Just a few years ago, automobile manufacturers were scrambling to bring Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV/EVs) to market. With the then sales success of Tesla EVs, and with infrastructure commitments from the U.S. Federal Government, as well as huge EV technological advances from European and Chinese manufacturers, it made sense for brands to accelerate EV production.
Well, as they say, that was then, this is now.
The current presidential administration has almost zero interest in moving forward with EV sales and charging infrastructure, and has eliminated Federal Tax Credits that lit a fire under EV sales. Many manufacturers have reversed commitments to be fully electric within a near-future timeframe, as the impact of the administration’s tax credit reversals, as well as import tariffs, is yet to be determined.
With that, Audi is still committed to electrification, and the 2025 A6/S6 Sportback e-trons are proof that if you take “charge” of your company’s portfolio in a sensible manner, there is room in the U.S. market for Internal Combustion, Hybrid Electric, and Battery Electric Vehicles.
The 2025 A6/S6 e-tron models are a core part of Audi’s strategy to manufacture vehicles that make the transition from internal combustion power to electrification as seamless as possible. The new models we experienced are part of the more than 20 all-new or significantly redesigned offerings from Audi – half of which are electric – which Audi expects to be introduced over the next two years as part of the largest product initiative in the brand’s history.
Pursuitist recently traveled to California to test drive Audi’s new pair of excellent BEVS, the 2025 A6 & S6 Sportback e-tron.
A6/S6 Sportback e-tron Exteriors
Let’s face facts. Some electric vehicles on the market are just plain ugly, as some manufacturers have adopted a “Jetsons” space-age look to their EVs.
Not so with the 2025 A6/S6 Sportback e-tron pair, as both are styled to let consumers know that these “Hot Wheels” exemplify Audi’s continued push toward premium electrification–blending luxury, advanced technology, and performance DNA. Outside, both are designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency (the A6 Sportback is Audi’s best wind-cheating EV, with a scant 0.23 drag coefficient), and are exceptionally handsome, with the higher-performance S6 offering styling cues that indicate it’s clearly ready to rumble.
Rumble? Yes. Both have a high level of “scoot,” with the performance S6 capable of ruining many an ICE victim that dares to challenge the Four Rings.
Lighting technology sets new standards in terms of individualization for the pair. On our test drive Prestige trim level A6 Sportback e-tron models, eight digital light signatures are offered, allowing drivers the ability to personalize their car in a completely new way, depending on the selected equipment.
Along the sides, flush door handles add to the streamlined look and help with the Sportback’s aerodynamic efficiency.
Our test Prestige trim pair was also equipped with digital OLED 2.0, where eight front digital daytime running light signatures are paired with unique lighting signatures at the rear. Ten OLED panels with a total of 450 segments are used in the rear lights.
A significant highlight of both is the illuminated four-ring Audi logo at the rear. There will be no doubt to drivers you pass that you are behind the wheel of one of Audi’s best-looking designs.
Both Sportback variants are essentially “hot hatches,” allowing for cargo capacity that exceeds Audi models with a traditional trunk. Fold-flat 40:20:40 rear seats provide 39.9 cubic feet of interior cargo space and support items up to 6.5 feet long.
Up front, a small “frunk” adds useful storage space.
A6 Sportback exterior colors include Magnet Gray as the only color without an upcharge. Glacier White, Mythos Black, Plasma Blue, Typhoon Gray, and Malpelo Blue are metallic finishes with a $595 upcharge.
S6 Sportback exterior colors also include Magnet Gray as the only color without an upcharge; Glacier White, Mythos Black, Plasma Blue, Malpelo Blue, and Siam Beige are S6 metallic finishes, and Daytona Gray is a pearl effect paint, also with the $595 upcharge.
Both rear-wheel drive and quattro-equipped A6 Sportback e-trons are equipped with 20-inch 5-arm aero design wheels in a bicolor finish and all-season run-flat tires as standard, while models equipped with the Ultra package offer 19-inch 5-arm dynamic wheels with all-season tires designed to improve the car’s aerodynamics and contribute to the rear-wheel drive model’s EPA-estimated 392-mile range.
The S6 Sportback e-tron comes with 20-inch 10-spoke aero design wheels in a bicolor finish and all-season run-flat tires as standard. Two additional 21-inch wheel designs are also available on the S6 Sportback e-tron. 21-inch multispoke-S Design wheels in a bicolor finish are offered as a standalone option, while 21-inch 5-arm dynamic design wheels, also in a bicolor finish, are part of the optional Black Optic package. All 21-inch wheels on the S6 Sportback e-tron feature summer tires.
A6/S6 Sportback e-tron Interiors
A6/S6 Sportback e-tron standard interior features include adaptive cruise control, Audi advanced key, MMI Navigation Plus, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. The virtual cockpit, ambient lighting, LED headlights, and advanced driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise assist and augmented reality head-up display deliver a futuristic, intuitive driving experience.
Our test drive Prestige trim A6/S6 Sportback e-trons were loaded to the gills. Key Prestige trim features for both include: Matrix-design LED headlights with animation, aforementioned OLED taillights that offer digital customization, panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate control, and power soft-closing doors, along with a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system.
Our test S6 Sportback Prestige also had headrest speakers to allow for more private phone calls and direct audio for navigation commands (part of the $1,150 Warm Weather Package on A6 Sportback Prestige. A head-up display, power rear sunshades, and MMI dual touchscreen with navigation, and a 10.9” passenger display are additional features.
An innovative panoramic glass roof is standard on the Sportback e-tron pair. The panoramic roof’s smart liquid crystal glass minimizes direct sunlight and becomes opaque or acts as a “digital curtain” via a button, where drivers can choose from four digital curtain presets. We found this feature super useful to control direct sunlight entering the cabin at different angles based on our road direction.
Also, a host of vehicle functions can be controlled through the new self-learning voice control, Audi Assistant. The digital assistant is integrated into the vehicle and is depicted by an avatar in the central touch display of the MMI and in the Head-Up Display.
A6/S6 Sportback e-tron Drivetrain and Performance
The A6 Sportback e-tron quattro variant features a 100 kWh battery with dual motors and supports 9.6 kW AC charging and 270 kW DC fast charging. Rear-wheel drive versions get up to 377 miles of range with the Ultra package.
The S6 Sportback e-tron quattro offers a 100 kWh battery paired with dual motors, enabling impressive performance. The S6 Sportback e-tron gets 324 miles of range on a full charge when equipped with 20-inch wheels. The so-called PPE battery pack can maintain high charging rates, with Audi’s first “low-floor” PPE model capable of charging its 94.4 kWh battery at DC fast-charge speeds of up to 270kW. With the help of an advanced thermal management system, the S6 Sportback e-tron can achieve 10-80% DC fast charging in just 21 minutes.
On the road, my drive partner Kyle Edward of Autoblog and I found both Sportback variants to be comfortable, easy to drive, and luxurious — with both exhibiting terrific quattro AWD handling.
Adaptive air suspension, part of the Prestige Package on A6 Sportback RWD and quattro (Sport adaptive suspension standard on S6), offers controlled damping. Depending on the speed and individual preferences, it adapts to specific road conditions and regulates vehicle ride height at four different levels. The “efficiency” mode in Audi Drive Select is a special feature of the system. In efficiency mode, the suspension lowers the body by 0.8 inches, depending on the speed, improving aerodynamics.
As expected, the higher-performance, 543-horsepower S6 Sportback delivers super impressive acceleration with a 0-60 mph time of just 3.7 seconds, and enhanced handling with the Sport Adaptive Air Suspension.
The A6 Sportback e-tron Prestige quattro is rated at 110 city/102 highway/106 combined MPGe with an estimated annual “fuel” cost of $750.
The S6 Sportback e-tron Prestige quattro is rated at 99 city/94 highway/97 combined MPGe with an estimated annual cost of $850.
A6/S6 Sportback e-tron Safety and Driver Assistance
Audi never compromises on safety. The Sportback e-trons include forward collision warning, emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and an anti-theft alarm with motion sensors, among other safety and security features. A rearview camera, multiple airbags, and tire pressure monitoring also come standard. Lane departure and lane keep assist technologies enhance long-distance driving safety.
Audi Warranty and Maintenance
Audi offers a 4-year/50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, plus a 12-year limited warranty against corrosion. A 4-year roadside assistance package is also included.
A6/S6 Sportback e-tron Pricing
Our test model A6 Sportback e-tron quattro carried a base price of $67,900. The Prestige Package added $6,300, with the optional Warm Weather Package with B&O headrest speakers and ventilated front sport seats adding $1,150. With metallic paint, the tally was $77,240.
Our test S6 Sportback e-tron quattro carried a base price of $78,700. The Prestige Package added $5,900, while the Black Optic package with 21”-inch wheels, Summer tires, Anthracite Audi rings, and Black exterior trim will set you back $1,900. With metallic paint, the total price was $88,390.
All A6/S6 Sportback e-trons carry a $1,295 Destination Charge.
Learn more about this impressive pair at Audiusa.com
