Audi SQ6 review finds new benchmark for the brand

The SQ6 is a new addition to luxury marque’s electric offerings and it sets the benchmark for Audi EVs.

The Audi SQ6 costs more than $160,000 once on-roads are settled.

About four years ago we had our first drive of the Audi e-Tron.

The experience was underwhelming. Cool tech, but below par range and a hefty price tag, yet the early effort has paved the way for rapid improvement. You’d expect nothing else from the prestige German marque that sits under the Volkswagen group umbrella.

Audi’s e-Tron garage is surging past 10, with the latest additions a Q6 pair. The standard Q6 and sportier SQ6 arrived earlier this year with prices starting from about $126,000 on the road for the single motor variant.

The Q6 comes with big expectations as the full electric version of the outstanding Q5 SUV.

Riding on a platform co-developed with Porsche, which is also used by the Macan, foundations don’t come much better.

Our family sampled the SQ6 derivative, which requires an investment of at least $163,000 once on-roads are settled.

What do you get?

With a trio of screens which stretch across the dash, the SQ6 immediately feels like a technological tour de force.

The driver has a configurable 11.9-inch display, in the centre of the dash sits a curved 14.5-inch touchscreen, while there is also another 10.9-inch display for the passenger. The latter enables those riding shotgun to control the infotainment, find destinations via the satnav, watch YouTube or search on the web (the driver can’t see it when in motion courtesy of a “curtain” function).

Another inclusion is augmented reality head-up display for the driver, which showcases the changing speed limits that come at you like small frisbees, the digital speed readout gets larger the quicker you accelerate and also overlays maps to avoid the driver looking down.

Games are also available, handy for those bored while charging … not that you'd be hanging around too long, it can shift from 10 to 80 per cent full in about 20 minutes using a high power (DC) charging station. You can add about an hour to that to get the same result at more common rechargers. A wallbox at home would take more than 15 hours.

A one-year subscription to Charge-Fox networks is complimentary.

Other nice standard kit includes a panoramic glass sunroof, massage function for front seats, leather trim, wireless phone charger, heated front and outer rear seats, 21-inch alloys, tri-zone aircon and a 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen stereo.

Our test car had the back exterior package that added $2100 and front head restraint loudspeakers for $950.

Audi’s standard five-year warranty applies, but battery coverage is eight years. A servicing pack is available for $2080 for six years, with long servicing intervals of two years or 30,000km.

Check out the three screens across the Audi SQ6 dash – one for the driver, one for the infotainment in the centre and another for the passenger.

How was the drive?

Beautifully composed and quiet, the SQ6 represents the new electric benchmark for Audi.

Despite being the performance-orientated derivative, it boasts outstanding serenity and smoothness across varying surfaces.

While serene in most circumstances, when dynamic mode is selected and launch control is engaged, the 2425kg SUV can rip from standstill to 100km/h in a rapid 4.3 seconds.

Most buyers would rarely flex that muscle, yet it’s wonderfully punchy when the driver exercises their right ankle.

Adaptive air suspension delivers the impressive ride performance, automatically adjusting the SQ6’s height and damping characteristics based on driving conditions.

When pushing hard the weight and top-heavy nature of the SUV can be exposed. Most drivers wouldn’t get close to the SQ6 limits and, for the most, the steering is linear and accurate, with composure personified during rural drives, in traffic or on the highway.

The big battery provides range of more than 560km, and our consumption was 21.6kWh/100km.

Boot space in the Audi SQ6 surpasses 520 litres, and there are levers in the boot to drop the rear seat which expands the load area to 1529L.

Would you buy one?

Kel: Beautifully put together, while the SQ6 is slightly larger than my daily needs dictate, it was easy to drive and operate, despite having so much tech at your fingertips along with the amazing ride. I’d be sceptical whether you would use a lot of the various tech inclusions after the initial novelty wore off. Collectively it was almost too clinical for me, with a hefty outlay for a lot of functionality I’d forget about over time.

Grant: Audi has really upped its game with the Q6 and SQ6. With the SQ6, the asking price is similar to a Porsche Macan Electric 4S, and also pits it against the BMW iX xDrive45, Lexus RZ 450e, Mercedes-Benz EQC and Polestar 3. Outstanding technology dictates the price, which makes it a fine choice for those who embrace the latest and greatest.

Originally published as Audi SQ6 review finds new benchmark for the brand