Audi adds some physical controls to its newest models

Audi is rolling out a raft of updates to the A5, A6, Q5, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron, all of which made their global debuts in the last year-and-a-half.

The oldest model in the quartet is the Q6 e-tron (March 2024), followed by the A5 (July 2024), A6 e-tron (July 2024), Q5 (September 2024), and A6 (March 2025).

Leading the updates is the steering wheel, which ditches the capacitive sliders on both spokes for physical scrolling wheels.

A spokesperson told Motor1: “The reason for the change is feedback from customers who have increasingly requested operation with physical controls.”

Audi’s newest model, the second-generation Q3, misses out on this update, for now. The quartet of models listed above gain the Q3’s infotainment and instrumentation interface, which has a simplified structure, larger on-screen icons, and the ability to show smartphone navigation instructions on the instrumentation screen.

The in-car gaming system now supports wireless controllers, like those used on gaming consoles.

Physical aspects of the interior remain untouched, with most of the cars’ functions still accessed via on-screen buttons or the steering wheel controls.

There may be more interior changes in store for these models when they receive their mid-life facelifts, with the Concept C, unveiled in September, said to preview a return to high quality buttons, knobs and switches.

Other changes include a new Dynamic Plus driving mode for the S5 and S6 e-tron that retunes the all-wheel drive and torque vectoring systems to deliver a “particularly intense driving experience”.

In the electric A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron the regenerative braking system has been revised so that it can bring the car to a complete stop without engaging the friction brakes.

The A6 also gains the option of digital matrix micro-LED headlights, which are not only brighter, but can display symbols on the road ahead if the driver is drifting out of their lane or the car senses icy conditions ahead. A factory-fitted 4K dashcam is also now on the options list for all five model lines.

The voice assistant has been upgraded with ChatGPT integration. It can also access more of the cars’ various systems, and can automate a driver’s common routines, like raising the car when crossing railway tracks or engaging adaptive cruise control on a highway.

In Germany the updated cars will begin appearing in showrooms from the beginning of 2026. It’s unclear at this stage when these changes will be available in cars sold in Australia.

MORE: Explore the Audi showroom