summary then what do I think of the Q6 E-Tron. Well, lets compare it to its rivals, the BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV. Personally, the Q6 E-Tron has a much better style over both of those cars inside and out and it is the most practical. There is also going to be a Sportback version coming later which I am going to look forward to. I think Audi has hit the spot very well with the Q6 E-Tron and I can’t wait to see what the BMW i5 rivalling A6 E-Tron is going to be like as that is another important car.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 5/5
Total 15/15
Model | Audi SQ6 E-Tron |
Engine | 100kWh Battery Pack, Dual Motor, 514bhp, 355 Mile Range |
Transmission | Single Speed |
Price | £92,120 |
On Sale | Q3 2024 |
Opmerkingen