Our long-term fleet gets a fresh new face in the form of Audi’s latest electric SUV. By Julian Kirk.

Audi Q6 e-tron S Line Performance

Price: £69,265 BiK: 3% Official Efficiency: 3.3mpkWh Official Range: 355 miles Range as tested: N/A

A little over three years ago I wrote a welcome piece to an electric Audi SUV, which seemed to be at the very cutting edge of EV technology. As I look back now to that report on the e-tron, with its claimed 192-mile range and £60,000-plus price tag, it made me appreciate the leaps that have been made in technology that are embodied in our new long-term Audi SUV – a Q6 e-tron.

Similar in size to the e-tron, the new Q6 costs a chunk more than its predecessor, but its motor and battery tech have had commensurate boosts too. With the Performance powertrain specified (adding £3,500 to the price), our Q6 is claimed to offer 355 miles of range and 3.3mpkWh efficiency (compared with around 300 miles for a standard version).

It’s too early to report on real-world range but I would expect to be able to top 300 miles on a charge once the need for full-power climate control has abated as summer draws to a close.

In terms of trim, we’ve opted for mid-level S line, although a Sport model can be had for a smidgen over £60,000. S Line adds the usual sportier styling and larger 20-inch alloy wheels as well as privacy glass and a heated steering wheel. This tops off an extensive list of standard equipment – to which we’ve added metallic blue paint (£725) and a panoramic sunroof (£1,525). Both are options we would recommend – the Plasma blue paint lends a refined air while the sunroof does wonders in lightening up the overbearingly black cabin.

We’ve only had the Q6 for a couple of days but it is already impressive – the ride quality is good and adds to the serene air of refinement once on the move. The cabin is large with plenty of room for four adults, the boot swallows two sets of golf clubs easily and the onboard tech such as the parking systems are excellent. In fact, the touchscreen controls and systems are a world away from those on that original e-tron SUV of 2022.

Progress is rapid in the EV sphere – just three years separate the e-tron and the Q6, but it feels like a generation of evolution between them.