After years of waiting for luxury automakers to build an electric sedan that actually works as a daily driver, Audi has delivered with the 2025 A6 e-tron Sportback. This car gets built on Audi’s dedicated PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture, and the result feels like it was always meant to be electric.
- The A6 e-tron delivers up to 392 miles of range, making it one of the longest-range EVs available
- Starting at $67,195, it’s competitively priced against BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE
- Three configurations available: base A6 (375 hp), A6 Quattro (456 hp), and S6 (543 hp)
The A6 e-tron addresses the biggest fear most luxury car buyers have about going electric: range anxiety. The base rear-wheel-drive model hits an EPA-estimated 392 miles on a single charge when equipped with the Ultra package and 19-inch wheels. That’s enough to drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco with juice to spare.
What Makes It Special
The A6 e-tron is technically a hatchback, giving it significantly more cargo space than you’d expect. It offers 25.95 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 39.87 cubic feet with the rear seats folded – that’s way more practical than competitors like the Mercedes EQE with its measly 10.9 cubic feet.
The design strikes the right balance between being obviously electric and maintaining Audi’s signature look. With a drag coefficient of just 0.23, it’s one of the slipperiest cars Audi has ever built, achieved through wind tunnel testing. The aerodynamic efficiency translates directly to that impressive range.
Three Flavors to Choose From
The lineup keeps things simple with three main options. The base A6 e-tron starts at $67,195 and comes with a single rear motor producing 375 horsepower. For most buyers, this is probably all the car they need. It hits 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, which is plenty quick for an executive sedan.
Step up to the A6 e-tron Quattro for an extra $2,000, and you get dual motors with all-wheel drive and 456 horsepower. This middle-child variant drops the 0-60 time to 4.3 seconds while maintaining a healthy 377-mile range. Many reviewers consider this the sweet spot of the lineup.
The performance-focused S6 e-tron starts at $79,995 and cranks out 543 horsepower, dropping the 0-60 time to just 3.7 seconds. The trade-off is range, which falls to 324 miles. Still respectable, but you’re paying for extra performance.
The Driving Experience
Behind the wheel, the A6 e-tron is entirely agreeable. The throttle is smooth and linear without being jumpy, and the brakes are easy to modulate in traffic without making passengers nauseous. The air suspension works hard to absorb road bumps while minimizing body roll.
The steering feels modern Audi, light and precise, though completely devoid of road feel. For buyers coming from traditional luxury sedans, this will feel familiar and comfortable rather than jarring or different.
The A6 is a worthy companion for hours spent cruising along mountain ridges and ripping up tight canyons, all while its aerodynamic shape improves range and reduces wind and road noise spectacularly well.
Tech That Actually Works
Inside, you’ll find a 14.5-inch central touchscreen and an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, with an optional 14.5-inch passenger display. The infotainment runs on Android Automotive OS with ChatGPT integration and includes a self-learning voice assistant.
What’s particularly clever is that Audi offers a generous list of connected features at no extra cost through the basic Connect Care package, including remote start, lock/unlock, preconditioning, and charging management. Too many luxury brands nickel and dime customers for basic connectivity features.
Charging and Real-World Use
The A6 e-tron’s 800-volt architecture allows for rapid charging at up to 270 kW, enabling a 10-80% charge in just 21 minutes on a compatible DC fast charger. The car has charge ports on both sides, though only the driver’s side can handle DC fast charging.
One practical concern: The A6 doesn’t come with NACS (Tesla) charging compatibility yet, so you’ll need to rely on CCS chargers and adaptors for now. Audi says NACS support is coming, but hasn’t provided a timeline.
The Competition
At $67,195 to start, the A6 e-tron sits right in the mix with the BMW i5 eDrive40 and Mercedes EQE 350+, both of which start in the low-to-mid $70,000s. The A6’s 392-mile range puts it just behind the Tesla Model S (402 miles) and makes it the sixth-longest-range EV on the market today.
The BMW i5 offers similar performance but falls short on range with just 239-253 miles depending on wheel size. The Mercedes EQE is notoriously confusing to operate and less practical due to its poor cargo space.
Bottom Line
Audi has developed an EV that meets and in many ways goes beyond the demands of buyers used to the convenience of cars powered by an internal combustion engine. The A6 e-tron solves the practical concerns that have kept luxury buyers away from electric sedans while delivering the refinement and technology they expect from Audi.
The A6 e-tron stands as an accomplished electric vehicle and a genuinely excellent car. For buyers ready to make the switch to electric, the A6 e-tron makes a compelling case that the future of luxury sedans has arrived.