Audi A6 Avant Review
The Audi A6 Avant is a practical estate car with the contemporary style to match. The generous amount of standard tech and potent engines are an added bonus.
Pros
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Packed with high-tech gadgets
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Powerful engines
Cons
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Complicated infotainment system
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Not cheap
Overall Verdict
The Audi A6 Avant is a refreshing take on a practical, family estate car. The premium, futuristic interior cabin will get a gold star from the children, while the high-tech infotainment system and strong, relaxing engines will make any journey stress-free for the lucky driver. If you’re open to alternative suggestions, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate and BMW 5 Series Touring are healthy competition.
The Avant's efficient mild-hybrid system is the unsung hero of the A6 range. Standard across the range, the hybrid system is most effective on the entry-level diesel model and helps it return a decent fuel economy of around 60 mpg.
Practicality is king in the A6 Avant thanks to its spacious cabin and luxurious boot space (565 litres). There's plenty of headroom and legroom in the front seats and more than enough shoulder and knee room for three relatively tall adults to sit in the back.
Another tick off the pre-buyer checklist is Audi's extensive safety features. You get a bunch of safety kit as standard including Audi's intuitive Parking System Plus, automatic braking and plenty of front and rear parking sensors.
In terms of styling, Audi doesn't cut corners. All the materials in the cabin feel high-quality and the infotainment system is a great bit of kit. While the standard infotainment system is good, the optional Audi Technology Pack blows it out the water with a larger touch-screen as well as the trademark Audi Virtual Cockpit system.
Available Trims
Sport
Audi’s illustrious Avant A6 range starts with the ever-impressive entry-level ‘Sport’ trim. Four robust 18” ‘5-arm design’ alloy wheels provide a sturdy base, while the All-weather LED headlights produce a gleaming beacon of light fitting of Audi’s superiority. The tech-savvy A6 Avant comes with a 7.0-inch twin-touch screen infotainment system as standard which looks the part as you nestle into your twin leather seats while waiting for the state-of-the-art Parking System Plus to squeeze into a tight spot all on its own.
S Line
Clamber up the trim ladder, and the ‘S Line’ seldom disappoints. In addition to the ‘Sport’, the S Line has a number of appetizing features including the 19” ‘5-twin-spoke’ alloy wheels that look the part in contrasting grey. Further notable upgrades are the S Line’s luxury sport suspension, privacy glass and front sport seats with leather and Alcantara upholstery.
Black Edition
The Audi A6 Avant Black Edition is a feast for the eyes. On the outside, the 20” ‘5-V-spoke’ star design complements the futuristic matrix LED headlights and dynamic front and rear indicators. Step inside, and the first thing you touch is the glorified flat-bottomed multi-function 3-spoke leather steering wheel that paves the way for a relaxing journey.
Vorsprung
Translated into English to read ‘head start’, Audi don’t mess about with the impressive ‘Vorsprung’ trim. The colossal 21” Sport cast aluminium wheels blend nicely with the adaptive air suspension and dynamic all-wheel steering. The panoramic glass sunroof is a classy touch, while the City Assist Pack provides a whole heap of cutting-edge safety features including pre-sense, rear and cross-traffic assist.
If you’re sold on on the Audi A6 Avant then why not check out or A6 Avant Lease deals page to see our latest in-stock and to order trims.
Exterior
Forget the days of chunky, unattractive wagons and welcome to the world of sleek, premium estates. Quite fittingly, the Audi A6 Avant is part of the avant-garde posse that is revolutionising the perception of estate cars through stylish looks.
The standard 18” ‘5-arm’ design alloy wheels set the tone for a smooth drive, while the front of the car boasts the iconic Audi rings embedded into the front of the shiny grille.
The large windows surrounding the car make the A6 Avant a doodle to drive around town and the lengthy body ceases to be an issue when parking thanks to Audi’s intuitive Parking System Plus that does the hard work for you - easy peasy!
Driving Experience
The Audi A6 Avant prides itself on delivering a relaxing driving experience, so if you’re looking for an extra dose of speed we advise you look elsewhere or opt for one of the A6 Avant’s selection of high-performance trims.
Engine
You can get the Audi A6 Avant in two petrol and two diesel engines. All engines come equipped with an automatic gearbox and an economical mild hybrid system. Making it the best choice for automatic car fans who are after smooth, easy going motoring.
The entry-level 2.0-litre 201bhp 40 TDI engine has enough gusto to cruise around town and tackles the motorway with effortless ease through its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
However, if it’s an adrenaline rush you’re seeking, you can’t bypass the 3.0-litre 282bhp 50 TDI V6 engine. You’ll be delighted to hear that it comes with a quattro four-wheel-drive system as well as a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox. Both play a crucial role in the heightened performance of the Avant and well worth splurging out on if you’ve got a few extra bob.
In terms of petrol output - the 242bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine 45 TFSI is great if you’re sticking to shorter length journeys, but if you’re planning a John O’Groats to Lands End trip you may want to consider the mac-daddy 335bhp 3.0-litre 55 TFSI engine. With smooth acceleration and effortless speed, it really is a thrill-seeker on wheels.
Performance
The cost-effective choice lies with the 2.0-litre 40 TDI diesel engine. It may not be lightning quick, but it still reaches 0-62mph in 8.3s and manages a top speed of 149mph - not too shabby.
The notorious 3.0-litre 50 TDI V6 petrol engine is a completely different ball game. Put the foot down and you’re off like a shot - it’ll glide from 0-62mph in 5.7s and reaches a respectable top speed of 155mph.
Opt for the entry-level 2.0-litre 45 TFSI petrol engine and you’re in for a pleasant ride. Smoother and quieter than its diesel alternatives, you’ll be cheesing from ear to ear as you breeze from 0-62mph in 6.2s reaching a top speed of 155mph in the meantime. The 3.0-litre 55 TFSI V6 engine roars from 0-62 in a rapid 5.3s reaching the same top speed as its entry-level counterpart.
Handling
On the whole, the Audi A6 Avant handles precisely and reliably. It may not be built for taking on winding country bends or Monaco’s tight chicanes at speed, but the A6 Avant does excel as a high-mileage cruiser and handles the motorway with painless serenity.
However, unlike the BMW 5 Series Touring, steering feels a little vague on the entry-level 40 TDI diesel due to all the power being generated by the front-wheel-drive system. Opt for any other engine type and this isn’t an issue - Audi’s traction-enhancing quattro 4WD system is standard on all other engines available and makes for a comfortable and controlled drive.
Suspension
There’s a few options when it comes to suspension types. Choose the entry-level Sport trim and the A6 Avant comes with standard suspension, whereas the S Line and Black Edition models receive the stiffer, lower sport suspension. If you’re willing to break the bank, the refined adaptive air suspension available on the range-topping Vorsprung trim is incredibly composed and measured.
If you’re regularly loading the boot with heavy items, you may want to consider the adaptive air suspension. Its self-levelling function prevents the car from pressuring the back wheels and it’ll be the first time to enjoy driving over potholes thanks to its supple control.
The standard and sport suspensions deal with potholes and speed bumps relatively well at low speeds, but the stiffer sport suspension has a tendency to jolt you around a tad more at motorway speeds.
Audi A6 Avant Interior
Audi’s trademark luxury cabin strikes again. A combination of plush materials and a super high-tech infotainment system pave the way for a relaxing driving experience.
Styling
Who would have guessed it - Audi pull another top-quality interior out the bag in the form of this A6. The interior alone is enough to encourage someone to sign on the dotted line.
The futuristic dual touch-screen layout is a visually pleasing, contemporary take on the standard conventional buttons. The glossy black dashboard is slick and looks the part alongside the chic metal trims and cosy leather seats.
Tech
If you were going to choose a car based on the standard infotainment system, the Audi A6 Avant is a great shout.
The two large touchscreen displays have managed to replace the majority of conventional dials on the dashboard to leave it looking ahead of its time in comparison to the BMW 5 Series Touring and the Mercedes E-Class.
The lower 8.6-inch screen is used to control the heating and ventilation functions, while the upper 8.8-inch screen deals with the visually important features like navigation, radio and smartphone mirroring. At first, it may seem like you’ve wandered into Currys/PC World by mistake, but it’ll soon become very clear thanks to the logical layout and user-friendly shortcuts.
If you’re not a fan of Audi’s own navigation system, you can use the handy smartphone mirroring feature by using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This will also let you belt out music through your standard 10-speaker, 180-watt system. Additionally, if you want to be really good to yourself, you can upgrade to the Comfort and Sound Pack for £1895, where you’ll be the new owner of a seriously impressive Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Another upgrade that’s well worth considering is the optional Audi Technology Pack that will set you back an additional £1,495 (standard on Vorsprung trim). This will increase the size of the top screen from 8.8 to 10.1-inches as well as implementing Audi’s trendsetting Virtual Cockpit system. One of the main attractions comes in the form of a voice control system that recognises natural speech which stops you messing about with the touchscreen and taking your eyes off the road.
Practicality
With one of the roomier cabins in the estate car class, the Audi A6 Avant has no trouble squeezing five strapping adults into its confinements.
Dimensions
The A6 Avant is 4,939mm in length, 1,886mm in width and 1,467mm in height. In comparison to the Mercedes E-Class, the E-Class is 2,069mm wider and 2,068mm taller, but the A6 Avant is 8mm longer.
Boot Size
The Audi A6 Avant’s 565 litre boot is nothing to be ashamed of, but it still lags behind the more gigantic E-Class and 5 Series respectively.
There’s more than enough room for four large suitcases packed for a 2-week all inclusive to Tenerife. The boot opening is wide, low, and flat, which is much appreciated when lifting any bulky items.
Passenger Room
There’ll be no complaints in reference to space up top. Plenty of head, leg and shoulder room make for a pleasant, relaxing drive for people of all shapes and sizes.
Space in the rear is just as complimentary. Passengers over the six-foot mark will rarely have any issues unless they are plonked in the middle with two equally tall friends. Other than that there is enough room to manoeuvre and get comfy aboard the A6 Avant.
Safety Features
The A6 Avant comes with an abundance of highly-rated safety kit. All trim levels come with at least six airbags and a bunch of electronic driver aids: including Audi’s Parking System Plus, rear view-cameras, as well as an automatic braking system. A number of additional safety features are standard on higher level trims or available at extra costs
The A6 Avant was recognised for its safety features and was awarded a 5* safety rating from Euro NCAP for both adult and child occupant crash protection.
Running Costs
With an efficient mild-hybrid system as standard across the range, the Audi A6 helps by saving on running costs, but it doesn’t have a very eco-friendly track record when it comes to CO2 emissions compared to other popular estate car choices.
MPG
The entry-level 40 TDI diesel model is the most cost-effective option in the A6 Avant range. It has the ability to return 60.1 mpg and emits a reasonably acceptable 124g/km of CO2 making it the most popular company car in the range. On the flipside, the punchy 50 TDI diesel engine is not so efficient as it returns 48.7 mpg with whopping CO2 emissions of 150g/km.
Unfortunately, the petrol engines can’t match the fuel economy of its rival diesel outputs. Although it might be smooth, the 45 TFSI petrol engine returns a thirsty 42.8 mpg while emitting a not so eco-friendly 152g/km of CO2.
Let's be honest, the big bertha 55 TFSI petrol engine is not bought with fuel economy as a top priority. The nimble output returns a measly 29.7 mpg as well as emitting a distressing 169g/km.
Insurance Group
In terms of insurance groups, the Audi A6 Avant entry-level Sport trim ranges between groups 30-40.
The 40 TDI belongs to group 30E, while the 50 TDI is up in group 40E.
On the other side of the fuel spectrum, the 45 TFSI Sport trim is in group 35E whereas the 55 TFSI Sport is in 39E.
| Cheapest Trim | Lowest Insurance Group | RRP |
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Reliability
As a brand, Audi reliability ranked surprisingly low on Reliability Index’s manufacturer rating. Audi placed 34th out of 40 manufacturers with a reliability index of 195.
The UK Reliability index takes into account all factors of a repair, the cost of the parts and the frequency of failures. The average of all cars is 100 - anything rated higher than 118 indicates that the car is less reliable than average.
The A6 Avant scored 188 with average repair costs totalling £541.75. Although the number of reported reliability issues on the A6 Avant are minimal, there have been concerns regarding phone connectivity to the infotainment system as well as annoying rattling noises from interior trims
Warranty
The three-year/60,000-mile Audi warranty including roadside assistance is pretty bog standard. You can upgrade to Audi extended warranty which covers you for four years/75,000 miles for £245 or five years and 90,000 miles for £545, which seems a bit steep when you’re already paying a premium price.
BMW and Mercedes also offer a three-year warranty, but with the added perk of unlimited mileage, so that’s something to keep in mind if you are keeping your options open.
Servicing
Audi offers three levels of scheduled servicing and maintenance as part of their ‘Complete Plan’.
The biggest saver is Service, which covers all your services within the first three years.
The Service and Maintenance option adds further cover for engine, suspension, gearbox and brake components. On top of this, you’ll also receive three years’ breakdown cover.
The premium plan - Service, Maintenance and Tyres also includes replacement tyres, wheel alignment and puncture repairs.
There are also two types of service schedule available - Fixed (9,000 miles/1year) and Flexible (up to 19,000 miles/2 years). Flexible is recommended for longer distance drivers, while fixed is better suited to lower-mileage drivers.
