Audi A6 Avant e-tron road test: Can it compete with the BMW i5 Touring?

With it’s slippery 0.24 drag coefficient and generous 100-kWh battery, the e-tron has a class-leading range. But is it more than a one trick pony? Vicki Butler-Henderson hits the road to find out.

Audi’s first all-electric A6 caused quite a stir when it debuted at the tail end of 2024, and for good reason. Not only was it touted (in Sportback guise) as the most aerodynamic car the brand had ever produced, but it also sported sleek styling, and a game-changing driving range. However, what looks great on paper doesn’t always translate into the real world. 

Keen to find out if the Audi’s new electrified estate can cut it on British roads, DriverReviews’ host Vicki Butler-Henderson takes a close-up look. 

First impressions are strong. At the front, new slimline daytime running lights and hidden matric LED headlights offer a sportier feel than you’d expect from such a practical family barge. The sleek touches continue down the flanks and into the rear, too. Flush door handles and virtual door mirrors make the e-tron feel suitably futuristic and understated. 

Then, at the back, Audi’s liberal use of OLED (organic light emitting diodes) in the full-length lightbar and illuminated logo, should turn a few heads. Oh, and don’t forget those sharp 21-inch metallic black alloys which are wrapped in Michelin’s — specially co-developed with Audi for the A6 e-tron — Pilot Sport EV rubber.

But we already knew it was a looker; what’s it like to live with? A breeze, as it happens. The interior, for one, is both spacious and lavishly appointed with top-notch materials and a brace of high-definition displays. What’s more, Vicki finds the infotainment system slick and intuitive to use, and thoroughly enjoys features like the heads-up display. Only the A6’s slightly inferior boot capacity (compared to the BMW i5 Touring), lets it down. 

If luggage space isn’t your top priority, though, there’s plenty to like about the way this Audi drives. Sure, its overly cautious stability program means it’s not quite as fun to push as its Bavarian rival, but the chassis is seriously capable. Moreover, Vicki praises the superb steering precision and supple, composed ride. Plus, with nearly 400 bhp to play with, there’s ample straight-line shove.  

So it’s stylish, efficient, and a great long-distance cruiser, but is the e-tron just a little too sensible? Hit the link for Vicki’s final verdict.

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