ART OF THE ESTATE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_AudiA6Avant_2011

By Andy Enright

Introductionword count: 149

The Audi A6 is one of those rare saloon cars that's probably more famous as an estate. There aren't too many others. The Volvo 850, the Subaru Legacy and, well, after that we're struggling. Perhaps the A6 Avant works so well because we think of its key rivals, the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes E-Class so dominantly as saloons. The A6 Avant has enjoyed a lot of attention from Audi down the years, being spun off into all-terrain and performance models that were denied the saloon version. In 2011, Audi brought us the C7 generation of the A6 Avant. It retained the Avant's trademark carrying capacity and all-wheel drive options, but this time round it was lighter and a good deal more efficient than its predecessor. Does it make the cut as a used purchase or is demand too strong to generate much in the way of bargains?

Modelsword count: 15

5dr estate (3.0, 4.0 petrol, 3.0 diesel [base, SE, S line, S6, RS6, Black Edition])

Historyword count: 273

The A6 Avant rolled into UK dealers in spring 2011, with four engines being offered. The big seller was the front-wheel drive 177PS 2.0-litre TDI diesel, with the 3.0-litre TDI diesel available in either 204 or 245PS guises. There was also a 300PS 3.0-litre TFSI petrol engine. Quattro all-wheel drive was offered, this version being uprated via the fitment of a crown gear centre differential and a torque-vectoring function. The transmissions hinged around manual gearboxes with Multitronic CVT or manual for front-wheel drive cars, and S tronic twin clutch options for quattro versions. In January 2012, the 313PS BiTDi 3.0-litre diesel engine was launched for the A6, mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission. We also got the 414PS Audi S6 quattro with its downsized 4.0-litre engine actually offering about 20PS less than its predecessor. Brave move. November 2012 saw the launch of the Black Edition trim, with features such as 20-inch alloys, a BOSE sound system, sports seats with black Valcona leather, piano black inlays in the cabin and a black finish for the grille and number plate surround. Spring 2013 ushered in the A6 Hybrid, powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine mated to a 53bhp electric motor, which resulted in a combined 242bhp.The ballistic Audi RS 6 Avant appeared in summer 2013, powered by a 4.0-litre V8 TFSI engine good for 560PS. In February 2014 the 177PS 2.0-litre diesel was pensioned off and replaced by a 190PS 2.0-litre diesel in a model badged the A6 ultra, bringing improved efficiency. The A6 Avant was replaced at the start of 2015 with a facelifted version first unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

What You Getword count: 268

If anything, the Avant's styling is rather better resolved than that of the A6 saloon's. Where the four door car has an aggressive front and somewhat apologetic rear end lines, the Avant looks better balanced, to this eye at least. The steeply-raked rear window hints that this Audi is more concerned with style than ultimate carrying capacity but most buyers in this class will forgo a few litres of space for a slinkier shape. There's plenty of space to play with inside the A6 Avant though. The wheelbase has been massively extended over its predecessor with resultant benefits when it comes to interior room. The A6 Avant has a capacity of 565-litres, which can be increased to 1,680-litres by folding down the rear seat backs. The load bay has luggage lashing eyes, side restraining straps, bag hooks, a double cargo floor, a rail luggage fixing system, a dirt-resistant tray and roof rails as standard. A through-load facility and a fixing set that uses the two standard rails in the cargo floor are optional. The luggage compartment in this Avant can even be opened automatically simply by waving your foot to a pair of sensors beneath the rear bumper if the optional advanced key feature is added. Even the entry-level Avant SE includes alloy wheels, leather upholstery, cruise and front and rear parking controls, SD-based satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone preparation, split/folding rear seats and light and rain sensors. S line models add larger 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, sports suspension, upgraded Valcona leather upholstery and an exclusive S line exterior and interior styling treatment.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227