Experiencing the 2025 Audi S6 Sportback e-tron

Let’s lower to the chase. The 2025 Audi S6 Sportback e-tron has 496 horsepower, with launch management leading to transient bursts totaling 543 hp. That’s a ton of muscle, enabling a powerful standstill-to-60 mph time of three.7 seconds. Right here’s the bit that’s much less apparent: the automobile is so quiet, serene, and composed that it’s simple to underestimate simply how briskly it’s and, consequently, how succesful it’s at coping with all these accelerative forces.

Numbers Don’t Lie, however Emotions Would possibly Obscure

Nobody appears on the speedometer once they’re driving by a bend, particularly on an unfamiliar highway. In the meantime, the 2 electrical motors within the S6 Sportback e-tron ship mighty thrust and not using a huge tune and dance. All these normal alerts — like a high-revving engine with a loud exhaust or noticeable physique roll — are lacking from this automobile. It’s an identical deal on the straights. Any wind or tire noise is subdued to the purpose of being negligible. So reaching license-threatening velocity may very well be the work of a mere second. That is all a part of what makes the S6 Sportback e-tron lovely.

Extra Than Pores and skin Deep

Sure, magnificence is within the eye of the beholder. Or, on this case, within the fingers of the steering wheel holder. I’m that man, and that is my opinion. I’ll confess to being a bit predisposed to the S6 Sportback e-tron on a few grounds. The primary is that I believe (and I’m removed from alone on this) Audi is making some nice electrical autos. The designs and engineering, plus the truth that Audi is a longtime firm, are prone to sway me ought to I ever be available in the market for an all-electric midsize luxurious automobile. The second is that Audi S vehicles are sweeeeet.

There’s a center zone between the corporate’s A vehicles (just like the also-new 2025 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron) and the sportiest RS variants. There is no such thing as a RS 6 Sportback e-tron, however anybody looking for much more thrust and thrills can try the 912-hp Audi RS e-tron GT.

Nonetheless, that spot occupied by S vehicles is the place so many great attributes converge: Energy that simply steps previous the purpose of ampleness, gear ranges that underline luxuriousness, and a setup that leans towards sportiness with out sacrificing consolation. Issue within the exterior and inside designs as properly, and that is how a automobile may be lovely. To me, at the very least.

Different customary belongings embrace all-wheel drive (AWD), a sport-tuned adaptive air suspension, and 6-piston brake calipers up entrance, contributing to assured braking. The brakes really feel pure, by the way in which, regardless of having an vitality recuperation system to assist with vary.

The Vary Loner

Talking of, most vary for the S6 Sportback e-tron is 324 miles. To check, the 601-hp BMW i5 M60 xDrive manages 253 miles, whereas the 617-hp Mercedes-AMG EQE can solely stretch to 220 miles. These variations in muscle aren’t going to have any huge impact on public roads. This Audi just about matches its rivals for charging pace, taking 21 minutes to go from 10% to 80% utilizing a DC quick charger.

All this stuff add as much as make the S6 Sportback e-tron an outstanding instance of its class. It drives with poise and punch, but nonetheless with an unmistakable circulation. Now it’s time to look inside.

The Inside Gentle

Digital Stage is Audi’s reply to what Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Genesis have been doing with massive one-piece screens stretching about midway throughout the dashboard and exhibiting two shows — a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen. Within the S6 Sportback e-tron, they measure 11.9 and 14.5 inches, respectively. There’s additionally the choice of a ten.9-inch third display for the entrance passenger. Cleverly, it’s not seen to the driving force. My expertise of the infotainment system is that it’s sufficiently user-friendly. And I realized that it acknowledges 800 spoken instructions. In typical Audi trend, the general match and end are worthy of the automobile’s luxurious standing.

Normal gear consists of positive Nappa leather-based seating surfaces with diamond stitching, whereas the supportive but comfy sport entrance seats have heating, air flow, and massaging capabilities. The panoramic glass roof is intelligent, letting in gentle however not warmth, and comes with variable ranges between clear and opaque. My check automobile got here in Status trim, with a superb Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system incorporating audio system within the entrance headrests, plus a head-up show enhanced by augmented actuality.

I discovered rear legroom acceptable at 35.2 inches, so long as nobody taller than common sat up entrance. There’s no aerodynamic benefit to being a Sportback as an alternative of a sedan (this automobile has a slippery drag coefficient of 0.24), however a Sportback is basically an Audi factor, and it does add a dimension of practicality. Cargo area behind the rear seats goes from 26 cubic toes (rather more than the i5 or EQE trunks) to 39.3 when these seats are folded down.

The 2025 Audi S6 Sportback e-tron begins at $79,995, considerably beneath its rivals. There’s additionally a gasoline-powered S6 sedan coming for the 2026 mannequin 12 months. The S appears set to reign supreme.

See 2025 Audi S6 e-tron stock accessible