Although wagons have a special place in many of our hearts, America has missed out on some of the most iconic and beloved wagons ever created because the buying public seems less than thrilled with them.However, in recent years, we've seen the best performance wagons of the modern age finally available in America. Still, modern performance wagons aren't cheap, with some of the most affordable models in the segment costing upwards of $80,000. But let's say you're a father in need of a family hauler with plenty of kick without breaking the bank. Then your best bet might be Audi's twin-turbo V10-powered wagon, but there's a catch. Remember When Audi Put A Twin-Turbo V10 Into A Wagon? AudiThe first-generation Audi RS6 Avant, unveiled in the early 2000s, was a mighty performance wagon. Commanding 443 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque from its twin-turbocharged V8 engine in the most powerful trim level, which was more power than many of the best performance wagons of the 2000s.Audi Although in production only until 2004, the first generation set a precedent for high-performance, nearly unrivaled performance wagons, and in 2008, Audi somehow upped the ante and gave the world one of the craziest performance wagons ever allowed on public roads, the Audi C6 RS6 Avant.Gone was the twin-turbo V8 engine we saw in the first-generation Audi RS6 Avant, and in its place was a hulking 5.0-liter V10 engine flanked by a pair of turbochargers and producing more than 100 hp compared to the first-gen RS6 Avant. That power output was greater than that of the similarly sized V10 BMW introduced around the same time, giving the RS6 an advantage in power not only over the BMW M5 but also over the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.Audi That potent power plant was paired with a six-speed Tiptronic transmission, and thanks to the poise that came by way of its competent Audi Dynamic Ride Control Sports suspension system, the Audi RS6 Avant was quicker in a straight line than some supercars. Not only was it a force to be reckoned with in a straight line, but the Audi RS6 Avant also boasted impressive cargo space, ranging between 19.95 and 58.63 cubic feet based on seating configuration. Today, despite its specs, performance, and appeal, the Audi RS6 Avant can be had for a bargain on the used market. More Affordable Than Germany's Other 500 hp+ Wagons From That Era AudiAs one can imagine, Audi wouldn't imbue the Audi RS6 Avant with supercar-rivaling performance without slapping a hefty price tag on it. When it was brand new, the Audi RS6 Avant had an MSRP of roughly $99,500 to $102,000, not adjusted for inflation. If we adjust for inflation, that price tag rises to roughly $164,000. Still, time catches up to all of us, and in the nearly two decades since, its value on the used market has softened considerably.Audi According to Classic.com, based on all the examples recorded and listed on that platform, the average value of the Audi C6 RS6 Avant is $28,355 as of this writing, and it has steadily increased in recent months. Aside from its average value on that platform, the Audi C6 RS6 Avant's average selling price is $29,734.Although slightly higher than the estimated average value of the RS6 Avant, it is still lower than its closest competitors from that era, namely, the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate and BMW M5 Touring. The former, on Classic.com's platform, has a slightly higher average value of $31,527, with the most recent examples listed and sold ranging between $30,000 and $40,000.As for the other 500-hp German wagon, the BMW E60 M5 Touring, it has a recorded average value on the Classic.com platform of $33,910, with the average selling price being much higher at $48,043. But There's A Catch Audi It hasn't been uncommon for manufacturers to skip the North American market and offer some of their most sought-after models elsewhere. The Audi RS6 Avant was one of those models. Up until 2020, the Audi RS6 Avant wasn't sold in America, meaning we not only missed out on the first of its kind but also on the generation we're talking about in this article. Still, softening the fact that it was not available until now, is the fact that Audi's RS6 Avant is the world's fastest full-ICE performance wagon.Still, that doesn't mean you can't buy one and import it. However, aside from not being offered in the US, the Audi C6 RS6 Avant is hard to find, with only a handful of examples sold so far in 2026. The Audi RS6 Avant doesn't appear to be available often on the used market. While examples do sell for under $30,000, the difficulty is finding a German super wagon example. If You Want A Home-Grown Family Hauler With 500 hp CadillacThe Cadillac CTS-V wagon was the last performance wagon offered in America with a manual transmission and is remembered as one of the coolest performance wagons ever produced. While not powered by a twin-turbocharged V10 engine, the CTS-V wagon relies on the strength of an equally ludicrous 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which produces more power than the Audi RS6 Avant, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate, and BMW M5 Touring from that era.When it was new, it was also far more affordable than those three German super wagons, with an MSRP of $62,360 in 2011.Unlike the Audi RS6 Avant, the Cadillac CTS-V wagon's value on the used market has softened significantly. Meanwhile, its cost has risen above its MSRP from the last model year. According to Classic.com's data, the average used value of the Cadillac CTS-V wagon is $67,006, while the average selling price is $62,877. Alongside being, on average, more affordable than the Audi RS Avant, it is also far more abundant on the used market, with a handful of examples listed for sale at the time of writing. However, while being more powerful, more abundant on the used market, and a home-grown model, it is worth double that of the Audi RS6 Avant, and we can't ignore that the Cadillac CTS-V wagon's used value isn't eye-watering.
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