First Impressions from the Cockpit
It starts as a whisper, the way you enter the Audi SQ6. Doors open with a solid thunk, not a hollow echo. The seats, which in my test car were the extra, cost Sport seats Plus, cradle you with electrically adjusted everything: back, shoulders, legs. At 6’4″, I appreciated the extendable leg rest and deep bolstering, though the fixed headrest nudged me in the upper back until I found the right angle. Still, it feels expensive in here, precisely trimmed Alcantara, stitched leather, real metal and no plasticky afterthoughts. Even the climate vents have that cool, clean Audi precision.
The instrument cluster in front of me though? A bit underwhelming. A 11.9, inch screen that feels more like a placeholder. The layout is bland, the customization is limited, and it doesn’t display nav directions directly in the cluster. But the augmented reality head, up display? That’s a different story. Floating holograms showing upcoming junctions, real, world overlays of traffic signs, and even adaptive lane beacons. It’s like Audi’s version of Iron Man’s HUD.
The real action, though, is the 14.5, inch touchscreen and the intuitive MMI interface. Tap, slide, speak, it obeys. I barked “I’m cold,” and the heated seats and steering wheel flicked on. I whispered “Take me to Hildesheim,” and it plotted a charge, optimized route in seconds. Everything is logically layered. There’s no climate sub, screen nonsense like in the Porsche Macan. And yet, for all the screen sophistication, you still wish for a proper physical volume knob.
Driving Dynamics: A Mountain Beast in EV Clothing
And now to what really matters: How does it drive?
The first punch from the dual, motor setup hit me halfway up a tight ascent on the north face of the Duinger Berg. A dab on the throttle and the SQ6 e, tron surged forward with brutal elegance. 517 horsepower. Zero to 100 in 4.3 seconds. It’s the kind of acceleration that doesn’t just shove you back, it redefines what a big SUV should be allowed to do. There’s no drama, no wheelspin. Just pure, silent violence.
It’s heavy, yes, almost 2.5 tons, but the weight is perfectly balanced front to rear, and the chassis is sorted. Audi’s trick air suspension, part of the Tech Pro package, adapts quicker than your spine does. On smooth sections, it glides like a limo. But once the bends tighten and the camber changes, the SQ6 hunkers down, stiffens up, and carves into corners with improbable agility. It doesn’t shrink around you, but it listens to you.
What it doesn’t do, though, is pivot as eagerly as its Macan sibling with rear, wheel steering. You feel the heft when turning tightly, its turning circle is a wide 12 meters, but it’s never clumsy. The steering is light but communicative, with a firm on, center feel and precise inputs that helped me hold perfect lines even in the wet.
And then there’s the braking. Massive 375 mm front discs with instant bite, smooth modulation, and consistent performance. From 100 km/h, it stops in 33.2 meters. Not just short for an EV SUV, but short for anything.
Power vs. Efficiency: The Trade, Off
But all this dynamic delight doesn’t come cheap at the plug.
I started the day with a full charge, expecting the claimed WLTP range of 584 km to take me far. It didn’t. Real, world consumption on Duinger’s challenging terrain, mixed with some autobahn stints, landed at 27.2 kWh/100 km. That’s +52% over the WLTP figure. Range? 375 km. And that was with ambient temperatures around 13°C, not even winter.
Yes, there’s adjustable regen braking with three levels, including full one, pedal driving. It helps, but not enough to save electrons when you’re climbing gradients and pushing hard. On eco, mode cruising at 90 km/h, I once dipped to 19.4 kWh/100 km. But that’s rare.
Thankfully, the SQ6 redeems itself with DC fast, charging prowess. Up to 270 kW. I parked at an Ionity station, and within 21 minutes, I went from 10% to 80%. That’s barely enough time to grab a coffee and stare at the front light strip while it animated itself like a futuristic nightshow.
Space, Utility and Road Presence
Let’s not forget this is still an SUV. With a wheelbase of 2.89 meters and a length just under 4.8 meters, it’s big but not oversized. There’s genuine room for five adults, headroom, legroom, elbow space. The boot offers 514 liters, expandable to 1517 liters with the seats down, and there’s even a 64, liter frunk, enough for charging cables and a backpack.
Build quality is textbook Audi. Shutlines are crisp. Materials feel tactile and rich. There are power sockets everywhere, ambient lighting that changes mood as you drive, and a 705, watt Bang & Olufsen sound system that’s like a concert in a cabin.
Towing? A massive 2400 kg trailer load capacity and 100 kg vertical load. This isn’t a poser EV.
Conclusion: The Electric SUV for Drivers, Not Just Commuters
As I parked the Audi SQ6 back at the foot of Duinger Berg, cooled brakes ticking, and cabin glowing with the last hue of ambient violet, I realized something. This car isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who want the full EV experience but refuse to give up the spirit of driving. It’s for those who still carve out time to take the long way home, who want silence and savagery in one body.
Yes, it’s pricey. Yes, it’s power, hungry when pushed. But it’s also supremely built, deeply rewarding to drive, and brimming with smart tech that actually works. The SQ6 e, tron doesn’t whisper luxury. It shouts it, with electric confidence.
