2025 Audi S6 e-tron

Sure, we like any Audi that begins with A. Or a Q. But when they begin with an S, our interest levels perk up considerably. It’s not just the greater amount of power and poise that Audi S vehicles bring to the proverbial table, it’s all the other features as well. They make great, well-rounded packages.

Which explains our particular interest in the brand-new, all-electric S6 e-tron. It takes the equally new A6 e-tron then ramps up the excitement and equipment. We’ve been waiting for this car with eagerness, because Mercedes-Benz and BMW already have their equivalents up and selling. And we knew Audi would dress its latest electric vehicle (EV) in pretty cool apparel and endow it with interesting tech. Which is exactly what’s happened with the S6 e-tron.

We don’t yet know what the range will be, but 300 miles would put the new S6 e-tron at an advantage over those rivals.

The regular new 2025 Audi A6 e-tron is reviewed separately.

The 2025 Audi S6 e-tron is completely new. Instead of being a sedan, like previous S6 generations, this one has a hatchback. The car’s official full name is the Audi S6 e-tron Sportback.

On-Sale Date

We anticipate the new S6 e-tron going on sale during the first half of 2025. Prices will be announced closer to its eventual launch date.

We expect the 2025 Audi S6 e-tron to start at around $95,000. That’s assuming Audi does its usual thing with S cars by kicking off with what would be a mid-level trim in the corresponding non-S lineup. The higher Prestige trim is likely to be closer to $105,000.

For some context, the BMW i5 M60 begins in the high-$80K region and the Mercedes-EQ EQE AMG is more like $110K.

The new S6 e-tron has two motors making a total of 496 horsepower driving all four wheels. Or a temporary 543 horsepower with launch control. Audi says this can send the car whizzing from standstill to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. To compare, the BMW i5 M60 has a maximum of 593 horsepower and does that dash in the same time, while the Mercedes-EQ EQE AMG 4Matic+ is quicker by half a second thanks to its 617 horsepower.

The rear bias of the S6 e-tron’s all-wheel-drive system promises to give an appropriately sporty feel to the driving experience.

Having shunned the idea for its present electric vehicles, Audi has almost got on board with one-pedal driving, which the company calls B mode. It doesn’t bring the car to a complete halt when lifting all the way off the accelerator, but does slow it down through higher levels of brake energy regeneration.

Audi always has a winning way with interior design. The new S6 e-tron mixes technology with comfort and smart ergonomics. The tech includes a single curved unit incorporating an 11.9-inch instrument cluster with a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. A 10.9-inch display is available for the front passenger. All the screens are OLED. The infotainment tech itself is based on an Android operating system, although we’re sure Apple CarPlay will also be standard.

A quad-zone climate control system with an ionizer and fragrance is available. Thanks to its hatchback body, the S6 e-tron has a generous and versatile cargo area.

While the regular A6 e-tron is the most aerodynamic Audi to date, with a drag coefficient of 0.21, we’re expecting the extra aero appendages of the S6 e-tron (for better downforce) to result in not quite the same impressive level of slipperiness. Nevertheless, the car is still extremely aero-efficient.

Instead of being a sedan, this new electric model has a hatchback like the A7 Sportback that we already know and appreciate for its grace and practicality. Standard wheels are 20-inch alloys, with staggered widths front and rear.

Adaptive air suspension
A sport-tuned adaptive air suspension is standard in the new S6 e-tron, adjusting ride height according to conditions.

Augmented reality head-up display
Not just projecting typical information onto the windshield in front of the driver, this option adds things like direction arrows for navigation.

Adaptive driving assistant
This technology augments adaptive cruise control with map information and other data to enhance occupant comfort, as well as calculate arrival times.

Park Assist Plus
Self-parking for parallel and perpendicular spaces is always a good thing in our (blue) book.

Panoramic glass roof
The S6 e-tron offers this cool glass roof that can go from transparent to four levels of opaqueness with the touch of a button.

Bang & Olufsen audio
We think it’s good to see — and hear — some favorite features making it into Audi’s newest cars. The S6 e-tron offers a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system with 830 watts going through 20 speakers, some of those speakers being in the front headrests.

Audi has yet to give an official estimate of maximum range for the new S6 e-tron, but we expect something in the region of 300 miles. The BMW i5 M60 is rated at 253 miles, while the Mercedes-AMG EQE can run for 230 miles.

The car has quite a big battery, with a usable capacity of 94.9 kilowatt-hours (kWh). When connected to a DC fast charger, Audi claims this battery can go from 10% capacity to 80% in 21 minutes, which is about as fast as the present technology allows.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. EV batteries are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. This is all typical for the class, especially among European luxury car makers.

Safety

Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.