Audi A6 Avant Review 2024

Written by Andrew Brady

8/10
heycar ratingAvant-garde and practical estate
  • 2018
  • Estate
  • Petrol, Diesel, PHEV

Quick overview

Pros

  • Striking styling
  • Colossally capable
  • Exciting interior

Cons

  • Interior a bit too high-tech for some
  • Less roomy than some rivals
  • Could do with a bit more emotion

Overall verdict on the Audi A6 Avant

"This generation of the Audi A6 Avant arrived in 2018, but it's worth remembering that Audi has been making big, comfortable and spacious premium estate cars for decades. Arguably a superior machine to the Audi A6 saloon on which it's based, as this Audi A6 Avant review will show."

Audi A6 Avant Review 2024: front three quarter photo of the Audi A6 Avant

The Audi A6 Avant combines all the qualities you expect from the brand - sharp design, a high quality feel, plenty of technology, and a strong choice of engines - and wraps it into a practical estate car body. It's the fact that it is such a strong performer in so many areas that makes it such an appealing choice in a segment with some very strong competition."


The Avant is more than simply a saloon with a longer load-carrying rear end. Its lines are natural and very distinct from the four-door, particularly the sweep of the rear end, which has more than a hint of coupe about it. The eyebrows of antiques dealers may furrow when they consider how to load in that big, bulky cabinet from the 1850's, but most owners won’t bother as they’re not buying this car for maximum load capacity.


We would even suggest it’s a more successful ‘sportback’ design than the pricier, posher Audi A7 Sportback itself.


Passenger space is vast, as you’d hope from a car with a footprint this large. And the 565-litre space behind the rear seats is extremely well shaped and easy to access. Some default to an estate simply because they find the narrower boot opening of a saloon less practical – they may never even fold the rear seats.


The engine range is fully on-trend, with mild hybrid technology available across the line-up. Audi insists on using a bizarre naming strategy for its cars, rather than actually revealing what’s under the bonnet, so we’ll explain which is which later on. For now, you need to know the Audi A6 Avant 40 TDI is cheapest and most appealing, the RS6 is fastest, and the TFSI petrol power plants have the highest fuel and tax bills. Company drivers will be drawn to the TFSI e plug-in hybrid model.


To drive, it is as sophisticated as it looks. You get a very real sense you’re driving a car almost to Audi A8 standard in stature and ability. The sheer size of the latest A6 helps, of course, but so too do its effortless controls and discreet engines.


Keen drivers will probably find it a bit frustrating. A BMW 5 Series gives more tactility and involvement, while a Jaguar XF Sportbrake is more subtle and feedback-friendly. But there’s no denying that if you simply want to get in and relax, the Audi A6 Avant is the perfect car to eat up hundreds of miles at a time.


The extra confidence you get from all-wheel drive quattro versions is worthwhile, too. This has been another Audi trademark for decades, and the latest system is the most sure-footed yet. Ideal for horrible wintry weather conditions, then.


Inside, it’s a real spectacle. The subtle approach Audi used to take with car interiors has been replaced by a bolder and more digital-first design. It’s all very modern in feel and does take some time to get used to, but you certainly can’t deny it’s very ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’.


Estates may not be as popular as they once were due to the rise of the SUV, but the latest A6 Avant still delivers. It is a machine with real presence, and feels authentically Audi throughout – even if you do need a course just to learn everything those multiple touchscreens can do…


Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Audi Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Audi A6 Avant cars for sale. If you're looking for the older version, you need our used Audi A6 Avant (2011-2018) review.

If you like standing out in a crowd, the Audi A6 Avant could be for you. Audi has eschewed its previously understated style for a much more avant-garde look, and the A6 Avant is a fine example of that. It has bulging wheelarches, bold strakes and a really distinctive profile that easily stands out alongside its rivals.


It’s not the most commodious load-lugger, so don’t expect class-leading space in the boot. And the interior is a real tech-fest, which can be a bit much for some. But as an example of a modern, contemporary Audi, with the added bonus of low running costs for the best-selling 40 TDI version, it’s a more exciting option than anything Audi has offered in this sector for some time.   


If you want a more rugged version there's the Audi A6 Allroad.


Our pick is the Audi A6 Avant 40 TDI. In prime spec, this version offers strong performance allied to reasonable emissions and economy. You don’t get the purr of a six-cylinder engine, and it is ever so slightly uncouth when driven hard – but most of the time, it’s perfectly fine. If you can justify the £10,000 extra, the plug-in hybrid 50 TFSI e is more frugal and emits notably less CO2.


Audi doesn’t bother with an entry-level SE grade these days. People want cars to look sporty, and it has responded with a choice of model variants – Sport, S Line, and Black Edition. Sport looks fine, and has a bit of attitude lacking in the older, more prosaic SE line. But once you’ve seen S Line, you’ll do anything to get one – that’s how appealing it is. The Black Edition comes with, you guessed it, plenty of black-tinted trim and grille. 


The two direct rivals to the Audi A6 Avant are the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate. The BMW is the driver-focused one, while the Mercedes-Benz is the real load-lugger, with the biggest boot and most practical layout. All three are extremely appealing.


Volvo’s latest V90 is a very able and desirable car, though, with svelte good looks of its own. Another less German choice is the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, which is a great car to drive and also has a much-improved interior now that it's been facelifted. 


Comfort and design: Audi A6 Avant interior

"Edgy, sharp and very modern on the outside, the latest Audi A6 Avant is crisp and clean on the inside as well. Remember when Audi interiors were all about soft, subtle design, with obsessive sweating over the tiny details that you might not even notice until you’ve owned one for 18 months? That approach has gone. In-your-face excitement has taken its place."

Audi A6 Avant Review 2024: close up interior photo of the Audi A6 Avant

The A6 Avant’s interior is striking even at first glance. Buttons are out and glossy glass touchscreens are in – two of them in the centre console, one of which is set within a bold wing-shaped metal frame that can’t help but dominate the interior. Above this are plainly-finished air vents (with none of the watch-like tactility Audi used to engineer in) and below is an additional screen with yet more settings, menus and tech-nerd appeal.


Even optional fully-digital instruments are available, taking up the full width of the binnacle ahead of the driver. Previously, it was easy to lose count of the number of buttons within executive cars like this. Now, you can almost count them on one hand. If you love consumer electronics, you’ll be in heaven. If you’re more a stickler for tradition, you might find a bit much - even adjusting the temperature requires touchscreen input rather than turning a knob.


Traditional Audi-like detailing is still in evidence. We like the sculpted door panels, with nice inlay trim, and the wide centre console is a nice place to rest your arm. The steering wheel is neat and, at night, it’s still nicely detailed with the familiar Audi red glow bathing the cabin gently. The firm is particularly good at clever use of ambient lighting.


It’s comfortable, too. As all models have a sporty slant, it means they get nicely bolstered seats that are large, fully adjustable and offer plenty of long-distance support. The seats in S Line models are genuinely wonderful.


It’s an Audi, so of course it’s well finished. Plastics are all very high quality and the Audi A6 Avant has all the familiar solidity the brand is well known for. The few buttons there seem nice to the touch and the metal frames and varied array of trim finishers feel built to last.


There are no muddy, poor-resolution displays here, just HD-style panels that look upmarket and modern. You won’t be thinking ‘three-generation-old mobile phone’, but ‘latest iPhone.' The screens also respond smartly to the touch, which isn’t always a given in automotive applications.


In other areas though, it’s surprisingly un-Audi. The strip of air vents at the top of the dash looks ugly and doesn’t have the quality appearance the brand was once known for. Some of the plastics on the lower part of the dashboard also feel a bit built-to-a-price. There was a time where everything inside an Audi was over-engineered. It seems the firm’s being a bit more selective these days.  


It dominates the interior, so let’s dive into what Audi’s bold new infotainment system includes. For starters, all Audi A6 Avants get the dual-screen display in the centre console. Audi calls it MMI Touch, and regular models get an 10.1-inch top screen for infotainment and navigation (and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, if you prefer), plus an 8.6-inch lower screen for climate control, convenience functions and any text entry requirements. The top screen has been enlarged from the 8.8-inch version in earlier cars of this A6 generation.


The MMI Navigation Plus (it was included as part of the Technology Pack) saw the top screen in earlier cars grow to that full panoramic-style 10.1-inch display, and if you like the sound of that, you may also complete the digital onslaught with a 12.3-inch HD LCD screen instead of the traditional analogue dials when looking at buying used.


However, even cars without the full-width digital instruments get a 7.0-inch information display positioned in between the dials. The optional Technology Pack brings a head-up display into the mix.


MMI navigation plus includes Audi Connect, which builds in a wi-fi hotspot and fast 4G connection. It offers a broad range of online services including, for Android smartphone users, a virtual Audi key that allows owners to lock and unlock the car by waving their phone. Even the navigation system is personalised, using driver preferences stored in the cloud to create intelligent suggestions and optimise the route just how they like it.


As you'd expect the Audi A6 Avant is a big car - it's a shade under 5m in length almost 1.9m wide - but thankfully those exterior dimensions translate into plenty of space inside. Roominess has for some time now been an Audi trademark in this sector, particularly when compared to the more cramped BMW 5 Series, and the German firm hasn’t let that crown slip with the latest model.


If drivers want to explore the full range of seat adjustment, they’d better hold on. It’s possible to slide it so far back, you won’t actually be able to touch the pedals or steering wheel anymore. All A6 Avants now come with electric front seat adjustment - this wasn't always the case with the Sport trim. Smaller drivers can feel a bit overwhelmed, to be honest, but we can’t imagine even a 99th percentile adult will feel cramped inside an A6 Avant.


It feels more like an Audi A8 luxury car than a regular executive car, to be honest – such is the impression of space you get behind the wheel. If this means you’ll be breathing in a bit when threading it down winding roads, so be it.


Rear-seat space is vast too. To the uninitiated, it may well be confused for an A8, as the amount of legroom on offer seems limo-like. The A6 Avant also has better headroom than the A6 saloon too: the four-door is hardly short on space here, which makes its estate sibling seem genuinely cavernous. Audi calls it class-leading and we don’t doubt it.


With the seats up, the 565-litre boot capacity is bettered by the nearly 650-litres you get with a Mercedes-Benz E-Class (although it’s still equal to 14 carry-on cases, reckons Audi). Blame the stylish rake to the rear screen. Fold the seats – via standard 40/20/40 folding backrests – and it grows to 1680-litres, again a few hundred litres shy of the best. It’s practical, though, with a loading-friendly shape and total bay width of over one metre. Both tailgate and tonneau cover operate electrically as standard.


There are standard rails in the side of the boot floor for lashing down objects, and Audi includes a tensioning strap, net and two hooks as standard. An optional load securing kit with telescopic bar is also available.


The enormous rear cabin is perfect for slotting children into Isofix secured seats – the extra headroom over the saloon makes it just that bit easier, which might be useful for some. 


Handling and ride quality: What is the Audi A6 Avant like to drive?

"Audi has never really worried about delivering the last edge in driver feel and feedback. Its cars are famed for being stable, secure and confident in all weathers, particularly the ultra-tenacious Quattro-equipped machines. And so, it proves with the latest Audi A6 Avant, which uses high-tech underbody architecture to take overall standards to new heights."

Audi A6 Avant Review 2024: exterior front three quarter photo of the Audi A6 Avant on the road

The A6’s steering is light, crisp and very accurate. There’s not much sense of actually turning the wheels, but it’s easy to place the car precisely in corners – which is a good thing, given how big and wide it is. 


Progressive steering is standard: this becomes quicker as you apply more lock. Dynamic all-wheel steering, which steers rear wheels as well as the fronts, is optional, making the Audi A6 Avant more stable at higher speeds, but with a smaller turning circle (by more than a metre) when parking.

No fewer than four different types of suspension have been available: conventional springs in standard or Sport set-ups, suspension with adaptive dampers and a full adaptive air-spring system (again with adaptive dampers). With the current line-up, the Sport model makes do with standard suspension, while the S Line and Black Edition have the 20mm lowered sports set-up.


The regular suspension is okay, if forgettable, while the Sport system seems more focused. We like models with adaptive damping, which feel generally unruffled, while air suspension delivers a very appealing and cushioned long-distance ride – albeit at a price. Versions with adaptive suspension can be tailored via the Audi Drive Select dynamic handling system. If you're buying new now, this is no longer a feature of the A6.

All Audi A6 Avant versions ride with sure-footed confidence. If you don’t match the upgraded suspension with larger wheel options correctly, it can sometimes be crashy for such a large and upmarket car, but a dealer will be able to advise on the best course of action here. A Mercedes-Benz E-Class will, broadly, be more supple, while a BMW 5 Series will be more fun.

The number of engines available in the latest Audi A6 Avant is surprisingly limited. This is most un-Audi: in years gone by, it was happy to offer endless variations of the same engine, and almost a dozen different types of power plant overall. Those days are gone. So too is any sort of obvious engine identifier in the model branding.


So the range opens with the 40 TDI, which is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel producing 204PS. Like all Audi A6 Avants, it’s fitted with an automatic gearbox, in this case the seven-speed S tronic. It did drive the front wheels only in earlier models, but the 40 TDI now only comes with Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive. The other diesel option is the 50 TDI Quattro, which you'll now have to find on the used market, uses a 3.0-litre V6 producing 286PS. This is the only A6 Avant to have an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox.


If you prefer petrol, the entry-point petrol is the 40 TFSI with the same 204PS as its diesel counterpart. It also uses the same seven-speed auto transmission, but this model sticks with front-wheel drive.


The 45 TFSI Quattro has a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder putting out 265PS - up from earlier 245PS, while the 55 TFSI Quattro is a 3.0-litre V6 with 340PS.


The plug-in hybrid is called 50 TFSI e and has a more powerful electric motor coupled with the 2.0-litre petrol engine, for total system power of 299PS. It will do around 34 miles as a pure EV and offers preferential company car tax rates for fleet drivers.


With superb engineering, distant and quiet engines, plus extremely slippery aerodynamics that help keep wind noise to a whisper, the Audi A6 Avant is a very refined car indeed. It fully delivers the premium car experience and, again, does more than a passing impression of the luxurious A8 limo.


Such exceptionally low interior noise levels can be disturbed if you, say, try to drive the 40 TDI like a sports car. The 45 TFSI engine will also betray its revvy Volkswagen Golf GTI roots if you drive it like the hot hatch it came from. But such moments are exceptions, and in the car’s natural element – the motorway – it’s superb.


Make the most of such excellent refinement with the optional Technology Pack, which includes a storming Bang & Olufsen premium sound system with no fewer than 16 speakers. It even has a 3D sound function for the front seats, which is not unlike being in a concert hall (an impression further reinforced by the fact it’s so big inside).


All the standard safety features come as standard on the Audi A6 Avant, including automotive emergency braking (which Audi calls Pre-Sense). It’s high-tech active safety features where car companies make the difference these days. For example, there is a choice of three different types of high-intensity headlights, including Audi’s famous HD Matrix LED headlights. These throw out as much ultra-intense light as possible, where you need it, without blinding oncoming drivers.


Two advanced assistance packs are offered. City Assist has a lane-change function and the rather spooky-sounding Pre-Sense Rear, which warns the driver to brace themselves when it detects something coming up quickly from behind. Cross-Traffic Assist Front will also stop the driver pulling out into crossing traffic, which is a boon at busy junctions.


The Tour pack offered an advanced active cruise control system that will not only keep the vehicle a set distance behind the car in front, but also centre it within a lane. It’s about as autonomous as is legally allowed right now, but this is no longer an option.


The latest Audi A6 Avant has been awarded a full five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests. Adult occupant protection is rated 93 percent, with 85 percent for child occupant protection and 81 percent for vulnerable road users (such as pedestrians). Safety assist features scored 76 percent (the rating would have been higher if more features were available as standard, rather than optional). 


MPG and fuel costs: What does an Audi A6 Avant cost to run?

"The clever mild hybrid technology can turn off the engine when coasting, even at motorway speeds. That’s made possible by the advanced automatic gearboxes, and may well deliver some surprising real-world fuel economy savings, rather than simply those reflected in the official figures."

Audi A6 Avant Review 2024: exterior rear three quarter photo of the Audi A6 Avant

According to the latest WLTP economy tests, the 40 TDI Quattro Audi A6 Avant can average up to 48.7mpg, which is pretty good going for such a large car (and proof the mild hybrid tech actually works).



The 50 TDI averages around 39mpg, the 45 TFSI takes this to 36.2mpg, and the 55 TFSI actually doesn’t look too bad at around 30mpg, given how it’s a powerful V6 petrol. The Vorsprung version is the only one to officially dip below 30mpg.


With the plug-in hybrid 50 TFSI e A6 Avant, it offers up to a claimed 39 miles of electric-only driving, plus an official combined economy of 188.3mpg if you use the EV option to full effect.

The earliest versions of the current generation Audi A6 Avant are now six-years old and they are holding up well. Audi as a brand finished mid-table in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, coming 16th out of 29 manufacturers.


One point to note is that some 2.0-litre TFSI engines have previously been reported as suffering from high oil consumption, so this is something you may want to look into when checking the service history.

Insurance groupings range from reasonable to rather high. Basic 40 TDI Sport Audi A6 Avants start from group 33, which is a good way to keep insurance costs fairly reasonable with a used model. Adding on the technology and spec does edge them upwards, though, meaning a Quattro-equipped Black Edition will be rather more expensive to insure each year than a regular 40 TDI Sport.


With more power, so the insurance costs go up. The 45 TFSI begins at group 35, and a 50 TDI quickly rises upwards from group 40. It all stands to reason: the flashier your A6 Avant, the more you’ll spend each year to insure it all the way up to group 46 for the priciest plug-in hybrid model.

 


VED (road tax) bands can again surprise. Emissions of 151g/km CO2 for the 40 TDI, for example, mean a first-year rate of £680, which isn’t too bad at all. Then it’s the standard rate of £190 a year.


The trouble is, all A6 Avants currently cost more than £40,000, and this means owners are obliged to pay an extra £490 per year for years two to six. On top of that, models with higher CO2 emissions pay more for the first year of tax too - up to £1650 for the 45 TFSI Quattro in its heaviest emitting form.


On the other hand, the 50 TFSI e plug-in hybrid emits no more than a claimed 37g/km, so pays zero in road tax for the first year at the time of writing thanks to a £10 discount for hybrid cars. However, you'll still have to pony up the £490 for showroom tax and £190 (less £10 for its hybrid status) in subsequent years.


How much should you be paying for a used Audi A6 Avant?

To get a used version of this latest-generation Audi A6 Avant you'll be looking prices from around £22,000. This buys a 2019 40 TDI Sport with 30,000 miles on the clock.

Audi A6 Avant Review 2024: close up rear photo of the Audi A6 Avant exhaust

Our preferred S Line trim is attainable within that budget, but you’ll ideally start at £25,000 to get a broader choice. For a 45 TFSI petrol model, you will spend around another £1000 for an A6 Avant of the same age and mileage, while the hybrid car will cost from £40,000 for a year-old example with 10,000 miles to its name.


At launch, the Audi A6 Avant was offered in Sport and S Line grades. Either is extremely well specified, with all getting at least 18-inch alloys, LED front and rear lights, a power tailgate, MMI navigation with dual screens in the centre console, lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera and cruise control with speed limiter.


Audi A6 Avant S Line trim adds 19-inch alloys and sports suspension, more vivid Audi Matrix LED headlights, a full S Line styling makeover outside and in, electric front seats and a perforated leather steering wheel. Even the door mirrors fold automatically.


The Audi A6 Avant Black edition builds on S Line with more moodily-themed trims, while the Audi A6 Avant Vorsprung (Audi’s new range-topping grade) adds a plethora of extras as standard for a considerable price increase over regular models.


Previously, you could also pick from SE and Vorsprung trims, with the former equivalent to the current Sport and Vorsprung much the same as a Black Edition in spec.

Ask the heycar experts: common questions

Even though the Audi A6 Avant doesn't offer as broad a range of engines as some other Audis, there's still a big span of power outputs. The entry-level 40 TFSI petrol offers 204PS, as does the 40 TDI diesel, while at the other end of the scale the bombastic RS6 dishes out a remarkable 600PS.
For a new car you'll need to find at least £46,480 for the Sport 40 TFSI, but if you go for a used version you can get one for around £15,000 if you go for the pre-2018 model.
Broadly speaking yes - there are no known specific issues with the Audi A6 Avant in terms of reliability, but if you are buying used it's always worth looking at cars with a complete service history.