Audi A6 Avant e-tron (2025) Review

Introduction

The Audi A6 Avant has long been Audi’s flagship estate car, going toe-to-toe with the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate. And it has matched those two German titans at every step. But the world continues to move forwards, and the time has come for Audi to offer an all-electric alternative to the standard A6 Avant.

It’s called the A6 Avant e-tron, and although it doesn’t share all that much with the new, combustion-powered A6 Avant, it is a very close relative of the new A6 Sportback e-tron – the fastback-shaped, all-electric alternative to the A6 Saloon. The two electric cars share plenty, including some very impressive range figures, but how much of a difference does the bigger rear end make to the Audi’s already compelling credentials?

At a Glance

Like the A6 Sportback e-tron on which it is based, the A6 Avant e-tron has a more rounded, more aerodynamic shape than the old, conventionally powered A6 models. Yet it isn’t quite as aerodynamic as the Sportback thanks to that higher roofline at the rear, and though the impact on range might put some customers off, the extra practicality will cancel that disadvantage out for others.

And the A6 Avant e-tron is definitely practical. There’s plenty of space in the back and in the boot, even if the figures don’t necessarily show it to its best advantage, and the cabin is as well made as you expect from Audi. There’s also a cool, stylish dashboard with huge screens, including a digital instrument display and a massive touchscreen. Depending on specification, you can also have a big head-up display and a passenger display, if you so wish.

There’s a choice of powertrains, too, although all are long-range electric options. The base model has a sizeable 83kWh battery, but every other version has an even bigger 100kWh battery pack that offers huge amounts of range. Admittedly, the Avant isn’t quite as impressive as the Sportback in terms of range, but a maximum of 437 miles is still pretty remarkable, and you’re unlikely to notice the difference between the body styles regularly in the real world.

Nor will you notice a great difference in the way the cars drive, either. The A6 Avant e-tron doesn’t really feel any more top-heavy or more prone to body roll than the Sportback, and you don’t notice any extra weight in the car’s bodywork. It’s generally equally comfortable, which means it’s much more supple than the BMW i5 Touring, but though the Audi is pleasant to drive, the BMW is more exciting.

Key Features

For many A6 Avant e-tron customers, the promise of enormous range will be the primary reason for choosing it over a BMW-badged alternative. And the range is indeed impressive, with the long-range Performance model providing almost as much official range as its Sportback-shaped stablemate. Admittedly, real-world range is nowhere near as impressive as the official data might have you believe, but it’s still capable of some pretty long trips without stopping to charge, and if you do have to top up the battery, rapid charging capability means you can do it very quickly.

Another key aspect of the A6 Avant e-tron’s appeal is the amount of space it provides over and above the standard Sportback model. Yes, the figures suggest the boot space is identical to that of the Sportback and slightly smaller than that of its rivals, but that number doesn’t tell the full story. Not only is the number slightly misleading because it’s only measured to the window line, but it also has no impact on some of the other aspects of practicality that make the A6 Avant e-tron so appealing. For instance, the higher roofline means there’s more headroom for rear-seat passengers, and the presence of a rear windscreen wiper improves visibility slightly.

Range & Batteries

As with the A6 Sportback e-tron, basic A6 Avant e-tron models come with an 83kWh and a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels, while all other models get a larger 100kWh power pack and either a single- or twin-motor layout.

And despite the shape being slightly less aerodynamic than that of the equivalent Sportback model, the Avant manages similar – but by no means superior – range to its siblings. Where the official figures suggest the basic A6 Sportback e-tron manages 383 miles on a single charge, the same test pegs the entry level A6 Avant e-tron at 361 miles. That 22-mile difference is way under 10% – it’s more like 5% – and that’s about what you should expect the difference to be between all Avant and Sportback models.

For many, the most appealing A6 e-tron models will be the Performance versions, with their 100kWh battery and rear-mounted electric motor. As the longest-range models in the A6 e-tron line-up, the Performance versions of the Sportback manage 463 miles on the official test, while the Avant cuts that slightly to 437 miles.

And though you won’t achieve that range in the real world, a more realistic figure of around 250 miles of motorway range is still very useful – and not all that different from the range you’ll achieve in the equivalent Sportback model.

But all the A6 Avant e-tron models have reasonable real-world range, with something around the 200-mile mark being achievable for all models. Expect to lose about 10 or 20 miles compared with the Sportback, though.

Performance & Drive

Like the A6 Sportback e-tron, the A6 Avant e-tron is solely available in electric form, although Audi has confirmed the A6 name will live on in petrol forms with the unrelated but similarly named A6 Avant.

In the case of the e-tron, though, there’s a choice of four different powertrains, with the 83kWh, 326hp, rear-wheel-drive version starting things off. Despite its lowly position in the range, it’s still a pretty nippy car, managing 0-62mph in about six seconds and hitting a top speed of 130mph. Doesn’t sound like much of a base model, does it?

That said, we’d still recommend the Performance version, which comes with the bigger 100kWh battery and couples with it with a rear-mounted 380hp electric motor. That too drives the rear wheels alone, but the extra power means it’s more than half a second faster from 0-62mph, and it has much greater range than the base model.

If you want more power, or you just want the extra traction offered by an all-wheel-drive system, the A6 Avant e-tron Quattro has two electric motors — one for the front wheels and one for the rears — and that increases power to 462hp, but sees range fall slightly as a result.

Or you can have the range-topping S6 Avant e-tron, with 551hp from its two motors. It has the shortest range of any of the 100kWh cars, but it’s ballistically quick, getting from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

Whichever one you choose, the A6 Avant e-tron will be a comfortable companion, with even the slightly firmer S6 offering a pleasant, amiable long-distance gait. The bumps are soaked up ably and with minimum fuss, and the extra weight of the Avant body is hidden well by the springs.

There’s no great difference between the Sportback and Avant models in terms of handling, either, with very similar steering feel and little more body roll from the taller rear end. Compared with their saloon-bodied siblings, estates can often feel as though they’re being dragged around a little more at the rear, but there’s very little of that sensation in the A6 Avant e-tron.

And thanks to Audi’s attempts to make the A6 e-tron models more engaging, with a bit of verve in the chassis and that improved steering system, the newcomer is closer to the BMW i5 Touring than the old A6 Avant ever got to the equivalent BMW 5 Series Touring models. It still can’t quite match it for excitement and engagement, but it is more comfortable, so it arguably strikes a better balance.

Charging

Because the batteries are the same in Sportback and Avant versions of the A6 e-tron, the estate car gets the same charging speeds as the fastback. The base model can charge at up to 225kW, given the right conditions and the right charging point, but that increases to 270kW for the bigger 100kWh batteries. That’s fast enough to charge from 10% to 80% in 21 minutes, but achieving that speed will depend on temperature and the charging point the car is plugged into.

Then there’s the question of charging at home. A domestic 7kW ‘wallbox’ charging point should do a decent job of filling the battery in the time between getting home from work and setting off again the following morning, but the 100kWh battery in particular is really big, and it won’t always manage it completely if you have an early start or a late finish, or the battery charge is really low.

Running Costs & Emissions

With electric power the sole option for A6 Avant e-tron customers, any version is likely to be cheaper to run than the forthcoming combustion-powered A6 Avant. But those who charge regularly at home face the lowest running costs of any customers, with cheap-rate electricity filling the Audi’s battery way more cheaply than petrol will ever fill a car’s fuel tank. And with such competitive real-world range, a customer on a 10,000-mile-a-year deal will probably only charge once or twice a week on average.

But company car drivers are the ones who really benefit. With such low Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax brackets for drivers, the A6 e-tron models save customers huge amounts of money alongside combustion-engined alternatives. But the BMW i5 Touring offers much the same tax advantage, so while the A6 Avant e-tron stacks up well alongside combustion-powered equivalents, it’s little better or worse than its closest electric rival.

Interior & Technology

For those in the front, the A6 Avant e-tron is pretty much identical to the A6 Sportback e-tron, with the same curved housing for the digital instrument display and touchscreen, and the same well-appointed dashboard with lots of upmarket materials.

The build quality is a highlight, too, with all the cabin fixtures and fittings slotting together as beautifully as ever. Admittedly, the steering wheel buttons and window switches all feel a little fiddly and plasticky, but the cabin generally feels better made than that of the BMW i5 Touring.

But for all the class and quality, there’s no doubt that the focus is on technology. The new instrument display is huge, sharp and modern, which makes up somewhat for the fact it doesn’t quite have the configuration options of the old, combustion-powered A6 Avant’s Virtual Cockpit, and the touchscreen is just as huge.

The central screen is also more modern than before, with nice sharp graphics and plenty of functions, but it is also a little more confusing to navigate, and Audi has hidden the climate control in there, too. Normally, that would be a significant blot in the car’s copy book, but the Audi system is streets ahead of most, not least because the temperature controls are permanently visible at the foot of the screen, which means you can always access them, no matter what.

And those two are not the only screens in the A6 Avant e-tron’s cabin. Top-of-the-range models also get a passenger display in front of the front passenger seat, as well as a head-up display. Both are, in their own ways, more remarkable than the other two screens, with the head-up display offering augmented reality views on the outside world, while the passenger display is a sharp, simplified version of the central touchscreen that’s flawlessly integrated with the car’s systems. So while your passenger can’t deal with driving modes and the like, they can change the radio station more easily. Perhaps it is a bit of a gimmick, but it works well and as a free addition to Edition 1 models, it’s pretty good value.

Practicality & Boot Space

On paper, the A6 Avant e-tron doesn’t sound any more useful than the Sportback. Both cars have exactly the same boot size, of 502 litres, and they get the same 27-litre storage area under the bonnet, which is ideal for stowing charging cables and the like. And the comparisons don’t stop there. That space makes the Audi’s luggage space look a little small compared with the BMW i5 Touring, and it’s only about 10% better than the space available in a Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo.

But numbers only tell half the story. Because boot space is measured to the window line – i.e. the top of the back seats – it makes the Avant and Sportback versions sound more closely matched than they are. If you want to carry bulky objects, the estate is still the car to choose, and it’s better for carrying passengers, too. With a higher roofline at the back, there’s a little more headroom in the rear seats, so tall passengers can enjoy the ample legroom that’s common to all A6 e-trons with a little less concern about bumping their heads.

Safety

The new A6 Avant e-tron managed a spectacular safety score when it was put through a rigorous crash-test procedure by European independent safety organisation Euro NCAP. The five-star rating was impressive enough, but the fact it scored more than 90% for adult occupant protection and child occupant protection was remarkable, and makes the big Audi estate one of the safest cars on the road today.

And it also gets plenty of driver assistance gadgets to help you steer clear of trouble in the first place. All versions come with adaptive cruise control, which maintains a safe distance to the vehicle in front, while a 360-degree manoeuvring camera is also included as standard. Autonomous emergency braking is fitted to all A6 Avant e-trons, too, allowing the car to brake automatically if the driver fails to respond to some kind of hazard, such as a stopped vehicle or a child running out into the road.

Options

The A6 Avant e-tron range follows that of the Sportback, so there’s a three-tier range that kicks off with the already quite generously appointed Sport model. That car comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control and a 360-degree parking camera, as well as heated front seats and adaptive cruise control.

A step above that is the S Line model, which is expected to be one of the most popular versions, what with its slightly sportier styling that includes tweaks to the front bumper, alloy wheels and rear end. It also gets privacy glass, helping to obscure an interior that includes sportier seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and stainless steel pedals.

Finally, the Edition 1 versions build on the S Line specification with larger 21-inch alloy wheels, heated rear seats and a passenger touchscreen. Dark exterior trim accents and red brake callipers also help it to stand out from the crowd.

And if you so wish, you can choose from a familiar selection of wheel designs, interior trim options and body colours, not to mention some option packs that provide even more standard equipment. We expect the Sound and Vision pack to be particularly popular, with its augmented reality head-up display and Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Rival Cars

Unlike the A6 Sportback e-tron, which faces a large selection of competitors, the estate body is a somewhat rarer proposition in electric car circles, so the Avant’s rivals are a little fewer in number.

Clearly, the majority of the competition comes from the BMW i5 Touring, which offers lots of space, a smart image and highly impressive road holding. If you’re a keen driver, the BMW is the estate to choose in this sector of the market, but for everybody else, the Audi fights back with comfort, class and build quality, although both the Audi and BMW are closely matched when it comes to technology.

Alternatively, customers could look at the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer, which looks quite similar to the Audi but has a slightly less upmarket badge and a fractionally less premium cabin. All that said, though, it offers strong range in big-battery Pro S form, and it’s a spacious, stylish and comfortable alternative to the A6 Avant e-tron.

If you want to go the other way and pick something properly posh, though, the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo is the alternative pick. It’s nowhere near as practical as the Audi, although it’s surprisingly roomy for a Porsche, but it’s the only electric estate that can beat the BMW i5 Touring in the corners, and it feels classy inside, too. Yes, it’s a much sportier choice, but with the Performance Battery Plus on board, it offers the range to compete with the Audi, VW and BMW.

Verdict & Next Steps

In many ways, the A6 Avant e-tron is a more capable car than the Sportback, thanks primarily to its increased rear headroom and fractionally more practical boot. Yes, it loses a bit of range on paper, but the figures are still pretty impressive, and as it won’t quite achieve such impressive numbers on the road, most customers are unlikely to notice the difference. So if you like the Sportback but feel the need for more space, the Avant should be a no-brainer.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Audi A6 Avant e-tron.

**Correct as of 31/03/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £5,601.96 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.