Audi launched the A6 e-tron and S6 e-tron in the U.S. last month, but only in the Sportback version. Customers in global markets get the choice of similar station wagons, namely the A6 Avant e-tron and S6 Avant e-tron.
While we have already spent time with the S6 Sportback e-tron, last month in Bangkok I got a chance to experience the sporty S6 Avant e-tron in person, and here’s what I think about the long-roofed model:
Exterior
The Audi S6 Avant e-tron has the same futuristic and dynamic character as its Sportback donor model for the most part. I noticed that the station wagon’s proportions looked visibly different from behind the B-pillar, with the roofline extending further back and sloping far less aggressively. Yet, thanks to the low ground clearance, 21-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, and raked D-pillar, it looks quite sporty.
I found the digital daytime running lights, the second-generation virtual mirrors, and the technical-looking tail light clusters the most captivating elements of the electric station wagon‘s exterior. The distinctive color, which seemed to be Malpelo blue, complements the stylish and sophisticated design.
Interior
Being a 5’7” person, getting in and out of the Audi S6 Avant e-tron was an easy task. The first thing I checked after tucking myself into the sporty driver’s seat was all-around visibility, which was great, particularly because of the crisp rear-side view from the virtual mirrors on the OLED displays. The steering wheel with an electrically adjustable column was grippy and gave me an added sense of sportiness when I held it.
From my experience, the Audi S6 Avant e-tron is spacious but has some room for improvement. In the front, my head was comfortably lower than the headliner, but I felt the lumbar support and under-thigh support could have been better. The cabin floor was higher than usual and I think tall drivers may find themselves a little uncomfortable in long journeys. The quality of materials was excellent, though, in true Audi sense, and I particularly liked the silver trim on the dashboard and door panels.
Audi was among the first automakers to make customizable digital instrument clusters the new normal, and the perfection of the S6 Avant e-tron’s 11.9-inch unit is a testament to that pioneering spirit. The 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system was bright, and its Android Automotive OS-based software felt snappy.
I appreciated the inclusion of a regular knob to adjust the speaker volume and change music tracks. A 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen is also part of the tech features, but it doesn’t look properly integrated or aligned with the other two screens.
In the rear, sitting right behind the driver’s seat, I had excellent legroom and knee room. The backrest was not reclinable but I had no complaints with its default angle. I cannot say the same about the under-thigh support, though. The high floor meant I had to sit with my knees raised higher than usual. The headroom was sufficient for me, but six-foot or taller people will find their hair brushing against the headliner.
Rear AC vents provide enhanced comfort, and so does a center armrest, which includes two cupholders. I felt that the rear part of the center console could have looked and felt more upmarket with soft-touch upholstery instead of just hard plastic. Moreover, I think regular buttons or knobs would have been more convenient than the touch-operated buttons for adjusting the temperature.
Specifications
The Audi S6 Avant e-tron measures 194.0 in. in length, 75.7 in. in width (excl. mirrors), and 59.2 in. in height and has a 116.2 in. wheelbase. It offers 17.7 cu. ft. of cargo space, expandable to 50.2 cu. ft. by folding the rear seat. It also has a small frunk with 1.0 cu. ft. of extra storage space.
Powering the Audi S6 Avant e-tron are two motors, which give it an AWD drivetrain layout for all-road and all-weather capability. The front motor develops 203 lb.-ft. of torque, while the rear motor produces 428 lb.-ft. of torque. Audi hasn’t disclosed the total torque output or the individual power outputs.
The two motors give the car 496 hp of system power, enough to go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.1 seconds. Moreover, with a Launch Control function, the driver can temporarily bump the system power to 543 hp and shave 0.2 seconds off that acceleration time to 3.9 seconds. Flat out, the pure electric station wagon does 149 mph.
A 94.9 kWh (net) battery pack supplies energy to the two motors, and supports charging at up to 11 kW (AC)/270 kW (DC). A full charging session through an AC charger takes as little as ten hours. A 10-80% charging session through a DC charger takes just 21 minutes. The S6 Avant e-tron travels up to 402 miles (WLTP) on a full charge.
Price & Availability
In Germany, the Audi S6 Avant e-tron retails at EUR 101,150 (USD 110,879) in the standard grade and EUR 116,795 (USD 128,029) in the edition one grade. It competes with the BMW i5 Touring.
Audi has paused shipping cars to the U.S. after a 25% import tariff took effect on April 3 under the Donald Trump administration. We assume that the company wasn’t planning to launch its new station wagon in the U.S. anyway, as demand for this type of vehicle is on the decline, with American buyers migrating to crossover SUVs.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
