Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

 Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

 Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

 Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

 Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

 Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

 Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

 Audi A6 Avant estate (2011 – ) expert review

The verdict

The Audi A6 Avant is a stylish, practical and economical estate car which rivals the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate.

Pros

* Strong performance from all engines

* Lots of space for passengers and their luggage

* Reduced emissions compared with the old A6 Avant

Cons

* Expensive to buy

* Firm ride on larger alloy wheels

* Load floor not quite flat

Full Review

1. Exterior

The days when estate cars were boxy and dull are long gone. To many eyes, the Audi A6 Avant is a better looking car than the saloon. With its steeply sloping rear windscreen, strong shoulder line and taut surfaces the A6 is muscular and sporty. The confident Audi grille and intricate headlights add to the assertive character. That’s especially true of the S line model, which sits lower to the ground on larger alloys, and has LED running lamps set into the headlight design. Only taste separates the success of its looks when compared you compare it to the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Estate.

2. Interior

Few manufacturers do interior design as well as Audi. There’s a solidity and quality to everything you see and feel which goes some way to justifying the premium price tag. The cabin has some neat touches, too, like the way the 6.5-inch colour sat-nav screen glides out of the dash when you start the car. The dials are easy to read and the controls are mostly intuitive, although the MMI (Multi Media Interface) takes a little getting used to.

3.Practicality

Some estates sacrifice space for the sake of style, but the A6 Avant juggles these competing demands better than most. There’s 565 litres of space with rear seats upright, five litres more than in a BMW 5 Series Touring. Fold the seats down (levers either side of the boot do the job) and there’s 1,680 litres to fill. That’s ten litres more than in the BMW. However, the Audi can’t match the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, with its massive 1,950-litre load bay. Passengers have plenty of room, too, with more rear legroom than in the old A6 Avant.

4.Ride and handling

Standard cars come with conventional springs and dampers, but Audi expects a quarter of buyers to shell out the extra money for optional air suspension. The air-sprung cars do ride better than regular models. With either form of suspension, Audi Drive Select gives drivers the choice of softer of firmer settings to suit the road or the driver’s mood. Think twice before choosing one of the lower slung S line models, as the ride is very firm, especially on the optional 20-inch alloy wheels. Handling is neat and composed, but there’s not enough feedback from the steering wheel to draw the driver into the action. Quattro four-wheel drive models give useful extra traction on slippery roads.

5.Performance

From launch there’s a choice of three diesel engines and one petrol, with a powerful bi-turbo diesel coming before the end of 2011. The top seller is expected to be the 175bhp 2-litre diesel. It may be the least powerful engine in the line-up, but there’s still plenty of muscle for overtaking. The less powerful of the two 3-litre diesels has 26bhp more than the 2-litre, but it’s the six-cylinder engine’s smoothness and refinement which make it worth considering over the smaller engine. There’s also a 242bhp 3-litre diesel and a swift 3-litre TFSI supercharged petrol. For heavyweight punch combined with impressive economy look no further than the new 3-litre twin-turbo TDI, which hits 62mph in just 5.4 seconds. It sounds good for a diesel, too.

6.Running costs

Thanks to its light weight (aluminium is used extensively to save a few kilos) highly efficient engines and some clever technology, the A6 Avant is one of the cleanest and most efficient large estate cars. The 2.0-litre diesel leads the way, returning 57.6mpg and emitting just 129g/km of carbon dioxide. That puts the car in band D for Vehicle Excise Duty and the 18 per cent bracket for company car drivers. Even the thirstiest model, the 3.0 TFSI, manages a respectable 34.5mpg and 190g/km of CO2. Resale values should be among the best in class, too.

7.Reliability

The standard of build and finish is first rate, and if the same attention to detail has been applied to the parts you can’t see then the Avant should prove durable. The old A6 was a solid performer in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys, which bodes well for the new model.

8.Safety

The latest A6 has yet to be crash tested by Euro NCAP, either as a saloon or an estate. However, the old model earned a five-star rating and there’s no reason to believe Audi will have lowered its sights with the new A6. Certainly no corners have been cut in the specification. As well as the usual airbags and stability control buyers can choose optional kit like a lane departure system which warns if the car is drifting and gently steers the car back in line, and automatic braking which slows the A6 if the driver fails to spot a slower vehicle ahead.

9.Equipment

The A6 Avant range is simpler than before, with a straight choice between SE and S line models. The SE has 17-inch alloys, tyre pressure monitoring, leather seats, cruise control, climate control and a luggage rail fixing system. For an extra £2350, S line models add 18-inch alloy wheels, S line body styling, Xenon headlights, sports suspension, sports seats with electric adjustment, brushed aluminium interior trim and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel.

10.Why buy?

If you want an estate car which looks great yet is still practical, the A6 Avant should be on your shortlist.