In the ever-accelerating race towards an electric future, Audi has firmly established itself at the forefront of the premium EV market. For years, the brand has built a powerful reputation on the “Vorsprung durch Technik” (Progress through Technology) philosophy, a principle that is now more relevant than ever as they transition some of their line-up away from internal combustion engines.
This shift, however, doesn’t mean abandoning the performance legacy that made Audi a household name. For decades, the “S” badge has signified a potent blend of luxury, power, and sophisticated all-wheel-drive performance, first with the iconic S2 Coupé and later through a range of sports sedans and SUVs like the SQ5. Now, that same spirit is being electrified and re-imagined for the New Zealand market with the arrival of the new Audi SQ6 e-tron.
The SQ6 e-tron is not just another electric SUV; it’s a pivotal step in Audi’s evolution. It’s built on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE), a dedicated EV architecture co-developed with Porsche, which represents a significant technological leap forward. This platform underpins a host of major updates that distinguish the SQ6 e-tron from its predecessors.
It features an 800-volt battery system for lightning-fast charging, a dual-motor electric Quattro all-wheel-drive system delivering a robust 360 kW of power, and a completely reimagined, digital-first interior with a panoramic display and an optional augmented reality head-up display. In essence, the new SQ6 e-tron is a fusion of Audi’s performance heritage and a glimpse into its high-tech, electric product future. It promises to deliver the engaging driving dynamics and premium experience that New Zealand drivers expect from an S-badged Audi, all within a sleek, zero-emission package.
What We Like and Dislike About The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Sleek and modern exterior design Strong dual-motor performance Luxurious, high-tech interior Impressive digital displays Fast DC charging Excellent comfort and practicality Customisable lighting | High price point Firm ride Reliance on touchscreens Concerns about real-world efficiency Small cupholders |
What’s In The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron Range?
The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron is available in New Zealand in two primary body styles: the standard SQ6 e-tron SUV (from $169,990) and the more dynamically styled SQ6 e-tron Sportback (from $173,990). Both variants share the same dual-motor electric Quattro all-wheel-drive system and are built on Audi’s PPE architecture.
The key difference between the two lies in their exterior design, with the Sportback featuring a sleek, sloping roofline that gives it a coupé-like silhouette, while the SUV maintains a more traditional and practical shape. Both models offer impressive performance and the same high-tech, luxurious interior experience.
2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron Colour Range
The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron is available in a variety of colours. These include metallic options such as follows;
- Ascari Blue Metallic
- Daytona Gray Pearl Effect
- Glacier White Metallic
- Mythos Black Metallic
- Plasma Blue Metallic.
Our Review Vehicle’s Optional Equipment
- Brake callipers with S logo in red – $1,000
- Sunroof – $4,000
- Black exterior styling, black mirror housings, window trims and grille – $3,000
Including the optional equipment, our review car’s retail price is $177,990.
For a full list of specs and options available for the Audi SQ6 e-tron head on over to Audi New Zealand’s website.
How Does The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron Compare To Its Competition?
The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron enters the New Zealand market as a premium mid-size electric SUV, aiming to set a new standard in its class with a focus on technology and performance. Positioned on the new PPE platform co-developed with Porsche, it directly competes with vehicles like the Porsche Macan 4S, Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 SUV, and Lotus Eletre.
The SQ6 e-tron is a performance-oriented sibling to the standard Q6 e-tron, offering a significant power boost and faster acceleration. While it holds a strong position with its 800-volt charging architecture, luxury interior, and advanced digital displays, its high price tag places it at the upper end of the segment. This strategic positioning targets customers who prioritise a blend of Audi’s traditional luxury and build quality with cutting-edge EV technology, even at a premium cost.
| Make/ Model | Battery Capacity kW-hr | Power/ Torque kW/Nm | 0-100km/h seconds | Range (WLTP), km | Boot Space, litres | Price |
| Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 SUV | 90.6 | 460 / 950 | 3.8 | 485 | 520 | $209,200 |
| Lotus Eletre S | 112.0 | 450 / 710 | 4.5 | 600 | 688 | $189,900 |
| Porsche Macan 4S Electric | 95.0 | 380 / 820 | 4.1 | 510-570 | 540 | $184,400 |
| Audi SQ6 e-tron | 94.9 | 360 / 720 | 4.4 | 580 | 590 | $169,990 |
| Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor | 107.0 | 360 / 840 | 5.0 | 610 | 484 | $164,990 |
| BMW iX xDrive40 | 74.1 | 240 / 630 | 6.1 | 425 | 500 | $163,900 |
| Jaguar I-PACE R-Dynamic SE | 90.0 | 294 / 696 | 4.8 | 470 | 557 | $139,000 |
Please note that DriveLife does its best to ensure the information above is correct at the time of publication, however, prices, specifications and models can change over time. Please bear that in mind when comparing models in the comparison table.
First Impressions Of The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron
From the moment you lay eyes on the new Audi SQ6 e-tron, you can’t tell that it’s another electric SUV. While its electric stable mates like the Q4 e-tron and e-tron GT have their own unique flair, the SQ6 feels like a purposeful evolution of Audi’s design language. The proportions are athletic and confident, with a high shoulder line and a stance that suggests power.
The “inverted Single frame” grille, flanked by those striking Matrix LED headlights, gives it a face that’s both futuristic and unmistakably Audi. The quarto-inspired wheel arches bulge with a sense of muscularity, a visual cue to the electric all-wheel-drive system lurking beneath. The rear, with its continuous light strip and dynamic light signatures, is a fancy piece of art that looks particularly impressive at night. It’s a stylish and elegant design, but one that still exudes a sporty character worthy of the S badge.
What’s The Interior Like In The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron?
Audi’s new interior concept for the Q6 and SQ6 is a big talking point, and rightly so. They’ve designed this car from the inside out, and the feedback from passengers are mostly positive.
The sport seats are fantastic. They are supportive in all the right places, well-bolstered for when you decide to push the car a little, but also supremely comfortable for long stints behind the wheel. The seating position is excellent, giving you a commanding view of the road without feeling overly high up. The steering wheel, with its unique, squarish shape, feels great in your hands and enhances the sporty feel of the cockpit.
Rear passenger space is generous. Legroom is ample, and the rear bench offers good under-thigh support. At around 2m tall, I could sit comfortably behind my own driving position, though a long road trip with four adults might start to feel a little snug. What’s truly impressive, however, is the headroom. Even with the sloping roofline, there’s a surprising amount of space above your head. The middle seat, as is common in many SUVs, is best reserved for shorter journeys due to the central tunnel and a slightly raised seat base.
The dash of the Audi SQ6 e-tron is a key feature, it’s a visual feast. Designed to be both highly advanced and user-friendly. It’s built around a “digital stage” of three screens: an 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit for the driver, a 14.5-inch MMI central touchscreen, and a 10.9-inch screen for the front passenger. The main infotainment system runs on an Android Automotive OS, making it fast and intuitive with customisable shortcuts for everything from climate control to navigation. While physical buttons are minimal, a few are retained for core functions like volume and drive modes. A significant feature is the “Interaction Light,” a dynamic light strip that runs under the windscreen, providing visual cues for things like turn signals, charging status, and welcome animations.
While the rear window is typical for an SUV of this size, the top-view camera and other assistance systems make parking and reversing a breeze, largely mitigating any visibility concerns.
The overall feeling inside is airy and modern. Audi has done a great job of creating a “soft wrap” design that cocoons the interior without making it feel claustrophobic. The interior ambient lighting, especially the dynamic interaction light that sweeps across the dash, adds to the sense of occasion.
Fit and finish are, for the most part, excellent. The quality of materials is high, with a mix of Nappa leather, suede, and high-tech surfaces. However, some I have to note the abundance of glossy, smudge-prone piano-black plastics in certain areas, which can cheapen the feel slightly for a car in this price bracket. Storage-wise, the glove box and centre cubby are decent, and a handy flip-down drawer for a wallet is a thoughtful touch. There is a Qi wireless charging pad for your phone, which is perfectly placed to prevent your phone from sliding around during spirited driving. However, I did not like that it’s out of sight, vertically stored in a storage space at the bottom of the dash, so it’s easy to forget it’s there.
The SQ6 offers a substantial 514 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to a very useful 1,517 litres with the 40:20:40 split-fold seats down. A real bonus is the 64-litre “frunk” under the bonnet, which is a perfect spot for storing the charging cables, keeping them out of the main boot area. While there’s no mention of a double-height floor, the presence of the frunk makes up for it. There is no spare wheel, so you’ll have to rely on a repair kit.
What’s The 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron Like To Drive?
The SQ6 e-tron is a car that strikes a fine balance between performance and daily usability, and it’s a truly pleasant companion on the road.
The performance is exhilarating, with a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, but it’s the delivery of that power that stands out. It’s smooth, responsive, and immediate, as you’d expect from a powerful EV. The steering is firm and direct, and the car’s road-holding is impressive for a vehicle of its size. It’s not a razor-sharp track car, but its handling is precise and engaging, instilling a huge amount of confidence on winding roads.
The new Android-based infotainment system is a huge step-up. It’s three times faster than previous systems, and the screens are responsive and logically laid out. You can activate the “Hey Audi” voice assistant, and the optional augmented reality head-up display is a game-changer, projecting navigation arrows onto the road ahead to make following directions almost effortless.
For the driver, an augmented reality head-up display is also standard, projecting crucial information directly onto the windscreen to enhance safety and convenience. I was really impressed by this feature, easily the best implementation of this sort of tech I have seen. The warnings, for example if you’re travelling too close, display a flowering directional arrows away from the car ahead, which is much preferred over beeping warnings that feel like you’re getting a slap on the wrist.
The driver’s view is excellent, and the optional augmented reality head-up display is a standout feature that overlays important information like speed and navigation onto your line of sight.
Audi quotes a range of 580km for the SQ6 e-tron, which is an excellent number. As with all EVs, this is a best-case scenario. Real-world range will vary depending on your driving style, use of the air conditioning, and whether you’re tackling high-speed highway runs or stop-start city driving. I have my reservations about how close you could get to the advertised range. After a few days, I was down to 50% range, and it displayed 170km. Yes it’s a review car, but I don’t drive everywhere like a maniac, I have a lot of daily things to do, and it felt like it was going down much faster than I had hoped. If you double that, it’s only 340km, which is a long way off the almost 580km claimed. For most Kiwi drivers, this range will be more than enough for daily commutes and weekend adventures.
Energy consumption figures were near impossible to find; Audi advertises the SQ6 in watt-hours per km, which is 180. It’s normally in kilowatt-hours 100/km, which would make it 18, high to start with, and the displayed range of the battery shows that this figure is much higher, which was 25.
The adaptive S air suspension is a highlight. It gives the SQ6 a wonderfully refined ride, gliding over bumps and road imperfections with ease. You can adjust the ride feel through Audi drive select, choosing between a plush, comfortable ride and a firmer, more dynamic setup.
The cabin is impressively quiet. You can expect minimal wind noise, and while some online chatter suggests a bit of road noise on certain surfaces, it seems this is largely mitigated by the optional acoustic glass. The car does generate a synthesised “grumpy” sound on full throttle, which is an acquired taste and not as polished as some competitors.
The suite of driver-assist systems is solid, including adaptive cruise control, lane-changing assist, and park assist plus. However, I did feel that the lane-keeping assist can feel a bit “wishy-washy,” “cradling” from side to side rather than keeping the car firmly centred in the lane.
The brakes, with their red callipers, feel powerful and offer good pedal feel. The car’s regenerative braking can be tailored to your liking, with an intuitive one-pedal driving mode that is perfect for city driving. The brakes are powerful and stable under hard braking.
Read on to check out the summary of the 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron
2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron – Specifications
| Vehicle Type | Electric SUV |
| Starting Price | $169,990 |
| Price as Tested | $177,990 |
| Engine | Dual Electric Motors |
| Power, Torque kW/Nm | 360/720 |
| Transmission | Single-speed automatic |
| Spare Wheel | Tyre repair kit |
| Kerb Weight, Kg | 2,350−2,425 kg |
| Length x Width x Height mm | 4,771×1,939×1,675 mm |
| Boot Space / Cargo Capacity, Litres (seats up/seats down) | 514 litres (seats up) 1,517 litres (seats down) + 64 litre ‘frunk’ |
| Energy Economy, kWh/100km | Advertised Spec – Combined – 18.6 Real-World Test – Combined – 22.8 Low Usage: 6-10 / Medium Usage 11-19 / High Usage 19+ |
| Towing Capacity Kg, unbraked/braked | 750 kg / 2,400 kg |
| Turning circle metres | 12.1 metres Small: 6-10m / Medium 10-12m / Large 12m+ |
| Warranty | 5 years / 150,000 km (vehicle) 8 years / 160,000 km (battery) |
| Safety information | ANCAP Rating – 5 stars – Link Rightcar.govt.nz – 5 Stars – Q6 EV |
