As you well know, the SUV type cars they dominate the market in virtually all sizes. There are those that are committed to a contained size to be city cars, others are compact to offer great versatility when used in the city and also when you have to go on a trip with the family and, on the other hand, there are top to replace the family sedans lifelong, that is, segments D and E. In short, they come in all sizes.
Personally, I am not a big fan of SUVs, since the only great advantage that I see in them compared to more traditional bodies is comfort when entering and exiting the car, as well as when it comes to seating children in booster seats. We have tried the Audi A6 Avant 50 TDI, the familiar bodywork of the German sedan with a 3-litre diesel engine and 286 hp (with Eco sticker), and has once again made it clear to us that a family saloon is infinitely more interesting than any SUV counterpart.
The eighth generation of Audi A6 It was officially presented at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, while months later the family body, which is called Avant, would see the light. Although in Spain the family variants do not have a great commercial pull, in many European countries they dominate over the base bodies (5 doors or saloon). And it is that, its practicality and versatility is much greater, having achieved in recent years some very successful aesthetics by the design teams.
Elegant, but with a sporty touch
Not so many years ago that family bodies left much to be desired in terms of hairsalon it means. The front part was identical to that of their brothers from which they were derived, but the last rear quarter of the bodywork seemed like a last minute addition. Luckily, the brands began to strive increasingly in that sense and the truth is that now they are, in some cases, almost more appetizing in family version.
But hey, going in order and starting with the front, there is no doubt that large surface grills are very fashionable. In this case we have the latest evolution of the famous singleframe with a hexagonal shape and no less than eight chrome slats, which accompany the outline of it. The license plate is located in the central part and a little higher up the four Audi rings proudly preside. On the sides you can see the frontal radars for state-of-the-art driving assistants and active safety systems.
In this case we have HD Matrix LED headlights, which are the most effective when it comes to creating the day during the night, and all this without dazzling the rest of the users thanks to the fact that they adapt at all times to the circumstances, not illuminating the rest of the vehicles in circulation. What does not convince me is that, further down, you bet on some "doubtful" air intakes instead of equipping fog lights as God intended. A question of fashion, I guess, but even if many brands do it, I don't see it justifiable.
If we change planes, side view makes it clear that we are dealing with a family vehicle. The entire front end is identical to that of an A6 sedan, but as we look towards the rear we find some chrome roof bars, a fairly long roof and new shapes in the rear windows and custody glass. However, the fall of the roof at the rear is not abrupt, but has been delicately worked and falls progressively.
La trasera view, as you can see in the different images, is very elaborate. In addition to the two angles of inclination of the gate, look at the shape of taillights. They are divided between the gate itself and the bodywork, being crossed by a fine chrome slat. I like less than alleged exhaust vents stay at that, supposed. Why not put some exhaust tails of a lifetime? I will never understand it.
Excess technology inside?
Audi has decided to give a change to the design of its cabins and bet on the digital screens, in addition to shiny surfaces. As we already saw in the Audi A8 (try here) and Audi A7 Sportback (try here), the interior style has changed towards a more technological line. Although there is nothing written about tastes, I think they "have gone" a little.
Personally I don't see much logic to the bottom screen of the central area (8,6 inches), I think they could have saved it, although its sensitivity is very good, since Forces you to look away a lot of the road because it is tactile (although with haptic response) and I think that the air conditioning should always be controlled with physical controls. With it, characters are also entered for, for example, browser instructions.
Nor does it end up making me too funny that it is used both glossy finish in the central part on the dashboard or on the steering wheel. It is noted that it is not like the one used in general brands, but equally catches dust and fingerprints, being very difficult to keep it very clean; something of vital importance in a car that in many cases will be used to transport people such as high-ranking company officials or politicians. I must also say that the surface around the gear lever has given me some strong reflections from the sun while driving.
But the truth is that there are more positive than negative points in here, because the multi-configurable Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster it looks really good thanks to the high resolution of its 12,3-inch screen. This system is complemented by a Head-Up Display of good surface and projection quality, with data such as the speed of the vehicle, the maximum limit of the road and some other road sign, the instructions of the navigator or the operation of the different assistants.
Meanwhile, the center screen It is the main one when making various adjustments to the vehicle, personalization, the browser or the audio equipment. When wearing the MMI Navigation plus it is 10,1 inches. Its quality is exquisite, as is its way of showing the top view and the different images from the exterior cameras. Through it, it is also managed the ambient lighting, which allows us to choose between dozens of shades and regulate their intensity. It is not something very important, but it does help to create a personal atmosphere.
Where there is no complaint is in the perceived quality. All the materials are very pleasant to the touch, and I'm not just talking about the upper part of the dashboard, but also the interior upholstery of the doors or even the roof; and the same happens with the controls that we use the most, that is, the turn signals, the electric windows, the volume knob or the handles to open the doors. The settings, unsurprisingly, are fantastic.
Very loose for four, but it is better that a fifth occupant does not sign up
Like all sedans, the Audi A6 offers a generous interior space. The front seats are spacious, very comfortable and offer a wide range of adjustments, all of them electric. In addition, both the driver and the passenger enjoy various types of massage with different intensities.
The rear seats enjoy remarkable space for legs and feet, good headroom and quite comfortable seats. They do have a clear design to accommodate two occupants, so the central square is narrow and not as practical as many might think seeing the exterior dimensions of the car. The transmission tunnel is very large and the backrest, which houses an armrest, is hard. As a positive point, we have adjustable climate control in these rear seats.
565 liters of trunk: Not very big but well usable
A section of vital importance for any family sedan is its Loading capacity, TRUE? The new Audi A6 Avant has a boot of 565 liters very usable, which is 35 liters more than in the four-door sedan. It is not a huge figure considering its almost 5 meters long, but it is very easy to load and unload and it is more than enough volume for normal family trips. In addition, we have many elements to hold the load.
From the trunk itself we can fold down the rear seats using handles that we find on the sides. If we do, the load capacity will go from the aforementioned 565 liters to 1.680 liters. On the other hand, even here behind the finishes and upholstery are very good.
From 163 to 340 hp and always with an Eco label
At the moment, the Audi A6 is available with four diesel engines -of 163, 204, 231 and 286 hp- and only one gasoline -340 hp-, although previously there was another more accessible and less powerful variant -245 hp- which is now not available (according to the brand's configurator in Avant, but in saloon). However, we believe that the 45 TFSI will be available again very soon.
One is expected to arrive soon plug-in hybrid variant and of course the version sports RS 6. The S6 versions for sedan and Avant bodies became official just a few days ago, surprisingly resorting to a 6 hp V350 TDI engine instead of a gasoline engine.
There are four and six cylinder engines.. The so-called 35 TDI and 40 TDI (163 and 204 hp diesel) are 2.0-liter tetracylindrical, while the 45 TDI, 50 TDI and 55 TFSI (diesel in the first two cases with 231 and 286 hp, and gasoline in the latter with 340 hp) are V-six with 3.0 liters of displacement.
They all have automatic transmission, although the box is S-tronic double clutch with 7 gears for four-cylinder engines, and Tiptronic converter type with 8 relations for the six cylinders. There are also front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variants with the quattro drive system.
One very important fact to keep in mind is that all of these propellers are 48-volt micro-hybrids. They are not hybrids to use, but this means that they enjoy the eco sticker of the DGT, with all the advantages that this entails even if we drive the gasoline engine with 340 CV. Quite an advantage to access large cities...
Performance of the Audi A6 Avant 50 TDI
As we have mentioned above, the unit that we have been able to test equips the 50 TDI diesel engine, which is a 6-liter V3.0. Develop your maximum power 286 CV at 3.500 rpm and has a maximum torque of 620 Nm between 2.250 and 3.000 laps. It comes with quattro all-wheel drive, which is standard with this engine, and the 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox.
Among its features, the technical file announces an acceleration of 0 to 100 km / h in 5,7 seconds, being able to travel “without problem” at an electronically limited maximum speed of 250 km/h. According to the new WLTP cycle, it has an approved mixed consumption of 7,2 l / 100 km.
At the wheel: Adapting to the environment and without hesitation when curves arrive
My favorite part of the whole test arrives, the dynamic behavior of the car. The Audi A6 Avant, far from what it may seem, is not a "boat". In this week of tests and during the hundreds of kilometers traveled, it has shown us that it really adapts to all kinds of situations and conditions, despite the fact that due to its bodywork it is not the most appropriate car to climb curbs (as SUVs do).
First of all, it is important to remember that we are facing the more powerful diesel mechanical version and that, in addition, our unit has the adaptive pneumatic suspension and the steering rear axle. Unfortunately I haven't been able to test other units yet, but both the suspension and the rear axle with steering have seemed spectacular.
The Audi A6 Avant is a fairly large car (almost 5 meters long), so the narrow streets They're not exactly his forte. However, thanks to the sensors, the external cameras and the steering rear axle, everything is much simpler and feels as agile as an A4 when parking in tight spaces. It's also amazing how well your tiptronic gearbox (it's a torque converter) at very low speed, as it's quite easy to measure the displacement of the car by its smoothness.
As expected, its habitat is the highway. With this car, the speed limits we have on the Spanish highways are really a pity. At 120 km/h it seems that we are practically standing still, because the Acoustic It is very successful (by tread, engine and aerodynamics) and the diesel engine turns at very low revolutions. A real shame, really, because it is a car with which you could drive very fast with total confidence.
In these fast lanes suspension It frankly soaks up just about every bump in its path, rocking back and forth very smoothly when the bump is big and not too sharp. Expansion joints and other more aggressive irregularities, obviously, are not channeled as well, but it is something that happens in all cars on the market -and even more so when they have large wheels with low-profile tires-. Depending on the driving mode and speed, it varies the height of the body by a few centimeters to improve grip or prioritize comfort.
The real surprise has come when we have activated the dynamic mode in the drive select and we have taken a walk to cheerful rhythm through mountain areas. The engine quickens its response, the gearbox engages a sportier setup, the steering adds weight, and of course the suspension stiffens. All this creates an environment with greater character.
I start linking curves and the work of the posterior axis is quickly perceived, which turns a few degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels when the speed is not very high. With this we obtain, on the one hand, a fastest address and, on the other, a rounding of the curve through the rear axle. This last is similar to a very slight skid in a jet car, so the agility in these slow turns is greatly increased.
It has also caught my attention that the inertias, with 2 tons of weight, barely appear when we have a very high rhythm. The body rolls quite flat, without big leans, which always gives a lot of confidence. It has really seemed to me that, without being sporty, the behavior of the Audi A6 when it has been asked for benefits has been quite rewarding. The only "snag" in that sense is that the Tiptronic transmission gives high priority to smoothness and comfort, so it is not as fast as the S tronic double clutch. Still, it's definitely the right transmission for this car.
And to conclude, the engine I thought it was excellent very refined and smooth, without noticing its diesel condition except when we accelerate to the limit and the engine revs above 3.500 laps, but it doesn't sound bad either. Although it seems strange to say it, its diesel sound is even interesting at certain times. With 286 hp and 620 Nm, there is performance more than enough at all times, so much so that very rarely we will take advantage of its maximum responsiveness.
Consumption of the Audi A6 Avant
Every Audi A6 or Audi A6 Avant customer surely has many trips on highways and motorways in mind. We have measured a consumption on the highway and at 120 km/h of just 6,5 l/100 km, which is very good for a car of almost 2 tons and about 300 hp. Walking around or looking for the maximum performance of its engine, as is logical, the average has risen, because here the drag of weight and traction is already more noticeable. In the end we have returned Audi its A6 Avant 50 TDI with a total mixed consumption of 7,8 l/100 km.
Conclusions
I have already mentioned on occasion that Audi is betting lately to provide their cars with greater dynamic behavior as he did before, although it is also true that he renounces comfort at no time. The tested Audi A6 Avant is the best proof of this, with a very well achieved compromise.
The 50 TDI version is probably a bit excessive for our country, where the backward legal limits on fast roads fall short of the bitumen for it. Although I have not been able to test the 40 TDI and 45 TDI versions, with 204 and 231 CV respectively, I think they will move the bodywork with sufficient ease.
Regarding if choose sedan or avant In the case of opting for an Audi A6, I am clear that I would bet on this one, on the Audi A6 Avant. Getting into high amounts of money, I suppose that paying a little more for the family bodywork will not be a problem at an economic level; but we also have a greater practicality and ease of cargo in the trunk, a few centimeters more headroom in the rear seats and length remains unchanged of the bodywork; so it will not be more complicated to park than the sedan.
Finally, I wanted to talk to you about rear axle steering and air suspension. About the first (it costs $2.415), if you are going to make a lot of city tours or you have to park regularly in narrow places, it is more than recommended, as it is also if you usually drive on very ratty roads. Where I have not felt a clear plus through this system is on the highway.
And ending with the adaptive air suspension (2.540 euros), If you are going to make many and long trips, it is highly recommended. The potholes that we find on highways and motorways will seem to have been repaired (except for the most sudden ones such as expansion joints or resonators). In the city it also absorbs speed bumps well, although miracles do not exist and since they are so aggressive they end up being felt.
The worst of all is that you begin to add a powerful engine, an extra here, another there, something that should be standard, they also sell it to you as an option, air suspension, sports finish, tires, rear axle with steering, etc., etc., and when you want to realize you have exceeded 100.000 euros by a few thousand…, as has happened to us in the case of the tested unit.
Equipment Audi A6 Avant
Base
- Graphite gray inserts
- Anti-glare interior mirror
- Leather multifunction steering wheel with paddles
- Dual zone air conditioning
- LED interior lighting
- Audi Drive Select
- Start and stop by button
- Audi parking system plus front and rear
- Speed governor and limiter
- lane departure warning
- Start&Stop system
- Longitudinal roof bars in anodized aluminum
- Electric opening and closing of the trunk
- Roof spoiler
Design Edition
- Chrome grill frame
- Matte titan single frame grille with chrome slats
- Side air inlets with chrome contours
- Matte titan rear diffuser with chrome insert
- Chrome exhaust trims
- 18-inch wheels
- Fragment aluminum decorative inserts
- Essence fabric/synthetic leather upholstery
- Glossy black buttons with haptic feedback
- Synthetic leather upper part of the dashboard
- Interior ambient lighting package
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Electrically folding exterior mirrors
Sport Edition
- Matt titan single frame grille with matt silver aluminum slats
- Side air intakes in matt black with matt aluminum silver application
- Sports front seats with electric lumbar adjustment
- Ritmo fabric upholstery
Exterior S line package (+€2.175)
- Specific front bumper
- Side air intakes in matte black honeycomb
- Titanium black diffuser
- Specific side skirts
- Illuminated door sill trims with letter S
- Emblems on the front wings
- S line roof spoiler
Audi A6 Avant Prices
| Motor | Change | Traction | Finish | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | Change | Traction | Finish | Price |
| 35 TDI 163 HP | S tronic | Lead | Base | 53.110 € |
| 40 TDI 204 HP | S tronic | Lead | Base | 55.310 € |
| 40 TDI 204 HP | S tronic | Quattro | Base | 58.600 € |
| 45 TDI 231 HP | Tiptronic | Quattro | Base | 65.650 € |
| 50 TDI 286 HP | Tiptronic | Quattro | Base | 69.650 € |
| 55 TFSI 340 HP | S tronic | Quattro | Base | 76.070 € |
| 35 TDI 163 HP | S tronic | Lead | Design Edition | 56.110 € |
| 40 TDI 204 HP | S tronic | Lead | Design Edition | 58.310 € |
| 40 TDI 204 HP | S tronic | Quattro | Design Edition | 61.600 € |
| 50 TDI 286 HP | Tiptronic | Quattro | Design Edition | 72.650 € |
| 55 TFSI 340 HP | S tronic | Quattro | Design Edition | 79.070 € |
| 35 TDI 163 HP | S tronic | Lead | Sport Edition | 56.110 € |
| 40 TDI 204 HP | S tronic | Lead | Sport Edition | 58.310 € |
| 40 TDI 204 HP | S tronic | Quattro | Sport Edition | 61.600 € |
| 45 TDI 231 HP | Tiptronic | Quattro | Sport Edition | 68.650 € |
| 50 TDI 286 HP | Tiptronic | Quattro | Sport Edition | 72.650 € |
Editor's opinion
- Editor's rating
- 4 star rating
- Excellent
- Audi A6 Avant 50 TDI 286 hp Tiptronic quattro
- Review of: Diego Avila
- Posted on:
- Last modification:
- Exterior design
- interior design
- front seats
- rear seats
- Trunk
- Spring Suspension
- Consumption
- Comfort
- Price
Pros
- Interior and ride quality
- Dynamic behavior in all circumstances
- Very tight consumption despite its high power
Cons
- Boot capacity could be a bit bigger
- Price and some optional items and systems should be standard
- An interior with too much screen and shiny surfaces
Image gallery
More information about this model
- Plazas 5
- Power 163 - 367 hp
- Consumer goods 1,1 - 8,4l/100km
- Assessment 4,6