A6 e-tron vs 7 Series
For midsize luxury car shoppers, the A6 e-tron from Audi and the 7 Series from BMW are two of the obvious candidates. On paper, these two are close. Only a handful of specs separate them by a margin you’d actually notice.
At a glance
- Engine & Performance Tie
- Space & Practicality Tie
- Off-road & Towing Tie
Design & Size
Engine & Performance
Too close to call
The engine & performance section is even. Any gaps here are within the range you’d never notice. The takeaway: engine & performance is not where these two differ.
Space & Practicality
Too close to call
Both the A6 e-tron and the 7 Series cover space & practicality equally well on paper. In short, space & practicality is a draw; the decision lies elsewhere.
Off-road & Towing
Too close to call
Side by side, the off-road & towing figures for the A6 e-tron and the 7 Series barely differ. Neither car gives you a reason to choose it on off-road & towing.
Safety & Tech
Here the spec sheet speaks in model names and types. Compare the A6 e-tron and the 7 Series row by row in the table below.
Full Specifications
Engine & Performance
| Spec | A6 e-tron | 7 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | Electric | Gas (48V mild hybrid) |
| Engine | Single rear electric motor | 3.0L turbo I6 |
| Total system output | 375 hp | 375 hp |
| Torque | N/A (not specified) | 383 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 1-speed direct drive | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD (quattro AWD available) | RWD (xDrive AWD available) |
Fuel Economy & Range
| Spec | A6 e-tron | 7 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined)EPA estimate where available | N/A (not specified) | 28 mpg |
| Fuel economy (city) | N/A (not specified) | 25 mpg |
| Fuel economy (highway) | N/A (not specified) | 31 mpg |
Space & Practicality
| Spec | A6 e-tron | 7 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Off-road & Towing
| Spec | A6 e-tron | 7 Series |
|---|---|---|
| AWD / 4WD available | Yes | Yes |
Safety & Tech
| Spec | A6 e-tron | 7 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Which One Should You Buy?
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the A6 e-tron or the 7 Series?
It depends on your priorities: the A6 e-tron is stronger on the things a spec sheet can’t capture, while the 7 Series leads on the things a spec sheet can’t capture.
Executive Summary
Brand loyalty aside, I tried to judge the A6 e-tron and the 7 Series purely on what they offer.
Your priorities do the choosing here: the things a spec sheet can’t capture points to the A6 e-tron, the things a spec sheet can’t capture to the 7 Series.
My pick: decide whether you’d miss the things a spec sheet can’t capture or the things a spec sheet can’t capture more, then buy the A6 e-tron or the 7 Series accordingly.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.