Audi A6 Avant (2018) Review

The understated appearance of previous Audis is out, with the designers now preferring a more sparkling and glitzier look. One thing that hasn’t changed is the quality and robustness of it all; this is a premium car and it feels it, particularly in the vivid crispness of the many screens and smooth, rich plastics and trims throughout.

On the road, it looks upmarket and distinctive, perfect for status-seekers. Paint quality is beautiful, while the sporty features of the S line variant make even a 40 TDI look like a mini RS6.

Every Audi A6 Avant comes with two screens in the centre console, replacing most of the buttons. The upper screen is an 8.8-inch touchscreen display, used for the sat nav system as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. When you touch it, a haptic ‘click’ confirms your finger-press, helping usability.

The screen below is an 8.6-inch touchscreen that’s used for the climate control. It’s comprehensive, but some may find the fact changing the temperature now involves the jab of a screen rather fussy. Audi has a well-priced Technology Pack that adds a third 10.1-inch screen in place of the regular analogue dials. So smoothly do all three screens tie together, we think it’s well worth it.

Attention-grabbing economy is the big draw of the 40 TDI engine. In its most efficient guise, it is capable of returning almost 63mpg – and that, surprisingly, is for the Quattro version, rather than the cheaper front-wheel-drive variant (although even this manages over 60mpg).

Petrol versions are less economical but don’t seem too thirsty, with the 45 TFSI capable of over 42mpg in Sport guise (the figure dips slightly in S line spec due to its larger wheels). Even the current-fastest Audi A6 Avant, the S6, can top 43mpg – because Audi has swapped the old petrol engine for a twin-turbo diesel.

Audi will soon introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the A6 Avant, called 55 TFSI e. It combines a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, a powerful electric motor and large 14.1kWh battery to give 31 miles’ pure EV driving and official fuel consumption of nearly 149mpg. And thanks to low 44g/km CO2 emissions, company car drivers will pay just 10 percent Benefit in Kind tax for the 2020/21 financial year.

For those running the car themselves, the fact even the lowest insurance rate is group 33 might be a bit of a shock. The rapid S6 is also two insurance groups higher than the old one, at group 46.

The biggest expense may be the large tyres – even the basic Sport now comes with 18-inch wheels.

Engines are all very refined, with even the four-cylinder 40 TDI offering a hushed and smooth drive. The upcoming plug-in hybrid will give genuine silence when running on electric, at speeds of up to 84mph. V6 engines sound nicer, but there’s little in it these days in terms of general refinement.

The regular S tronic automatic gearbox is fine, with swift gearshifts and a generally fuss-free nature. We prefer it to the eight-speed Tiptronic fitted to the 50 TDI, which we found could easily be caught out – downshifts often take longer to kick in than you’d like, making the car occasionally feel slothful and lacking responsiveness.

The performance S6 model, with its tuneful V6 diesel, is a lot of fun – it really does sound entertaining and charismatic, despite being a diesel. It has more than enough shove to keep all but the most demanding happy – and for them, a V8-engined RS6 looms on the horizon.

Safety testing by Euro NCAP saw the latest Audi A6 Avant awarded a five-star rating, with adult occupant protection looking particularly impressive on 93 percent. Safety assist features were pegged back a little, to 76 percent – the score would have been higher had more of the gadgets been fitted as standard.

Pre-Sense autonomous emergency braking is standard, though, as are LED headlights – although here, there are two further upgrades, topped by the ultra-vivid HD Matrix LED headlights. Optional adaptive cruise control is offered, which not only keeps you a set distance from the car in front, but also centres the vehicle within its lane.

All new Audi A6 Avants are now capable of towing a 2000kg load. We’d advise choosing the official tow bar option and also look into optional air suspension, to help maintain an even stance even when lugging heavy loads. The extra power of the S6 takes towing capacity up to 2100kg.