Audi A6 Avant
Our verdict on classy, hi-tech new executive estate
We load up in classy, hi-tech new executive estate
IF you want a practical Audi that isn’t an SUV, then the new A6 Avant is the biggest of the bunch. This is the all-new, fifth-generation model, and like every version that went before, it bundles all the tech, refinement and luxury of the saloon into a more family-friendly body.
The newcomer is wider and taller (but slightly shorter) than its predecessor. Only millimetres separate it from its BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-class Estate rivals, but on paper the Audi is the least practical car of the trio.
Its 565-litre boot is no larger than the outgoing model’s, and dropping the rear seats reveals an identical 1,680-litre capacity. The Mercedes, by comparison, offers 640 and 1,820 litres respectively, so it has a significant and noticeable advantage when cramming bags, dogs and folded pushchairs into the load bay.
Our first drive came courtesy of the 2.0-litre 40 TDI diesel, which is linked to a clever 12-volt mild-hybrid unit good for 201bhp and 400Nm of torque. Audi says it’ll return 60.1mpg fuel economy, with CO2 emissions of 124g/km. For company car drivers it attracts a Benefit-in-kind rating of 29 per cent.
Refined
This version is joined by the more expensive 50 TDI, which uses a 282bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel. Yet despite the power deficit, the less potent car is our pick of the range. Aside from the hefty cost saving (spec for spec the V6 commands a near-£9,000 premium), the 2.0 litre is smoother and more refined.
Its engine is well isolated from the cabin, delivering adequate performance for a family car. At speed it’s hushed and responsive, whereas the V6 seems coarse and sluggish to react under acceleration.
A lot of it comes down to the gearbox; the 40 TDI features Audi’s seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic, while the 50 TDI uses a traditional torque converter auto.
Matching that is the superb ride, which is plush and well cushioned. Adaptive air suspension is available on the higher-powered diesel, and it delivers a beautifully cosseting ride on the motorway. But the standard steel springs serve up all the comfort
“At speed the engine is hushed and responsive, whereas the V6 seems coarse and sluggish to react under acceleration”
and suppleness you’d expect from a premium estate car, even on our test model’s optional 20-inch wheels.
The 40 TDI is front-wheel drive, and therefore lighter than the V6 quattro model, so the four-cylinder diesel also feels a touch more nimble. It does without Audi’s clever rear-wheelsteering system, but feels quick and accurate enough to instil the A6 Avant with a surprising sense of agility. Having said that, if you want a premium estate which is truly engaging to drive, the 5 Series Touring remains our top pick.
But the Audi claws things back with its elegant cabin. Lifting much of its tech from the flagship A8, the A6’s interior is littered with digital displays and swathes of leather and aluminium. The twin 8.6 and 8.8-inch screens give you access to all of the car’s functions and, thanks to acoustic and haptic feedback, they’re delightfully slick and simple to operate.
Two trim levels will make up the A6 Avant range: Sport and S line. On top of the MMI navigation, reversing camera and heated leather seats, S line cars get larger alloys, sport seats, Matrix LED lights and racier styling.