The Audi Q6 E-Tron is an OLED dream machine

Tim Stevens for Engadget

I have been on a little bit of a quest to exchange all of the LCD panels in my life with OLED. I lately swapped an growing older (and shattered) iPad Professional with a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, which is far simpler on the eyes when watching late-night, trans-Atlantic films. I have been a Galaxy S person for a few years now, and I additionally switched to a Lenovo X1 Carbon laptop computer with an OLED show this yr. I assume you could possibly say I am fairly drawn to the wealthy colour replica and stellar distinction, particularly in low-light conditions.

On condition that, I used to be intrigued by Audi’s new Q6 E-Tron, which has essentially the most expansive suite of OLED shows I’ve ever seen in a automotive. Not solely did Audi’s engineers splay a collection of curved panels throughout the dashboard, reaching virtually from the left door to the suitable, they even embedded them into the taillights out again. It is an OLED smorgasbord, however it’d be an enormous waste of electroluminescence if the automotive weren’t any good.

Fortunately, it’s.

The Q6 E-Tron is Audi’s new crossover SUV, a five-passenger mannequin that pairs properly with the present Q5. The brand new Q6, although, is barely bigger in most dimensions and — extra considerably — battery-powered. That is in line with the model’s present mission to distinguish its EV line from its ICE choices by assigning even-numbered designations to electrical fashions and odd numerals to the gas-powered ones.

The Q6 E-Tron updates Audi's signature look with big, aggressive front fascia and lighting on the nose. — Tim Stevens for Engadget

At first, I assumed this numerical nomenclature was simply that — odd. However with the market more and more skeptical about electrification, this provides Audi the power to place its battery-powered and internal-combustion (ICE) automobiles available in the market in parallel whereas additionally differentiating them, catering to consumers who’re pleased to plug in in addition to anybody who nonetheless sees filling up at a fuel station as preferable.

No judgments, you do you, however for these prepared for an electrical life-style, the Q6 E-Tron is Audi’s most compelling providing but.

It begins with a contemporary look. This SUV carries sufficient acquainted styling cues, just like the model’s 4 rings, to make it instantly identifiable as an Audi. Regardless of that, it appears to be like completely contemporary and clear. From the large, aggressive entrance fascia and lighting on the nostril to the evocatively curved fender flares on the facet (a nod to the E-Tron GT), it appears to be like nice at any angle, as much as and together with the pert and clear lighting on the rear.

That continues on the within. Overlapping shapes and contours create an fascinating area, whereas a collection of principally high quality supplies make for surfaces as good to the touch as they’re to admire.

The Q6 boasts three OLED displays, measuring 11.9 inches on the left behind the steering wheel, 14.5 in the center for the primary, curved infotainment display, and an optional third,10.9-inch display for the passenger on the far right. — Tim Stevens for Engadget

As you step from the Q6 to the sportier SQ6, that simply improves, with a slash of racy microsuede materials throughout the dashboard paired with a little bit of carbon fiber. The SQ6 delivers a wholesome 509 horsepower to all 4 wheels in launch mode (483 with out) due to a dual-motor configuration. The lesser Q6 Quattro nonetheless impresses with 456 hp from the identical twin motors (422 not in launch mode). There’s additionally a rear-drive, single-motor Q6 with 322 hp in launch mode (302 with out), however I do not assume many of us will select that one, for causes I will delve right into a bit later.

At Audi’s US launch of the Q6, I sampled each the Q6 Quattro and sportier SQ6 and was actually impressed by their disparate driving characters. The Q6 is comfy and quiet, with typically good trip high quality when outfitted with the elective air suspension and interesting dealing with. As you cycle by way of the assorted drive modes, there is not a radical change, however swap to Dynamic mode, and it does get a good bit extra thrilling.

Those that desire a extra vigorous expertise, although, will need to step as much as the SQ6. The additional energy is good, sure, however the mixture of bigger wheels with sportier tires and a extra aggressive suspension tune makes for a automotive that feels considerably extra participating. It handles properly for a small SUV and truly delivers good suggestions by way of the steering, making for one thing that wishes to be pushed by way of the corners.

The optional 10.9-inch display for the passenger includes a dynamic privacy filter. — Tim Stevens for Engadget

However that further serving to of aggression does come at a price. The SQ6 has a noticeably harsher trip high quality, even when its air suspension is at its most comfy mode. There’s additionally an excellent bit extra highway noise from the tires, too.

That noise remains to be fairly scant in comparison with a typical, internal-combustion automotive, making the Q6 an excellent venue for the 20-speaker, 830-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system. It is elective, however it’s a worthy improve if solely due to the additional audio system mounted into the headrest.

Many automobiles have caught audio system behind your head prior to now, however Audi’s performing some fascinating issues right here, like directing voice navigation prompts and even name audio on to the motive force’s ears. Initially, the impact is a little bit unnerving. It virtually seems like bone conduction, as if the nav system have been asserting the following flip instantly inside your head, however that direct connection means it is much less distracting for anybody else within the automotive.

I all the time flip off voice prompts in my automobiles as a result of they disrupt the stream of music, however with this, I might see myself really leaving them on.

There's an 11.9-inch OLED screen behind the steering wheel. — Tim Stevens for Engadget

Pretty much as good because the sound is, the visuals are significantly better. The hallmark of the inside are these aforementioned OLED shows, three of them, measuring 11.9 inches on the left behind the steering wheel, 14.5 within the middle for the first, curved infotainment show and an elective third, 10.9-inch display screen for the passenger on the far proper.

These three aren’t as tidily built-in as Mercedes-Benz’s mighty Hyperscreen, however the high quality of the shows appears increased, and the aptitude is spectacular, too. The passenger can cue up YouTube movies and watch them in the event that they like, whereas a dynamic privateness filter retains the motive force from snooping.

There are many different apps, too. I put in The Climate Channel to get an replace on the forecast whereas I used to be within the passenger seat to see whether or not there was any sunshine forward for the following picture cease (there wasn’t), however acquainted media apps like Audible and Spotify have been primed for obtain, too.

The capacitive touch buttons are far too sensitive, and led to many an accidental activation. — Audi

The revised MMI interface is busy, and I sometimes struggled to search out settings in varied submenus, however it’s at the least responsive. And, with each wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on provide, you’ll be able to carry your personal expertise. My largest interface drawback was really with the steering wheel. The controls on the spokes are capacitive contact, and through a half-day behind the wheel, I by accident hit the amount up button a half-dozen instances. What’s fallacious with precise buttons, once more?

If all these shows aren’t sufficient, the Q6 additionally provides an elective, augmented actuality HUD that sits proper in your subject of view. This implies it will possibly do issues like undertaking hovering blue arrows to let you know precisely when to show but additionally establish on the highway the place the pace limits change and even paint warning arrows over automobiles that you just’re following too intently.

The sweeping and flashing graphics within the HUD are distracting at first however efficient. Should you’re the type who’s by no means fairly positive which flip to take when your nav tells you to take the third exit from the following roundabout, this HUD is for you.

So, the tech and the drive are fairly compelling. How a lot are you going to pay for this privilege? It’s, predictably, not low cost — but additionally not outrageous within the grand scheme of at this time’s luxurious SUV EV choices.

The Q6's frunk adds an additional 2.3 cubic feet of storage space to the 30.2 offered by the rear cargo area (without the seats folded down). — Tim Stevens for Engadget

The bottom, rear-drive 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron begins at $63,800 and can do 321 miles on a cost from a 100 kWh (94.4 internet) battery pack. Stepping as much as the dual-motor Quattro version prices simply $2,000 extra and solely loses 14 miles of vary, an EPA ranking of 307. Because of this I believe few folks will go for the RWD taste.

The RWD automotive additionally expenses extra slowly: A 260 kW max cost fee in comparison with 270 kW for the Quattro automobiles.

The SQ6 Quattro does 275 miles on a cost and begins at $72,900, whereas the model I drove with all of the shows and toys was $83,840. Sure, that is so much, however when you do not want all that efficiency, the loaded Q6 Quattro I drove was $76,790. Nonetheless not low cost, however a bit lower than the $77,295 beginning worth of the electric Porsche Macan, which shares nearly the whole drivetrain and platform.

The issue? That is an enormous premium over the beginning worth of Audi’s most comparable gas-powered machine, the Q5, which may be had for as little as $45,400. Is the Q6 value the additional price? I would not essentially spring for the sportier SQ6, however even the bottom Q6 provides way more energy and tech than the Q5, plus decrease working prices and a scarcity of upkeep. Regardless of the same identify, it is in a distinct class. Positive, it is a bit of a splurge, however I might relatively have the even-numbered one in my storage.