IF you want to stand out in a crowded car park pick a big Audi. If you want to stand out on a satellite picture from outer space pick one in Soneira red metallic.
It’s certainly the most eye catching colour that has graced a test car in our hands for many a month. Years even.
Your eye can’t help but be drawn to it as it glides serenely past, looking for a space to berth in a car park, where its collection of onboard alerts make it easier than you might assume to park in a parking space whose size just isn’t really suitable for today’s vehicles. Its near two metre width is a challenge though but you’ve got reversing and top view cameras to help.
The Q6 e-tron sits in the mid size SUV market but you’re left wondering when you get behind the wheel and realise how big it feels on the road that it’s not actually mid sized at all.
The benefit, of course, is that it majors on its cabin space. Large and roomy, there’s more than enough room to accommodate four or five full sized adults when necessary, and they’ll be sitting there in a fair degree of comfort.
It looks, feels and drives like an Audi (safe and secure) and comes with some class leading technology.
Prices start around £61,000, and if you feel the need for a bit more speed, there’s an SQ6 that’ll set you back around £94,000.
S line trim gives you larger 20-inch wheels than the entry level Sport, sportier trim and badging, privacy glass, a heated, three-spoke steering wheel and an embossed ‘S’ on the front seats.
It’s at its best out on the open road, where it’s a refined and quiet cruiser. The head up display here shows up clearly ahead, and its functions include flashing up big red arrows showing you you’re getting too close to the car in front – a highly visible alert.It’s well capable of getting a move on, even with its 2.3 tonne kerb weight. The quattro here is the most powerful variant. It’s four-wheel drive thanks to its dual-motor powertrain, and produces 382bhp and a combined 630lb/ft of torque.
You can sense the weight when cornering if you engage in some spirited driving but the overall grip is fine. It’s the first Audi EV to feature true one-pedal driving. Steering wheel paddles control the various strengths for regenerative braking, and the most aggressive setting can bring the Q6 to a complete stop. All a question of faith in the product
Running low? You’ll be able to recharge the battery in this one with around 150 miles of range in just 10 minutes when hooked up to a suitably rapid DC charger, with a 10 to 80 per cent top-up taking a little over 20 minutes.
Audi Q6 S line e-tron quattro
Price: £76,545 (£81,065 as tested)
Engine: 100kWh Lithium-ion battery
Power: 382bhp
Torque: 630lb/ft
Transmission: automatic
Top speed: 130mph
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Economy: 349 miles
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
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