Your Definitive Guide to the Audi A6 / S6 Avant e-tron Electric Car Lease

The perfect EV estate for Pharmaceutical and Medical Professionals - Your Definitive Guide to the Audi A6 / S6 Avant e-tron Electric Car Lease

The Audi team are now synonymous with all things electric transportation. On 31 July 2024, the group formally confirmed that their new all-electric EV - the Audi A6 - would be ready to order for UK customers from September 2024.

In a further positive move they confirmed that a Sportback and an Avant model would be launched. The latter version, which is a large family estate, is a credible addition to the UK’s automotive demographic. Many of the electric cars which have been brought to market have been small hatchback, SUV or saloon type vehicles.

The true estate side of the market has been somewhat lacking with only the BMW i5, VW ID.7 Tourer and MG5 being readily available throughout 2024. Prior to this, it was the MG5 from the MG team which was the only option for many company car drivers to enjoy! To ensure a holistic move away from petrol and diesel, much of which needs to be done by 2030 under the ZEV Mandate, we need to have a wide variety of suitable options available.

For those working in the pharmaceutical industry, especially the pharma and medical reps, the introduction of an estate vehicle with a considered range is the perfect solution. While SUVs do offer a higher riding position and are often considered more comfortable to drive, the tourer type of vehicle includes the added boot capacity, especially with the seats down.

The avant version of the A6 e-tron will offer 502L with the seats up and a sizeable 1422L with the seats down. Carrying medical equipment, boxes and other paraphernalia does necessitate a practical car. For high-mileage customers, especially those covering 20,000 miles per annum, there is a need for that car to operate seamlessly.

In the case of a standard performance A6, the avant will cover around 295 miles in colder climates (combined) and a robust 405 miles (combined) in warmer weather. While we do offer a full analysis on the real range of every EV on our websites, these key snapshots are nevertheless useful.

To put in perspective, a customer travelling 200 miles per day in a usual working week would be covering over 40,000 miles per annum. This Audi is capable of comfortably doing this. However, there are now more than enough charge points for you to use in the public network if you require. Our partners at Zap Map show there are now 66,779 devices in some 34,570 locations.

Understanding the employer/employee Tax position on an electric car

The reasons for moving your pharmaceutical business into electric cars is now pretty well established as a positive decision. For the business (employer) the monthly rentals they pay on a contract hire vehicle are tax deductible and can be offset against Corporation Tax.

Also, any charge point infrastructure can be offset against your company tax too, as these are full expensing under Capital Allowances. For the employee, the use of any charging at the work premises is not considered as a fuel under HMRC.

This means if the employer pays for the electricity, then the employee doesn’t need to pay any income tax. Add to this, the running costs of an EV which are largely cheaper than a combustion equivalent; if you charge on a competitive tariff and monitor your vehicles more acutely, the servicing and maintenance costs are lower.

For the more risk-averse businesses out there, include a funder-maintained package to ensure the cost of all servicing, maintenance, tyres and breakdown recovery are included. Plus all of the VAT you pay on the maintenance aspect is wholly recoverable. Up to 50% of the VAT on the finance aspect of the rental can be recovered.

For your employees, the pharma / medical reps on the road there are of course some corresponding benefits. Using an electric car is a positive experience first and foremost, with many EVs offering performance, comfort and robust technology.

The company car tax position is what turns many fleets and salary sacrifice schemes into the benefits of zero-emission travelling. Having a company-provided vehicle is not a free arrangement and you must account to HMRC for this benefit (via your income tax).

This is calculated by taking the vehicle value, emission and income tax position of the employee. In short, the more polluting and expensive a car is, the bigger your company car tax bill will be. However, as an EV has zero tailpipe emissions, and it emits 0g/km of CO2, the level of tax paid by an employee is considerably lower.

For example, a company car which was an Audi A6 petrol or diesel would result in at least £400 - £500 per month in company car tax. The electric avant would be more like £40 - £50 per month!

And as we touched on above, the new e-tron Avant is not a sacrifice to the driver, with the “electric avant-garde” set to offer sporty design, outstanding electric performance and practical avant proportions.

The interior will be based on high-quality leather free Cascade cloth, the high- grade soft warp material around the dashboard will encompass the digital cockpit for both driver and the passenger plus the combination of a large trunk and frunk means seismic carrying capacity.

A new slim, curved panoramic display allows both the driver and passenger to be immersed in a digital experience. You can upgrade to the Sound and Vision Pack on the S Line to enjoy Bang & Olufsen sound system, augmented HUD, ambient lighting and USB interfaces. On the Edition 1, the Sound and Vision plus adds the panoramic roof and virtual folding mirrors.

But how will the new A6 estate electric perform?

There will be two battery configurations (both with 800v high voltage systems) to choose from including:

•  A6 Avant e-tron performance - (from £70,000) this RWD executive estate will have a 94.9 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 5.4 seconds, 130 mph top speeds and 280kW (or 375hp). Expect a combined winter range of 295 miles with warmer weather allowing for 405 miles – a 350 mile combined. On charging, the 11 kW AC max will allow 10 hour and 15 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 270 kW DC maximum allowing 21 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 502L is available with this car (or 1422L with the seats down). It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 149 mpg. You can tow with this EV – 750kg (Unbraked) and 2100kg (Braked). It also has no V2L or V2G capabilities (so far). The Heat Pump is standard; and

•  S6 Avant e-tron - (from £92,000) this AWD executive estate will have a 94.9 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 3.9 seconds, 149 mph top speeds and 405kW (or 543hp). Expect a combined winter range of 275 miles with warmer weather allowing for 370 miles – a 325 mile combined. On charging, the 11 kW AC max will allow 10 hour and 15 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 270 kW DC maximum allowing 21 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 502L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 139 mpg. You can tow with this EV – 750kg (Unbraked) and 2100kg (Braked). It also has no V2L or V2G capabilities (so far). The Heat Pump is standard.

Browse our Audi A6 e-tron deals

If you do want to go into this Premium Platform Electric in 2024, then either head to your local Audi retailer in September  or speak to one of our electric experts here at e-car for more information, view our Audi leasing deals