The Audi A6 Avant is a capacious, good-looking, premium-badged estate car of enormous suavity and more than decent road manners.
Under its elegantly lengthy bonnet, you’ll find a wide range of engines, including a 201bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel (badged 40 TDI) and a 282bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel (50 TDI). Petrols are a 2.0-litre in either 201bhp 40 TFSI or more potent 261bhp 45 TFSI form and a 335bhp 3.0-litre (55 TFSI) for proper poke. There’s also a 344bhp diesel-powered S6 super-sporting version if you want to scare the dog silly.
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Sport-spec A6 Avants come with most of the luxuries you are likely to want, including heated front seats, part-leather upholstery and 18in alloy wheels. Upgrading to S line trim brings 19in alloys, sportier looks and leather and Alcantara seats. Black Edition increases the wheel size to 20in and gets you plenty of black trim on the exterior, while Vorsprung models have the kitchen sink thrown at them in terms of kit, including 21in wheels, extra safety technology and an upgraded stereo.
On the road, the 40 TDI version is the more logical choice because it’s a good compromise between power and economy. The 50 TDI is a real flyer and, like the less powerful engine, remarkably quiet.
There were differing suspension options when the car was new: Sport trim uses conventional steel springs and dampers, S line models are stiffened and lowered, and Vorsprung versions have adaptive suspension with switchable dampers that can be softened or stiffened to suit your mood.
When you approach a corner, the Avant feels lighter and more agile than its size would lead you to expect. Some cars even come with four-wheel steering, which makes things sharper still. There’s plenty of traction, whether front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive.
Inside, there’s a dashboard of unimpeachable logic and some good-quality materials. Find one where the Technology Pack has been added and the analogue dials are replaced by digital dials on a 12.3in screen.
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Looked at an A6 myself not too long ago, but a Saloon version. Couldn't get on with that dual touchscreen set up. What is it with car manufacturers insistence on touchscreens in cars now rather than a button or dial, especially for climate controls. They have quality issues though as Scotty5 says dashboard rattles/squeaks seem to be more common than they should be on a car of this alleged stature. They've had some screen failures too which is not ok (especially when they come out of warranty further down the line. I've driven two seperate vehicles and didn't notice any issues with quality on either but it's not a good sign. Just to correct some of Scotty5's allegations on the options. Yep, cupholders are not standard in the rear (it's not a requirement for me personally) it's part of a storage pack option with 12v outlets and tiedown hooks. You could retrofit them if required though. Heated steering wheel is available but only as part of a posh interior pack at extortionate cost (£5k?). Ridiculous. Self parking is an option (again), it's called Parking Assist BUT is only available with the options pack 'Comfort and Sound' so you're paying for the Bang and Olufsen Audio upgrade (which does sound good) and a couple of other options all tied in to one pack. I probably have the opposite requirement to you, I want the upgraded audio but not the Park Assist (I can drive... p) We both get stiffed either way. I understand the need for grouping options into packs as it is simpler for the manufacturers to carry out WTLP testing on fewer variations of a particular model range. Each option pack needs to be tested seperately for those that don't realise. It does mean that the customer is now paying much more for an option that previously used to be available on it's own at a lesser cost but now is only available as a pack of optional equipment. Didn't buy the A6 as it's too gaudy on the inside and I know the touchscreen(s) annoyance of use probably wouldn't fade.
Couldn't disagree more. Looked at an A6 Avant ( black Edition ) to replace Octavia and found it to be one of the smartest looking estate cars on sale, but worst in practicality and price. And as it may turn out, equipped.
First off that boot. It's tiny given the size of the car. Lift the load floor and there's nothing underneath. I had all sorts of camping and sports gear hidden underneath the floor in the Octavia as well as a spare wheel, the Audi had no space whatsoever. A 5series is better in that respect.
Quality? Check that dashboard as many A6 owners were complaining of dashboard rattles.
Equipment - did you know rear cupholders were an optional extra? Many used A6 Avants I searched didn't even have rear cupholders for heavens sake. Heated steering wheel? Nope, not even on the options list. Self parking? Audi have their own fancy name for what amounts to parking sensors. Self parking wasn't even on the options list.
An Octavia at half the price new works much better as an estate car.