Audi Q6 e-tron 2026 review: Sportback - Australian first drive

Love them or hate them, coupe SUVs are here to stay.

Audi has just launched its latest series of swoopy-looking Sportback SUVs in Australia. There’s the Q5 and SQ5 Sportback models, as well as the Q6 and SQ6 Sportback e-tron models.

On test here is the new Q6 Sportback e-tron, in particular the base model trim. It’s a rare unit because it doesn’t have any optional equipment so it’s indicative of a proper base model.

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Pricing starts from $99,900, before on-road costs, which is the same as the regular SUV version. For the rest of the line-up, the Sportback costs more than the SUV version, mirroring the strategy of virtually every other carmaker offering this body style.

Highlight standard equipment across the line-up is matrix LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free power tailgate, an 11.9-inch OLED digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch OLED central touchscreen multimedia system, a 10.9-inch front passenger touchscreen, three-zone climate control and leather-appointed upholstery.

While there is a fair bit of standard kit even as a base, there’s a tonne that’s locked away in option packages. You need to be careful when ticking those boxes because they add up very quickly.

Let’s get this out of the way. The looks. Ever since coupe SUVs were pioneered by the BMW X6 back in the early 2000s, they haven’t been to my taste.

Despite this, the Q6 Sportback e-tron doesn’t look too bad with this swoopier body style. It looks like it was designed to have it from the beginning, unlike some previous Audi Sportback SUV models. I’m looking at you last-generation Q5.

The biggest difference in terms of design is the rear hatch area. The roof tapers off more rapidly, the rear spoiler has a new location under the rear window plus the roof rails and rear window wiper are deleted as standard.

An immediate downside of this bodystyle is less boot space. The Q6 Sportback e-tron offers 511 litres of boot space with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1373L with them folded.

This still isn’t a small amount, but the regular Q6 e-tron offers 526L and 1529L, respectively. It’s a small sacrifice in the name of style.

From a driving perspective, the Q6 Sportback e-tron is virtually identical to the regular SUV body style.

This entry-level version is powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 185kW and 450Nm normally, but this can be cranked up to 215kW when using launch control.

It’s far from the quickest out there with a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.0 seconds, however in everyday traffic it’s more than enough. In fact, you probably don’t need any more power but Audi offers quicker quattro all-wheel drive versions, but also the high-performance SQ6 e-tron.

This electric motor is fed by an 83kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is notably smaller than the rest of the Q6 e-tron line-up. They all have 100kWh Li-ion units.

One benefit of the Sportback body style is it’s more aerodynamic than the SUV contributing to greater driving range. The Q6 Sportback e-tron offers up to 585km of WLTP range, whereas the Q6 e-tron offers 462km of WLTP range. That’s a significant difference.

Like all Q6 e-trons, there is an 800V electric architecture allowing for fast DC charging rates. The entry-level Q6 Sportback e-tron, along with its SUV counterpart is capped at 225kW, which is notably less than the 270kW peak DC charge rate the rest of the line-up offers. AC charging is rated at up to 11kW.

Like a few cars now, there is a charging port on both sides of the car. There is a Type 2/CCS combination charger on one side, allowing for both AC and DC charging, then a Type 2 port on the other, only allowing for AC charging. It’s great for flexibility.

Annoyingly however, both charge flaps are electrically operated, meaning they open and close themselves. They’re a lot more complex and can sometimes take a beat or two to either open or close. It’s much easier to have regular manually operated ones.

Out on the open road the Q6 Sportback e-tron feels nimble and dynamically inclined, even in entry-level guise. The steering is light and precise, making it a charm to carve up B-roads in.

Although it’s fun to steer, it doesn’t disguise the overall heft of this almost 2.2-tonne electric SUV. It’s almost 2.0m wide, too, meaning it fills a lane with ease.

From a suspension standpoint, it has a sporty firmness to it, but thanks to the smaller standard 19-inch alloy wheels, there is plenty of compliance.

The base Q6 Sportback e-tron only comes with standard passive suspension. You’re unable to option air suspension which is present on other grades.

On the ownership front, the vehicle is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, whereas the high-voltage battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty.

Logbook servicing is required every two years or 30,000km, whichever comes first. A six-year service plan is $2080.