New Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron is brand's latest SUV to get coupe transformation

• New coupe variant of Q6 e-tron SUV
• Range of up to 408 miles
• Priced from £62,475

With the TT and R8 now out of production, Audi is making up for its lack of coupes with this: the new Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron. Following the same trend that the BMW X6 started nearly 20 years ago, Audi has taken the regular Q6 e-tron SUV and treated its boxy profile to a new coupe roofline. Everything below the shoulder line, including its electric motors and battery, chassis and interior, remain largely unchanged from the SUV model, but range has seen a handy improvement thanks to the sleeker bodywork.

The new Q6 Sportback e-tron is intended to offer electric SUV customers something with a bit more style and a sportier driving experience, but without entirely sacrificing practicality. While that sounds like a fairly niche product, there are quite a few to choose from in 2024, including the BMW iX2, Cupra Tavascan, Volkswagen ID.5 and Ford Capri. The Q6 Sportback e-tron will have to prove its mettle against those rivals when it arrives in early 2025, although we expect it to cost a fair amount more.

What do I need to know about the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron?

If you’re already up to date on the new Audi Q6 e-tron SUV – a model which has only just gone on sale in the UK – then there’s little new to say about the new Sportback variant, besides the swoopier styling. Audi says the new roofline echoes “the iconic first-generation Audi TT Coupe” and resembles “a streamlined drop of water”, but we’ll let you make your own mind up about that.

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The front-end styling is carried over from the SUV, but things are noticeably different from the windscreen backwards. The roof curves gently from the front pair of doors right back to the tail-lights in a smooth arc. As a result, the Q6 Sportback e-tron isn’t quite as tall as the SUV and has a lower drag coefficient – that means the shape is more aerodynamic, cutting through the air with less resistance and better efficiency. 

Inside, the Q6 Sportback e-tron's cabin is carried over from the SUV, but we expect that headroom in the second row of seats won’t be quite as generous due to the sloping roof. Boot space has taken a small hit, too, dropping from 526 litres in the SUV to 511 in the Sportback. You do still get the handy 64-litre ‘frunk’ storage space under the bonnet, however.

Thanks to the more aerodynamic bodywork, range has increased over the Q6 e-tron SUV without any changes to the battery or motor setup. In rear-wheel drive Performance guise, the Q6 Sportback e-tron will crack the 400-mile barrier, maxing out at 408 miles. This model uses a 100kWh battery, while entry-level cars get a smaller 83kWh battery. Range isn’t quite as impressive as a result, topping out at 339 miles. 

As we’ve come to expect from Audi, a sportier SQ6 Sportback e-tron will be offered, with a stout 482bhp and 4.3-second 0-62mph time. It gets the 100kWh battery pack and has a range of 377 miles, but don’t expect to achieve anywhere near that figure if you plan on exploiting all the performance on offer. Audi claims all versions of the Sportback should feel “much more agile” compared to their SUV counterparts, thanks to a host of suspension tweaks under the skin including a redesigned front axle and new software for the steering system.

How much does the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron cost and when can I buy one?

Pricing for the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron sits roughly £2,500 above its non-Sportback counterpart across the range. That equates to a starting price of £62,475, growing to £92,450 for the top-spec SQ6 Sportback e-tron.

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