The Q6 Sportback e‑tron is the coupe‑styled counterpart to the standard Q6 e‑tron that is hitting Audi dealerships this summer amidst an increasingly difficult time for battery-electric vehicles.
The new Q6 variant has a swooping roofline, sitting 1.4 ins. (35.6 mm) lower, than the standard Q6 BEV giving it a sportier, more aerodynamic silhouette – while still riding on the same 800V PPE platform shared with the Porsche Macan EV. This shape isn’t just for looks; it enhances aerodynamics, boosting EPA range by roughly 12 miles (19.3 km) over the boxier version, the company says.
The sleeker Q6 Sportback e-tron offers only dual‑motor all-wheel drive, no rear-wheel-drive option, producing 456 hp, 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph (209 km). Range is an EPA‑estimated 319 miles (513 km) on 19-in. wheels, dropping to 295 miles (475 km) on 20-in. wheels. The SQ6 Sportback is the high‑performance variant, which produces 509 hp, 0–60 mph in 4.2–4.3 secs., with a top speed of 143 mph (230km/h). The EPA estimate range on a fully charged battery is 283 miles (455-km).
Both Sportback and SQ6 trims use a 100-kWh gross (94.4-kWh usable) battery, able to charge at a maximum speed of 270 kW and reaching 10%–80% in 21-minutes or 65 miles (105 km) of range in just 10 mins.
Pricing starts higher than the standard Q6, accounting for its sportier features: The Q6 Sportback e‑tron Quattro starts at $70,895 and goes up to $76,695 for the Prestige variant. The SQ6 Sportback e‑tron starts at $77,595 and climbs to $82,995 for the Prestige. These prices include a $1,295 destination fee and place the Sportback about $2,400–$5,800 above equivalent Q6 trims.
Inside, the Q6 Sportback and SQ6 e‑tron inherit the high-tech interior of its SUV sibling. A sweeping digital cockpit includes an 11-in. (28-cm) instrument display and 14.5-in. (7-cm) central OLED touchscreen, with optional 10.9-in. (28-cm) passenger screen. An augmented‑reality head‑up display and 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio are available on the Premium Plus and Prestige trims. The infotainment system runs on Android Automotive, with an AI‑driven voice assistant and advanced EV mapping for locating charging stations and maximizing range.
Cargo capacity is slightly reduced from the Q6 SUV with 8.1 cu.- ft. (511 L) behind the rear seats and 48.5 cu.-ft. (1,373 L) with them folded, plus a 2.3-cu.-ft. (64-L) frunk.
Available features for the Q6 and SQ6 Sportback e-tron include 19-in. wheels, LED lighting, panoramic moonroof, power tailgate, 3‑zone climate control, lane keep and adaptive cruise, with a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and upgraded ambient lighting offered on the Premium Plus and Prestige trims. The Prestige trim also includes air suspension, passenger screen, HUD, signature lighting and full camera suite.
Audi's e-tron lineup – heralded as the German automaker’s electric vanguard – has faced significant challenges in gaining meaningful traction in the U.S. market. Despite Audi’s reputation for luxury, precision engineering and quattro all-wheel-drive prowess, its BEV offerings have consistently lagged Tesla and even newer entries from BMW, Hyundai and Ford in terms of sales volume and consumer buzz. The original e-tron SUV, introduced in 2019, was met with lukewarm reception due to modest range, high pricing and uninspiring design relative to its electric rivals.
The Q6 Sportback e-tron could add some juice to Audi’s BEV narrative, especially with competitive range and pricing, but it is facing a market that soon will be devoid of federal tax credits to sweeten the incentive to give Audi’s electric offerings a whirl.
