The Golf Course Test
It is an old saying that real deals get done on the links, not in the boardroom. We knew where to bring this car for its first proper look. Golf courses. Historically. A stereotypical playground for suits and their status symbols. The landscape has shifted. Today’s business fleet is a mess of regulations and choices. We are teeing off to see if this machine fits.
We have the Audi A6. Estate shape. Electric heart. S line trim.
It is the large executive car for this decade. Company car tax has driven every rational buyer into the EV lane anyway. The Avant bodystyle feels like a logical defense. SUVs ate the sedan market for lunch. This keeps the utility. The silhouette holds up. It is a blueprint for what an exec car looks like when you strip away the exhaust pipes.
Old Habits, New Looks
Back in the day, the climb to the top meant a saloon in the drive. German. Usually. The biggest question wasn’t mileage. It was the golf club car park impression. Even if you never picked up a club, you knew the stakes. Cachet was measured in grille presence.
Our A6 sits in that upmarket spot just fine.
The roofline drops. The estate body keeps it sleeker than a bloated crossover. Malpelo Blue metallic (£775). A nice change from the slate grey and white purgatory of modern showrooms.
I don’t care for the front end.
Blank grille. Squinty eyes. Black plastic sills meant to hide the heavy battery belly. Classic EV camouflage. It works, I guess. The back end has purpose. That I like. You decide if the face sells you.
Inside. It is simple. The Technology Pack is the main splurge here, discounted to a reasonable £150 instead of a ridiculous £3,195. Augmented reality head-up display included. That’s it. Options are dying as a concept. The A6 is proof.
S line gets the bumper treatment. Special 20-inch wheels. A proper three-spoke wheel and sporty seats. We stuck with cloth. Zero extra cost. Smart move with the recent heatwaves.
Numbers Game
Total price: £75,085.
This is the reality. What you will actually pay. Compare it to a BMW i5 Touring M Sport. They start at £76,450. The Audi wins on cash upfront, at least for now.
Powertrain is the mid-spec e-tron. Not the weak entry. Not the heavy quattro.
- Battery: 94.9kWh
- Official WLTP range: 443 miles
The lab numbers look good.
Real world? I managed 4.0mi/kWh on the M25. Stop-start at 50mph. A very specific scenario. Normal driving yields about 3.2mi/kWh. Warm weather helps. This figure might be the peak until we freeze.
Acceleration? Lively. 362bhp. You can tap launch control for 375bhp briefly. Why would you? This is a family estate. Not a drag strip weapon. 0-62 in 5.4 seconds is plenty. You merge without sweat. You overtake without anxiety.
The Practical Bit
The boot swallows three golf bags. Drivers out. Easy. Plus a 27-liter frunk for chargers and cables.
The back seat has one flaw. My 14-year-old is nearly six feet. He hates the under-thigh support. Seat base is low. Knees bunch up. Long trips will test his patience.
And the charging flaps. Touch-to-open. Neat on paper. Nightmare when you try to wash the car without them snapping open repeatedly. Annoying.
Rating: 4.5/5
It is off to a strong start. Tech works. Presence is there. Whether your boss plays golf or codes, this car does its job.
Price: £74,935
Mileage: 1,070
Efficiency: 3.2 mi/kWh
BiK Rate: 4%
