If you told your mates you were genuinely excited to spend two weeks with an electric Audi SUV, they would likely look at you the way one looks at someone who claims to prefer servo sushi over actual food.
The upside is you then get to convince them how good the 2025 Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron actually is, and why this writer returned the keys to Zetland in Sydney, after 12 days, wondering if the Germans have finally cracked the electric family SUV formula.
Upon collecting the car, this author was immediately faced with the EV owner’s ultimate test: navigating Sydney traffic while trying to appear completely relaxed about the fact that we had 180km to cover to reach the Hunter Valley.
Nothing says “I have my life together” like crawling through the M4 tunnel at 15km/h in a $100,000 car you do not own, praying the regenerative braking doesn’t catch you off guard and send your coffee flying into the fancy 14.5-inch touchscreen.
Audi has positioned the Q6 Sportback e-tron between the smaller Q4 e-tron and the larger Q8 e-tron, with Australian pricing starting at $99,900 before on-road costs for the rear-wheel-drive version we tested.
The Q6 Sportback feels like a car engineered by people who still care about the details, even if some of those include ride quality that could politely be described as assertive. Under the skin is an 83kWh battery and single rear‑mounted motor.
It produces 185kW and 450Nm, with 215kW available via launch control. Audi claims 7.6 seconds to 100km/h, or 7.0 seconds if you engage the electronic equivalent of a pep talk. It’s not fast, but it’s honest, with what we’d call adequate power deliver.
Range is a sensible 489km, and over a dozen days of Hunter Valley duties, the car returned slightly better than its claim, helped by efficient energy use (15.6–17.7kWh/100km) and a driver who briefly became obsessed with hypermiling.
Charging is straightforward: 225kW DC capability means a 10–80 per cent top‑up in around 21 minutes, assuming you can find a charger not currently occupied by someone watching TikTok in a BYD.
On the road, it reveals its best qualities. The rear‑drive layout gives it a clarity of steering feel the heavier quattro variants can’t quite match. It’s not playful, this is still a 2200kg SUV, but it’s composed, predictable, and surprisingly willing to change direction.
Traction is generally excellent, though one enthusiastic roundabout exit did briefly turn the control light into a nightclub accessory. The ride, however, is classic Audi: firm, controlled, and occasionally at odds with the idea of a luxury family SUV.
On smooth roads it feels planted and premium, but on rougher surfaces it feels like the engineers were personally offended by the concept of suspension travel. Inside, the Q6 Sportback e‑tron is peak Audi.
The 14.5‑inch MMI panoramic display, 11.9‑inch virtual cockpit, and 10.9‑inch passenger screen dominate the cabin, yet the layout remains intuitive. The graphics are crisp, the haptic feedback is satisfying, and the system responds quickly.
The passenger display proved particularly popular during charging stops, effectively turning the car into a mobile cinema, provided the driver is content to stare at a charging station while their partner watches The Traitors. Material quality is excellent.
Soft‑touch surfaces, metal accents, and ambient lighting all contribute to a cabin that feels genuinely premium. The seats are supportive without being harsh, and after multiple winery visits, tourist‑laden roads, and a boot full of booze, the Q6 remained a comfortable place.
Practicality is solid, though the Sportback shape does nibble away at cargo space. The Q6 measures 4771mm long, 1965mm wide, and 1665mm tall, with a 2899mm wheelbase that provides generous room for five adults.
The boot offers 511-litres, with a 64‑litre frunk for charging cables or emergency snacks. Drop the rear seats and capacity expands to 1373-litres, slightly down on the square‑backed SUV, provided you can accept that rear visibility is a suggestion rather than a feature.
During testing, the standard boot space proved enough for four adults, luggage, and an unreasonable number of dips. Standard equipment is strong. Matrix LED headlights, 360‑degree cameras, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, are all included.
So too are heated front and outer rear seats, three‑zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, AEB, blind‑spot monitoring, and a full suite of driver‑assistance systems.
The Q6 comes with a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, and the adaptive cruise control handled everything from empty country roads to tractors appearing around blind corners with admirable composure.
Options include an $8900 Premium package (panoramic sunroof, augmented‑reality head‑up display, Bang & Olufsen 3D audio, acoustic glazing) and a $5500 Style package (S line exterior, black pack, 20‑inch wheels, privacy glass). Our test vehicle had neither.
That meant we had to endure the indignity of merely excellent standard audio and 19‑inch wheels. Somehow, we survived. We jest of course. Ownership includes a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, and 8-years or 160,000km battery coverage.
You also get 6-years roadside assist, and the option of a similar length care plan. Returning the Q6 Sportback e‑tron after 12 days felt like farewelling a polite houseguest: impeccably mannered, occasionally stubborn, and always tidy.
It isn’t perfect. The ride is firm, the price is ambitious, and rear visibility is optimistic. But it is deeply competent, beautifully built, and engineered with a level of polish that becomes more appealing the longer you live with it.
For buyers wanting an EV that feels premium without being preachy, modern without being minimalist, built with genuine care, the Q6 Sportback e‑tron is a compelling choice. Just option the tow bar; this is still Australia, and some traditions must survive the electric age.
You can find out more on the Audi Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Audi Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
