2026 Audi SQ6 Sportback e-tron review

The idea of a performance-focussed electric vehicle, I think you’ll agree, is still in its infancy. While some brands have embraced this wholeheartedly – I’m looking at you, Hyundai – a question mark remains over the notion that an electric powertrain can mix with dynamic performance.

Audi has a long and storied history with performance vehicles – take anything from its S- or RS-branded ranges and you’re off to a good start. It even has history in blending this performance with comfort and practicality – see the Audi RS6.

But, the world is now electric, so how does a brand that’s been developing performance cars for much of the last century pivot to provide one that burns no fuel whatsoever?

The Audi SQ6 Sportback e-tron is the answer. A medium-sized performance SUV with enough go to worry supercars, and the level of luxury you’d expect from its top-tier standing.

The one question I had in my mind during a week spent with this new performance car was whether this jack-of-all-trades has bitten off a bit more than it could chew.

Read on to find out how I got on…

I’ve only just finished writing a complete and up-to-date review of the hugely similar Audi Q6 e-tron quattro – the car on which the SQ6 e-tron performance variant is based.

With that in mind, this review will solely focus on the differences between the two, while placing greater emphasis on how this SQ6 drives.

Please head over to the associated Q6 e-tron review for more information about servicing costs (they’re the same $2080 price), interior space, charging capabilities, and the interior impressions.

From here on, it’s all about what you’re getting over and above that more affordable variant.

The Audi SQ6 e-tron heads up the electric SUV range as the brand’s flagship electric SUV for now and it costs $156,400 before on-road costs. It’s $5000 more expensive than its more practical wagon counterpart, and nearly $30,000 more than a non-S-spec Q6 Sportback e-tron quattro on which it’s based.

That’s a sizeable impost for a more ‘stylish’ body style, and particularly for the performance benefit.

But, there are plenty of niceties to sweeten the deal. Not only does it come with a twin-motor electric drivetrain that’s been wicked up to 360kW of combined output, but you also get adaptive air suspension as standard.

As I detailed in the Q6 e-tron review mentioned above, air suspension is a critical box to tick when buying a Q6. Normally, it’s a $4900 option with non-S Q6 e-trons, but it’s included with the SQ6 as standard.

Otherwise, you’re getting big 21-inch alloy wheels, S sports seats with nappa leather and massage function, OLED tail-lights, a panoramic sunroof, a Bang and Olufsen 3D sound stereo, augmented-reality head-up display, and colour ambient lighting.

Other Q6s in the range already get S styling inside and out, so the visual differentiation for the SQ6 is limited.

It’s the performance underneath that counts.

But the SQ6’s interior does feel special, and is surprisingly spacious in Sportback form. Sportback is Audi’s nomenclature for a coupe SUV, and although it’s less practical than the wagon-backed SQ6 e-tron, it still managed to fit my family in the back seat without much complaint.

Up front, it’s a similar story: there’s ample space for the driver and front passenger, and a good driving position to exploit the SQ6’s dynamic prowess. The electric-adjust steering column has good adjustment, though the massage seat was weak and felt more gimmicky than many.

Much like the Audi Q5, the Q6 suffers from poor pedal placement, which means the brake pedal is placed too close to the driver’s foot relative to where the throttle is positioned. It was often difficult to jump between the two, particularly when trying to drive fast along a back road.

But, the seats were supportive and comfortable over longer journeys, and with plenty of adjustment to score the perfect position. Additionally, the plushness of the nappa leather upholstery, exclusive to the SQ6s, was a big talking point throughout the week.

Likewise, the additional 10.9-inch passenger display received many comments, though its use case is rather limited.  The 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system was great, though not a standout in the realm of luxury SUVs.

There are just a few trim pieces that belie the SQ6’s otherwise premium nature, such as the plastic lighting shroud that sits beneath the windscreen and illuminates under different circumstances. Although this isn’t a surface that you’d typically touch, the plastic looked and felt awfully low-rent, while plastic seam lines are noticeable too.

Providing oomph to the car’s dual motors is a 100kWh battery. In this SQ6 specification, Audi claims the wagon-bodied variant can travel nearly 570km before needing a recharge, though no figure is provided for the Sportback variant.

That said, with its more aerodynamic body, it is expected to go at least a little further.

Recharging is claimed to take roughly 20 minutes between 10–80 per cent at a max rate of 270kW.

An onboard 11kW AC charger completes a full recharge from zero to 100 per cent in about 10 hours.  

The slippery Sportback body style is claimed to have an energy consumption of 18kWh per 100 kilometres. I couldn’t match this in my time with the car, instead getting a 20.9kWh/100km result. This was achieved with inner-suburban driving and during a drive down to the coast.  

In the driving stakes, the Audi SQ6 Sportback e-tron convincingly straddles the balance between sporting ability and luxurious comfort.

For everyday activity, the SQ6 is really easy to gel with, and it’s a supremely quiet car to drive to and from work. The air suspension is capable of absorbing road imperfections much better than the lesser-spec Q6’s with simple coil springs, while even large bumps are soaked up nicely.

There are only two modes of brake regeneration, plus a one-pedal ‘B’ mode. Some may decry the lack of brake regeneration options, but I thought the SQ6 e-tron kept it nice and simple. For what it’s worth, it frustratingly resets the brake regen mode every time you switch the car on and off.

The Sportback body style is not the easiest to use around town. A letterboxed rear window means rearward visibility is seldom easy, while the C-pillar also hampers head checks.

But, once you’re out of urban confines, the SQ6 Sportback e-tron becomes a willing partner for entertaining back-road blasts.

In normal circumstances, the twin electric motors output a combined 360kW. In terms of torque, the front motor produces a maximum 275Nm, while the rear outputs 580Nm on its own – there is no combined torque figure.

But, the motors can go above and beyond their normal power delivery in launch control mode whereby they eke out 380kW together. This makes for a 4.3-second run from zero to 100km/h.

I tested it out. Curiously, the resulting feel was not a sudden jolt in the back that you get from some high-performance electric cars. Rather, while the acceleration is savage, it’s at least damped off at the initial point of take-off – someone at Audi still has a keen eye on the comfort, it seems.

From the seat of the pants, it seemed as though the SQ6 runs out of puff the faster you go – at least compared to the initial shove you get when depressing the throttle.

To match the swift acceleration, the air suspension fitted to our tester was a perfect pairing – it meant the car could stay nice and supple for everyday comfort over things like speed bumps and tram tracks, but still put on a good show when you hit some twisty corners.

It does feel like a heavy car to thread through corners, and although I was a fan of the steering weight in Dynamic mode, there’s not that much in the way of feedback from the wheel.

But, it’s an entertaining car to drive dynamically – matched by some unique Tron-like noises in lieu of a revving engine.

Although the braking performance is decent and pulls up the circa 2425kg (kerb) vehicle in fine fashion, the brake pedal itself is difficult to use in relation to the throttle – for the reasons I mentioned earlier.

In my mind, I think the Audi SQ6 e-tron is an underrated grand tourer. It has endless effortless power, a supple and comfortable ride profile, and its minimised road noise meant I was more than comfortable while driving down the freeway to the Mornington Peninsula.

Yes, it’s capably sporty when you want it to be, but its effortless ability to soak up freeway miles is arguably its greatest asset.

Combine that driving character with a well-rounded interior and feature set, plus the impressive electric-charge capability, and the SQ6 e-tron delivers solidly on what you expect of it.

Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.

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