"With sophisticated road manners, an efficient engine and lovely interior, the Audi A6 Avant is a great reason not to buy an SUV"
- Audi A6 Avant MPG & CO2
- Insurance groups
- Audi A6 Avant diesel engines
- Petrol engines
- Hybrid engines
- Audi A6 Avant dashboard
- Audi A6 Avant interior space & storage
- Boot space
- Audi A6 Avant reliability
Pros
- Impressive 40 TDI engine
- Agile and comfortable
- Fantastic interior
Cons
- Mercedes E-Class has a bigger boot
- Virtual Cockpit isn't standard
- 50 TDI feels coarse
Despite the popularity of SUVs taking its toll on the sales of large estate cars, the rivalry between the Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate remains as fierce as ever. With other impressive rivals such as the Volvo V90 also vying for your attention, manufacturers certainly won't want to be caught napping.
The result of Audi's engineering efforts is an eighth-generation A6 Avant that handles better than before, has an incredible interior and rides serenely in spite of large alloy wheels. It's no more focussed on load-lugging this time around, though, and if a 586-litre boot can't accommodate your needs, the Mercedes E-Class Estate remains a more versatile option.
Slightly shorter, but wider and taller than before, the A6 Avant looks lean, and despite there being few surprises in its evolutionary design, the finished article looks taut and expensive. Almost impossibly sharp creases in its metalwork lend the estate a technical attitude, backed up by intricate LED headlights and bold new design for the rear light clusters.
The combination of Virtual Cockpit digital instruments and two touchscreen displays stacked on the central console are sure to impress anyone sitting in the A6 Avant for the first time, although it's a shame this setup isn't standard. It's a testament to their intuitive controls that a lack of buttons doesn't feel unnatural, and features like haptic feedback, voice control and a gearlever that doubles as an armrest mean exploiting the A6 Avant's technology requires only a quick learning process.
On the move, the big Audi is as smooth and quiet as a limousine, even if you're behind the wheel of the standard model that does without air suspension. Yet it's also more agile. There's a fleet-footedness to this model that's been missing before, helping the A6 Avant to feel smaller and more enjoyable from behind the wheel now – even if enthusiasts are still likely to enjoy a BMW 5 Series Touring slightly more.
This newfound ability is more obvious in the lighter, entry-level 2.0-litre 40 TDI model, too, making it our pick of the range despite the decreasing popularity of diesel. It's an impressive new engine, with mild-hybrid technology and 202bhp, offering plenty of performance. Fuel economy of 48.7mpg and 153g/km CO2 emissions contribute to its appeal, but it's also smoother, quieter and more responsive than the discontinued 3.0-litre 50 TDI with its brawny 282bhp. That flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that six-cylinder engines are better-mannered, and is mainly because the smaller engine has a better automatic gearbox.
There are also three powerful petrol engines which aren’t too thirsty given the performance on offer, and a frugal 50 TFSIe plug-in hybrid powertrain with 295bhp. They may be expensive for private buyers but the plug-in hybrids offer by far the best tax rates for business users – to whom the A6 has traditionally been pitched.
The A6 has been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, and this tech-laden car has come away with the expected five stars, thanks to its stiff body shell and standard features like autonomous emergency braking. Audi has work to do to keep customers happy, though, indicated by a 23rd place result (out of 29 manufacturers) in our 2021 Driver Power survey. That puts it behind its rivals BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Volvo and Jaguar.
If you need a large estate purely for its big boot, the Audi A6 Avant might not make the grade against bigger rivals. In all other respects, this generation of A6 Avant has taken a bigger step forwards than most of its seven predecessors. Its lovely interior, impressive refinement and excellent small diesel engine propel it back into contention for class honours.
In a class so heavily targeted at highly taxed company-car drivers, efficiency and CO2 emissions are vital to a model's success or failure. The big German does well here thanks to two versions of a plug-in hybrid and a frugal entry-level diesel engine, which is sure to make up the bulk of A6 Avant sales.
Audi A6 Avant MPG & CO2
Opt for the sensible, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with mild-hybrid technology (badged 40 TDI) and fuel economy is 48.7mpg, with CO2 emissions of 148-152g/km. That's as long as 18 or 19-inch alloys are fitted, because upgrading to 20-inch wheels sees running costs creep up slightly to 46.3mpg and 161g/km, but all diesel A6s occupy the top Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band of 37%.
With diesel taxed so heavily, many drivers will be moving to the plug-in hybrid instead. Keep the battery topped up and you could achieve 217mpg and an all-electric range of over 30 miles. More relevant will be its 30g/km official CO2 figure, equating to a BiK rate that’s less than a third of the diesels.
Lower-mileage drivers may be better off with one of the petrol engines. The cheapest 40 TFSI returns up to 38mpg, while stepping up to the 45 TFSI with its standard-fit four-wheel drive only drops the figure to 35mpg. Above that is a 55 TFSI engine that’s as quick as a hot hatchback and returns 33.6mpg at a steady cruise but it’s expensive to buy in the first place. All these petrol engines sit in the top BiK band.
Insurance groups
The cheapest A6 Avant to insure is the petrol 40 TFSI model, which sits in groups 32 to 41 depending on trim. 45 TFSI models sit in groups 36 to 44, while the diesel 40 TDI sits in group 35 to 41. Plug-in hybrid TFSIe models are most expensive to insure, sitting in groups 44 to 46.
Warranty
Audi's warranty covers the car for three years/60,000 miles, which is rather stingy next to the unlimited-mileage offerings of several rivals, including Mercedes. Paintwork is covered for three years, and there is a 12-year corrosion warranty. Three years of UK roadside assistance is also included. For an extra cost, the warranty can be extended to four or five years.
Servicing
There are two types of servicing available for the A6 Avant, which can be chosen at the time of purchase. Owners covering less than around 10,000 miles a year or making frequent short trips are recommended to go for annual servicing. Alternatively, the car's inbuilt sensors can determine when a service is required, and this is likely to provide motorway drivers slightly longer gaps between services. Audi typically offers fixed-price servicing deals to help spread the cost of maintenance, so it's worth asking about these at the dealership.
The A6 Avant is now in its eighth generation, so it's perhaps no surprise Audi knows how customers want its big estate cars to drive. There's a supple and sophisticated feel to the way the Avant travels along the road, cocooning its occupants from the outside world.
Audi A6 Avant diesel engines
There are some surprises, though, and the biggest comes with the 2.0-litre 40 TDI engine. Rather than just being a slave to emissions targets, it's actually more responsive, smoother and better to drive than the more powerful, more expensive 50 TDI, which has been discontinued as of mid-2022.
With 201bhp, the 40 TDI has plenty of performance for most families, providing an 8.3-second dash from 0-62mph. It's no noisier than the six-cylinder engine at speed, and if you put your foot down it responds faster than the 3.0-litre, too.
That's highly unexpected considering the latter's larger size and 282bhp power output, and can be attributed to the different gearboxes that both engines come with. While the 2.0-litre is paired with a snappy seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic, the V6 sends its power to a traditional automatic, which doesn't respond nearly as swiftly.
No A6 Avant offers a lot of feel through its steering, but less weight over its front wheels means the front-wheel-drive 40 TDI also feels lighter and more nimble, and the A6 range as a whole handles better than its predecessor. Indeed, from behind the wheel it feels more athletic than you'd ever expect a traditional estate car to bet. Driving enthusiasts will still find it a little less engaging than a BMW 5 Series Touring, but it's now a much closer fight.
Petrol engines
The A6 Avant’s petrol engine range consists of just two units, badged 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI – 55 TFSI models were discontinued in mid-2022. Just like the diesels, the line-up comprises a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine, with outputs of 201bhp and 261bhp. The 0-62mph times are 7.5 and 6.2 respectively – the downside is that these engines are thirstier than their diesel counterparts.
Hybrid engines
Most of Audi’s current range can now be ordered as a hybrid and the A6 Avant is no exception. The 50 TFSIe model uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a powerful electric motor and a 14kWh battery. Producing 295bhp, it’s quick off the line, reaching 62mph from a standstill in 6.3 seconds.
The Audi A6 Avant has traditionally trailed its rivals when it comes to ride smoothness, but the latest model is right in contention with the best in class – as long as you avoid the biggest alloy wheels. On 18-inch wheels it's adept at absorbing bumps, and even better on the optional air suspension. However, the sportier S line, with its 20-inch wheels, judders more uncomfortably over potholes.
Few ever criticised the previous A6 for its interior design, but the latest model has made a lot of progress here, too. It shares much of its layout with the Audi A8 flagship, and in doing so, sets a new standard for the executive estate class. Not only does it look impeccable inside, but the technology on offer is comprehensive and works intuitively. Remarkably, the materials used are even better than before, and quality is beyond reproach.
Audi A6 Avant dashboard
While it might be somewhat conservative, there's no denying that the swathes of aluminium and leather trim adorning the Avant's interior look and feel fantastic. There are very few buttons on the dashboard, because most functions are now taken care of by the steering wheel or infotainment system, whose 10.1-inch screen seems invisible until switched on, disguised by being set into a glossy piano-black panel.
Audi has abandoned its previous rotary controller in favour of MMI Touch, which provides a click or vibration via 'haptic feedback' to confirm when you've made a command on the touchscreen. It's about as user-friendly as touchscreens get, but still unintuitive to use without taking your eyes from the road. Fortunately, you can also use your voice, and no longer need to stick to rigid commands, because the voice-recognition software is now advanced enough to try understanding what you mean.
There's also a smaller display panel to control the car's convenience features and climate control. You can input text on the lower screen while resting your wrist on the gear selector.
Equipment
There are four trim levels, but it's possible to create exactly the A6 Avant you want thanks to a serious number of options. The Sport grade is hardly anaemic, though, with 18-inch wheels, leather and heated seats, dual-zone climate control and a rear-view camera. On the Avant, the tailgate is also power-operated. The infotainment system has an 8.8-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower screen, sat-nav, DAB and Bluetooth.
S line largely offers design upgrades, upping the wheel size to 19 inches while lowering the suspension by 10mm and adding more aggressive bodywork. The sports seats are trimmed in Alcantara and leather, while the headliner is black and there are touches like a sports steering wheel and stainless-steel pedals. At night, drivers will notice the Matrix LED headlights, which automatically adjust to other road users and the conditions, to provide the best visibility without dazzling anyone.
Black Edition cars also feature a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, privacy glass, 20-inch bi-colour alloy wheels and a handful of black styling details.
Top-spec Vorsprung has a price tag that’s head and shoulders above the rest of the range but then it does include features like a panoramic sunroof, self-parking ability, extra safety features and a B&O premium sound system.
Options
Be warned, it's very easy to add another £10,000 to the price of your A6 Avant if you get carried away with the options list. Unless you're happy with Brilliant Black or Ibis White, you'll need to spend around £700 for metallic paint. The chassis can be upgraded to include adjustable dampers and the 50 TDI can be equipped with air suspension and four-wheel steering to make it more agile. Adding Matrix LED headlights to the Sport trim costs just over £1,500.
Audi also groups lots of equipment into packs to help keep things simple. Choose the Comfort & Sound Pack if a 360-degree camera view, Bang & Olufsen stereo, LED ambient lighting and keyless entry sound appealing for £2,000 or so. The Technology Pack is also likely to be popular, adding MMI Navigation Plus (with a 10.1-inch main screen), Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster and wireless phone charging for £1,500.
The A6 Avant must satisfy customers with its luxurious comfort and excellent practicality, and most prospective buyers should find it hits both targets. If you're just after the biggest boot, however, there are rivals that serve up even more space.
Audi A6 Avant interior space & storage
Tall drivers and passengers should have no issues getting snug in the A6 Avant, which is almost five metres long. It's also slightly taller than before, allowing Audi's designers to improve headroom front and rear. There are also plenty of thoughtful features, like the powered tailgate.
Boot space
The A6 Avant comes with a 40:20:40 split-and-fold rear bench as standard, with a flip-down centre armrest for added comfort when two people are sat in the back. Folding down the central portion almost makes a handy load-through for long items like skis or snowboards, only sacrificing the back middle seat.
Open the boot and there's 586 litres of load space behind the rear seats – more than the Volvo V90 but less than the Mercedes E-Class Estate (640 litres). If you can do without all the Audi's luxuries, the Skoda Superb Estate also boasts a bigger 660-litre boot. Cargo room extends to 1,680 litres with the rear seats folded down, but again this can't quite match the 1,820 litres of the E-Class. It's a well thought-out space, though, with rear seats that fold down flat, the wide tailgate aperture gives a loading width of just over a metre and there's standard rail system to organise luggage.
Be prepared to leave some luggage at home if you choose the plug-in hybrids. The positioning of the batteries means that boot space decreases to 405 litres, which is little more than in a family hatchback like the Audi A3. The boot floor is flat, however, unlike the stepped floor you’d have to put up with in a hybrid Mercedes E-Class estate.
Towing
A factory-fitted tow hitch is available for the A6 Avant, swivelling electrically from under the bumper and costing around £800. Both diesel versions are competent here, being able to haul a 2,000kg braked trailer, which equates to a large caravan.
The A6 Avant is a large and advanced model with impressive safety kit, so it has performed very well in crash tests – although the Volvo V90, which is one of the safest cars on the road, performed ever-so-slightly better. Reliability is less well known, because the Audi uses a lot of new technology for the brand.
Audi A6 Avant reliability
Although there’s no reliability data specific to the Audi A6, the 2021 DriverPower customer satisfaction survey results for Britain's car brands are worth noting. Audi came in 23rd out of 29 manufacturers overall, with a middling 16% of owners reporting faults in the first year of ownership. Audi customers were less satisfied than BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Jaguar and Lexus owners, showing there is work to be done here.
Safety
A strong body structure and standard features like autonomous emergency braking mean we would've been surprised if Euro NCAP scored the A6 anything less than five stars in crash-testing. However, it's still possible to add quite a bit of optional safety kit for greater peace of mind and convenience.
The City Assist Pack provides warnings if there's a car in your blind-spot, makes it easier to pull out of junctions with poor visibility and helps prepare the car (closing windows and tightening seatbelts) if an imminent rear impact is detected. The Tour Pack brings adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, auto-dipping headlights and lane-departure warning.
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