Audi wagon fine but flawed
Audi’s spectacular A6 allroad might just have been a cure for the curse of SUVs, if it wasn’t for its ride, writes Damien O’Carroll.
Subaru largely invented the ‘‘jacked up wagon pretending to be an SUV’’ segment in 1994 with the Outback, but it was Audi that dragged the concept into the luxury car arena with the A6-based allroad (yes, lowercase, just like quattro . . .) in 1999. And while it has often been the best of the bunch, that isn’t always the case.
Is this one of those reviews where you go on about cars like this proving we don’t really need SUVs?
Well, yes, that is the obvious route anyone who actually enjoys driving will take with this sort of thing – and it is perfectly true.
The jacked-up, faux-SUV is something that ticks many of the boxes that an SUV buyer wants ticked and still remains a far more satisfying driving experience, which is why the Audi has inspired the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All Terrain, which we sadly don’t see here, as well as inspiring Volvo to get back into it with the V90 Cross Country, after helping Subaru pioneer things with the V70 XC from 1997.
I mean, seriously, can we all just agree that the world would be a far better place if everyone who bought a Q7 or GLE suddenly came over all sensible and just bought one of these instead?
However, people buy what they like as well as what they need, so it is really a moot point complaining that SUVs are awful and things like this do everything they can, just better. A lot of people like SUVs for . . . reasons.
And the Audi allroad is still the best of the jacked-up bunch, right?
In so many ways it is utterly and dominantly the best in its segment, but this time around there are a few traditional Audi wobbles that take the edge off the latest iteration of the A6 allroad.
But let’s look at the good first, because there is so much of it.
Firstly; just look at it. Audi has always had the knack of doing wagons that just look awesome and the latest A6 takes things to new heights of classy sleekness.
While the allroad body cladding had been drastically toned down over previous models, the distinction is still visible, particularly when the air suspension is at its highest setting and you still get a distinctly SUVlike air, without ever losing that very special Audi estate essence.
That sleek classiness carries over to the inside, with a slick, minimalist interior that just oozes quality. While the profusion of screens may make some feel like they are sitting in the TV section of an electronics superstore, technerds like me are in paradise. A very fingerprint smeared paradise, to be fair, but paradise nonetheless.
Majestic build quality and materials, complemented by superb comfort and ergonomics are enough to deflect from the fact that the infotainment/HVAC systems spread across those screens is a little bewildering and distracting to begin with, but you soon get the hang of where everything is.
To look at and be in, the Audi A6 allroad is a thing of unparalleled quality that impresses on every level. And that continues when you fire up the engine and head out onto the road.
So it’s good to drive too then? When are those wobbles showing up?
Patience. Like I said, the list of what is stunningly good about the allroad is a comprehensive one, and that includes its thoroughly superb engine.
The allroad is powered by Audi’s 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine, which is excellent enough on its own, but here it is assisted by a 48-volt mild hybrid system to produce an impressive 257kW of power and a colossal 700Nm of sweet, creamy torque.
But here’s the first of those wobbles – while the engine is thoroughly excellent, the transmission it is hooked up to doesn’t manage to make the most of it.
Audi’s slick eight-speed auto certainly makes a better fist of things than a DCT would, but it is weirdly indecisive and gets panicked easily, somehow managing to miss a lot of that big torque the engine offers up by being in the wrong gear at the wrong time.
Out on the open road things get much better on the transmission front and it makes better use of the fat torque band, but then the ride comfort wobble comes into play.
While the allroad is generally superbly plush and comfortable, there is an edge to the ride that is best described as ‘‘belligerent’’ and comes into play at the rear over small, sharp imperfections, both on the open road and around town.
So it’s a little harsh over imperfect surface then? That’s hardly a big issue, is it?
Depends on how sensitive you are to such things, but it really does take the edge off what is otherwise a truly magnificent and comfortable cruiser.
Air suspension setups often have a sharp, unpleasant edge to them, particularly at low speeds, and it is made even more obvious in the allroad because everything else is so polished and competent, and also because you expect it to be nothing less than plush. After all, it is taking on big, plush SUVs, like Audi’s own Q7, which has far superior ride quality.
Any other cars I should consider?
Depends if you want a wagon that is pretending to be an SUV or an actual SUV, really.
The Q7 is the obvious one in Audi’s own lineup, as well as the equivalents from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Or you could look at the relevant wagons from their ranges.
Direct faux-SUV competitors are few and far between, with really only the significantly cheaper $98,900 Volvo V90 Cross Country being in a similar ballpark, albeit a less powerful one.