The new A6 e-tron range wouldn’t be complete without a sporty S model, so here it is: the new S6 e-tron is here to provide an even more performance-orientated edge to the electric executive car we’ve already sampled in single-motor, rear-wheel-drive Sportback and Avant forms.

There’s no doubt the less powerful A6 e-tron models give the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE a run for their money, but will the S6 be able to compete with the sportier models it’s up against? And will it prove to be the most appealing model in the A6 e-tron range? Those are the questions we’re trying to answer in this, our first drive of the S6 Sportback e-tron, taking place at the car’s international launch in Tenerife.

What does the new Audi S6 Sportback e-tron look like?

The S6 e-tron is offered in the same five-door Sportback and Avant guises as the other A6 e-tron models, and to the casual observer, it looks pretty much identical. It has the same slightly bubbly shape, the same customisable light signatures and similar aerodynamic features, including the optional ‘virtual’ door mirrors. However, it comes with a few little upgrades, including S badging, more aggressive-looking bumpers and matt-chrome exterior trim. It has bigger alloy wheels, too, as well as sportier suspension.

A look inside the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron

If the external differences between the S6 e-tron and its less powerful siblings are minor, the internal differences are practically non-existent. The basic design is pretty much identical, save for the S badges on the steering wheel and the sporty seats, though the S6 e-tron does get some rather smart leather upholstery.

But otherwise, things are much the same as before, with the same curved housing for the digital instrument display and the touchscreen infotainment system, as well as the optional passenger display and the screens for the virtual mirrors - assuming you specify them.

Happily, all this similarity means the S6 e-tron retains the A6 e-tron’s premium materials and solid build quality, with only a few minor issues on that front. We aren’t great fans of the steering wheel buttons, or those for the mirrors, either, but that’s really nit-picking. Overall, the S6 e-tron feels as well made and as upmarket as you’d expect.

It also offers just the same amount of space as the standard A6 e-tron, with a 502-litre boot no matter whether you choose the Sportback tested here or the more practical Avant. But though the Avant doesn’t look much more useful on paper, its extra rear headroom will be popular with taller back-seat passengers, and the more useful boot shape will be helpful when loading larger and more awkwardly shaped items.

The Audi S6 Sportback e-tron’s on-board technology

Although the S6 is more performance-orientated than its sibling cars, it still places great emphasis on technology, with the same new digital instrument cluster and the same massive touchscreen. If truth be told, neither lives up to expectations, but that’s only because their predecessors were so good. The instrument display lacks configuration options when compared with the old A6’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’, while the new touchscreen is less user-friendly than before.

That said, the S6 e-tron’s touchscreen heater controls are better than most similar systems in rival vehicles, partly by dint of always being accessible, although we’d always prefer a conventional button.

Similarly, we prefer the conventional door mirrors, because though Audi has improved the digital mirrors compared with those seen in the original Audi e-tron, they’re still fiddly and unintuitive to use compared with the old-fashioned mirror that comes as standard. They may add a couple of kilometres to the range, but with such a big battery, that trade-off really isn’t worth making.

We will, however, reserve special praise for the S6 e-tron’s head-up display, which works over a massive area of the windscreen and allows the car to superimpose directions and warnings over the real-world view, which comes in handy in tricky or unfamiliar circumstances. It also provides neat (if completely pointless) additional features, such as the speed readout that grows in font size when you accelerate and shrinks when you brake. It’s useless, but it’s a rare superfluous quirk from an Audi EV.

How fast is the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron?

Whereas the basic A6 e-trons have just a single motor on the rear axle, and an 83kWh battery under the floor, the S6 e-tron uses the larger 100kWh battery from more upmarket models, and an extra motor at the front. Together, the two produce a hefty 551hp and distribute it between all four wheels, which gives the S6 huge performance.

Officially, the big fastback will get from 0-100km/h in just under four seconds, which is fast enough to worry quite a few high-performance sports cars. But while it’s undoubtedly brisk, the S6 e-tron doesn’t quite feel as potent as the numbers might suggest. Yes, the wave of power is relentless, but it never feels all that forceful. Maybe it’s the car’s size or bulk, or maybe it’s the relative lack of noise (even with a fake motor sound active) that fools your senses, but it never feels much faster than brisk.

But the increase in performance is there, and it has an impact on the already impressive range of the rear-wheel-drive A6 e-tron Performance. Where that car will manage almost 750km between charges on the official efficiency test, the S6 cuts that figure to around 650km. And in the real world, you should still easily manage around 500km on a fully charged battery.

Most of the time, then, you shouldn’t need to charge away from home very often, but if you feel the need, the S6 has 270kW DC-charging capability that allows you to recharge the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes, assuming you can find a charging point powerful enough and the weather conditions allow. But with such an enormous range, most will be happy charging from a domestic wallbox.

Driving the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron

Audi likes to shout about the improvements it has made to the A6 e-tron’s ride and handling (in comparison to the previous model), and while it has definitely struck a pretty appealing balance with the standard car, there’s a bit more pressure on the S6. Tasked with mixing sporty handling and long-range comfort, the S6 gets air suspension as standard, albeit with a sporty tune.

As a result, the S6 e-tron offers decent body control and a little extra sharpness, but the differences are fairly subtle. Or at least they are subtle compared with the A6 e-tron models we’ve driven so far, all of which have been fitted with air suspension that isn’t available in Ireland.

Anyway, the point is that the S6 feels a little more direct and dynamic than its siblings, but the difference is not night and day. The steering still isn’t all that communicative, and though the body lean is reduced, the S6 still feels better suited to fast, flowing roads than tight, winding ones. The brakes are strong, with a nice consistent feel that’s often missing from electric cars, but there still isn’t much in the way of driver engagement.

It’s an improvement, though, and it only brings the Audi closer to the brilliant BMW i5 with which it competes. The price you pay for that comes in terms of ride comfort, where the S6 e-tron hits the bumps that fraction harder than a conventional A6 e-tron. Maybe that’s a result of the big wheels, but it’s certainly firmer around town.

That said, there are advantages to the sportier set-up when the speed builds. Because the S6 e-tron is a bit faster to react to bumps, it doesn’t seem to get caught out in the way the softer A6 e-tron models can be, so it feels a bit more planted and less nervous at times.

How safe is the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron?

Neither the A6 e-tron nor the S6 e-tron have been assessed by the European independent safety organisation, Euro NCAP, as yet, so we’ve no definitive word on how safe they’ll prove. However, we do know Audi has been building some very safe cars of late, including the Q6 e-tron, which is based on the same architecture as the S6 e-tron. That car scored remarkably well on the Euro NCAP tests, and we’ve every reason to believe the S6 e-tron will be every bit as safe.

Certainly, it comes with lots of technology to help prevent accidents from happening in the first place. Lane departure warning is there to help you keep the car in its lane, while autonomous emergency braking is there to slow the car if the driver doesn’t respond to a hazard the on-board computers have detected. A reversing camera is thrown in, too, as well as an advisory system that tells you when it thinks you’re exceeding the speed limit. That wouldn’t be a problem were the system accurate, but like all such systems, it sometimes struggles to read the signs correctly, and it gets quite irritating as a result. Fortunately, you can turn the system off fairly easily.

How many child seats can you fit in an Audi S6 Sportback e-tron?

Just like the conventional A6 Sportback e-tron, and despite its sporty front seats, the S6 still has three different ISOFIX child seat mounting points in the cabin. There’s one in each of the outermost rear seats, and another in the front passenger seat, giving the car a little more flexibility for carrying young children.

How much does the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron cost in Ireland?

The Audi A6 e-tron starts at €74,500, but the S6 e-tron comes in at almost €110,000, and that’s a hefty difference. Admittedly, the S6 gets more power, more performance and a bit more standard kit, but there’s no getting away from the fact it’s significantly more expensive than more conventional versions. That said, the standard A6 e-tron is much cheaper than the equivalent BMW i5, and the S6 e-tron is still about €10,000 cheaper than the i5 M60 xDrive, which is arguably its nearest competitor.

The reasons you’d buy an Audi S6 Sportback e-tron

The S6 e-tron doesn’t necessarily make any more sense than its less powerful siblings - particularly given the premium it commands - but it’s still a compelling electric car. It may not feel as fast as the figures suggest, though the range is still impressive, and it drives tidily, if not quite as well as the i5 M60 xDrive. But there’s more to a car than just the way it drives, and the Audi scores highly in terms of batteries, technology and quality, making it a very worthy alternative to the BMW.

Ask us anything about the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron

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