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Estate
The A6 Avant is big in every way: big on space, prestige, equipment and power. It has everything you’d expect of an executive cruiser, with added practicality.
Five adults will be perfectly comfortable in the cabin, thanks to generous head, leg and shoulder space all-round and a multi-adjustable driving position.
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Central to the Avant’s appeal is its big boot. With the rear seats in place, it can hold 565 litres; fold them down, and the load bay expands to swallow 1660 litres plenty of space for a family’s holiday luggage. Its handling is pretty impressive, too. The Audi changes direction sharply, resists body roll and grips the road strongly. Front- and four-wheel-drive versions are available, along with optional self-levelling air suspension useful for those who carry heavy loads on a regular basis. The standard car’s ride feels firm over poor surfaces, though.
Running Costs
The diesel models are by far the most efficient – the 2.0 TDI has an official average of 46.0mpg, the 2.7 TDI manages 39.8mpg and the 3.0 V6 TDI 34.9mpg. The 2.0 petrol returns a reasonable 34.5mpg, while the 2.4 V6 and 3.2 V6 FSI return an average 28.2mpg. Pick a larger-capacity petrol and you’ll struggle to see 25mpg, though. Insurance ratings are pretty high, ranging from group 15 for the base 2.0, to group 18 for the 4.2 V8s. Take your A6 to be repaired at an Audi dealer and you’ll need to be prepared for big bills, too: labour rates are among the highest around, although not usually as high as those charged by BMW and Mercedes dealers. You should be able to save a fair amount by using an independent specialist instead.
Saloon
The A6 is a big player in the executive car market. It ticks all the right boxes: strong, refined engines; beautiful, luxurious interior; prestigious image… more than enough to keep most company directors happy. Everything has been designed with comfort in mind. There’s masses of space for five adults, the driving position is multi-adjustable and the cabin is hushed, thanks to the car’s outstanding refinement. Every version has a rotary switch in the centre console linked to a dashboard screen to control functions such as the stereo. The car's handling is pretty impressive, too: it changes direction sharply, resists body roll and grips the road strongly. Front- and four-wheel-drive versions are available. Perhaps one of the strongest cards in the A6’s hand is its build quality. Everything has been polished and honed to such a degree that the Audi can claim to be one of the best-built executive cars around.
Running Costs
Fuel consumption ranges from respectable to scary, depending on which engine you choose, and the diesels should burn the smallest hole in your wallet. The 2.0 TDI has an official average of 44.8mpg, the 2.7 TDI manages 39.8mpg and the 3.0 V6 TDI 33.2mpg. The 2.0 petrol has a reasonable 34.5mpg economy, while the 2.4 V6 and 3.2 FSI return an average 28.2mpg. Pick a larger-capacity petrol and you’ll struggle to see 25mpg the S6 barely manages 21mpg on average. Insurance ratings are pretty high, ranging from group 15 for the base 2.0 to group 20 for the S6. Take your A6 to be repaired at an Audi dealer and you’ll need to be prepared for big bills, too: labour rates are among the highest around, although not usually as high as those charged by BMW and Mercedes dealers. Use an independent specialist instead, which will be much cheaper.