Introduction
Much like fellow German brands BMW and Mercedes, Audi is well-versed in filling almost every niche possible on the car market – including the estate market.
Following on from the launch of the A6 saloon early in 2018, the Avant or estate version soon appeared – offering the same handsome looks but with extra practicality and more storage space at the rear.
Even with SUVs continuing to gain popularity, the estate remains a much sleeker option if customers want practicality and performance in the same package.
Audi has also added more technology than ever before, as well as two more efficient diesel engines. We see how the new version stacks up…
Performance
Customers can choose from two diesel powertrains – labelled 40 and 50 TDI. The 50-tagged option uses a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder engine developing 282bhp, while the 40 model uses a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder powertrain. We used the base option, which was paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission and front wheel drive that put the 201bhp and 400Nm of torque on the road.
Despite being the entry-level unit, the 40 offers more than enough performance and doesn’t feel underpowered – getting the Avant from 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds and topping out at 149mph.
Ride & Handling
Refinement has always been one of Audi’s main attractions, and the A6 Avant manages to offer great cruising by being both comfortable and quiet. Engine and exterior noises don’t intrude at all, and the ride feels well-balanced – although we would say that the quattro all-wheel drive system is better at distributing the power and feels much more stable at all points than the front-wheel drive system.
As with most modern cars, the steering can lack feel but there is plenty of weight to it so the car can be placed on the road easily. When you put your foot down vigorously and turn in, the Avant can struggle with front-end grip, but in most situations the traction levels are good.
Interior & Equipment
Recent Audi models have been excellent on the fit and finish front recently, so it’s no surprise that the A6 Avant’s cabin is very well-appointed. Trimmed with high quality materials including leather and metal, the A6’s cabin feels upmarket and up-to-date thanks in part to the two large displays in the centre console and the virtual cockpit instrument screen – although both media setups are optional extras.
The boot space is a bit smaller than its closest rivals at 565 litres, but the squared-off load area should be more than capable of hauling all of the things you will need. Passenger space is also very good, with head and shoulder room as good as many of its rivals.
Standard kit on the A6 Avant includes 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, aluminium roof rails, heated front seats, leather upholstery, multi-function leather sports steering wheel, two-zone climate control, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system, smartphone connectivity and Bluetooth.
Standard assistance systems include cruise control with speed limiter, pre-sense front with automatic braking, rear-view camera, parking sensors and drive select.
The S line model we tried also came with 19-inch alloys, sports seats in alcantara and leather, sports suspension and S line exterior and sports packages. Our test car also came with the Technology pack that adds a dual-screen central setup, the virtual cockpit digital instrument screen and wireless charging phone box – a worthy addition to the Avant.
See Available A6 Deals
Cost
Priced from £40,740, the A6 Avant isn’t far away from its closest rivals, such as the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class, in terms of cost. Considering the large amount of equipment added to our test car, the Avant we tried was priced at £52,640.
With the 40 unit under the bonnet, the A6 Avant can return a quoted 57.6mpg and emit 129g/km CO2 – which is pretty impressive for a large family car.
Verdict
The A6 Avant has been a dependable estate for some time and this new version doesn’t disappoint on that front. The new design of the exterior and interior are both very sharp, meaning the car feels more premium than before. However, we would recommend going for a car with quattro to help put the power down in a more reliable fashion – especially with our country’s famously changeable weather. Overall, though, the A6 Avant remains one of the best estate options around.
