Audi’s transition to electric power continues with the launch of the stunning new A6 e-tron Avant. Editor Paul Gibson decided to take the motorway mile-eater from home in Sussex to the land of Cadbury’s chocolate – Birmingham. He writes…
Range anxiety is a huge thing – it’s always the first question anyone asks when you spark up a conversation about electric vehicles. The lack of a decent charging infrastructure across the UK and concerns over their charging speeds are always a concern.
That’s something Audi is trying to eliminate with the launch of the all-new A6 E-Tron Avant – with claims of a range of just under 400 miles, there was only one thing to do during my test drive and put that fact to the test.
I picked up the A6 from Caffyns Audi in Eastbourne with a full charge of course and was introduced to the mind-boggling amount of technology behind the wheels which was overpowering at first, but the longer you spent in the car, you quickly begin to learn what does what, and it becomes an incredibly intuitive experience.
The A6 Avant has been the go-to for premium estate buyers who need space, sophistication and subtlety — and now, in full electric guise, it promises all that and more, with a cutting-edge drivetrain, generous equipment and up to 270kW of power.
Visually, the A6 e-tron Avant makes a strong statement and not just for an estate car. While many EVs lean into futuristic curves and chunky silhouettes, the A6 e-tron Avant keeps things sleek, elegant and distinctly Audi.
Audi’s new Premium Platform Electric (PPE), shared with Porsche, allows for a long wheelbase and short overhangs, contributing to a planted, modern look.
It’s a design that merges familiarity with progressiveness, which is exactly what long-time Audi buyers will appreciate.
The 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit remains a highlight, especially when combined with the augmented reality head-up display, which overlays navigation prompts directly onto your line of sight. Everything is crisp, quick to respond and logically laid out.
More importantly for estate buyers, there’s ample space. Rear legroom is generous thanks to the flat floor and stretched wheelbase, and the boot offers 545 litres with the seats up, 60 shy of the combustion A6 Avant. Fold the seats down and that figure climbs to 1,680 litres. There’s also a small ‘frunk’ under the bonnet for charging cables and other bits and bobs.
Under the skin, the A6 e-tron Avant Launch Edition Performance delivers a healthy 270kW (362bhp) from its dual-motor setup, with 0-62mph in just under 5.5 seconds.
Quattro all-wheel drive is standard, naturally, and gives the A6 e-tron a sense of composure on wet or uneven roads. Air suspension (also standard on the Launch Edition) adds a layer of magic-carpet comfort, soaking up bumps without becoming wallowy. It’s not a B-road bruiser in the mould of the RS6, but it can certainly hustle when needed and does so with eerie silence.
Regenerative braking is adjustable via steering wheel paddles, allowing for one-pedal driving in traffic. It’s smoothly calibrated and doesn’t feel grabby, which is a common complaint in some rival systems.
So, I can feel you’re eager to know how my 340-mile trip panned out! Well, I wasn’t going to be irresponsible enough to see how far I could drain the battery on the A6, especially as most of the journey is motorway – the last thing I wanted was to be sitting waiting for recovery to get me home.
I arrived at my overnight stop in south Birmingham with 40% remaining battery, so I knew I’d certainly need a top-up on the return journey, but there was something going through my mind that I could actually complete the journey on a single charge.
It’s the motorway speeds that kill the range. All the time you’re happy to sit behind an HGV, or National Express Coach on the inside lane, taking advantage of clean air, the range almost increases, as this is ultimately the most economical speed to drive at – for any car.
As soon as you get the right foot down a bit and progress your journey, this is when you start seeing the numbers disappear on the dashboard, so unless I wanted it to take almost a full day to get home, a recharge was certainly needed.
This is certainly not a criticism of the A6 – this is true of any car, EV or any combustion engine. But, I do think I could have gotten back to the M25 circular without another charge for sure.
Being the responsible driver I am, I found Morrisons in Birmingham which offered a 50kw charger, so around 45 minutes topped the battery up to 80% at a cost of just over £30.
Crucially, the A6 e-tron supports ultra-fast 270kW DC charging, meaning a 10-80% top-up can take just 25 minutes when plugged into a sufficiently powerful charger. On a standard 11kW home wallbox, a full charge takes around 10 hours
I finished the trip with 30% remaining charge, which means the whole journey used a whole charge plus 10% for a 340-mile journey, which I think is pretty incredible. A much better experience than some of my other EV long journeys I’ve done in the past.
Being a Launch Edition, this A6 e-tron Avant is loaded. Standard kit includes adaptive cruise with lane guidance, 360-degree cameras, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, four-zone climate control and heated everything. The only real extras are aesthetic or niche convenience features — most buyers won’t feel the need to tick many boxes.
The Launch Edition starts from just over £77,000, which puts it in competition with the BMW i5 Touring and the Mercedes EQE Estate. But, given the performance, tech, and premium feel on offer, it feels like a fair deal, especially if you’re moving from an existing high-spec A6 Avant.
The Audi A6 e-tron Avant Launch Edition is a significant moment for the electric car market, and for Audi. It’s proof that EVs don’t need to be SUVs or futuristic bubbles. They can be practical, understated, stylish and genuinely desirable estate cars.
Visit www.caffyns.co.uk/audi/ for more information on the range.
