04 Feb 05
Those who do will not find that the A6 matches an A8 in terms of luxury and refinement. Certainly, the air suspension (a near-£1,500 option on virtually every model) endows the Avant with a decent enough ride, but it's still not quite the measure of an A8's (and not much better than the standard coil-sprung set-up), while tyre roar exceeds that of the bigger saloon's and perceived interior quality also lags behind. I dare say that in truth the two models are built to almost the same exacting standards, but some of the A6's buttons and switches, notably those scattered near the MMI (multi-media interface) screen, are of merely average tactile quality.
The quality gap has not therefore quite been bridged, but against its accepted rivals, the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5-Series Touring, the Avant's competitiveness improves. Interior quality and refinement is comparable, although the Mercedes exudes a marginally better feel of solidity through superior cabin materials. For me, it's the A6 Avant's upper dash and the instrument binnacle that spoils it: the grey plastic is below par and the egg-shaped dial surrounds are a smidgeon too, um, egg-shaped. Meanwhile, the BMW is a more accomplished drive, more agile and poised, and its steering more responsive. The A6 is stable, but feels less inclined to turn into corners, and its steering is accurate but lethargic.
Nevertheless, the A6 Avant is a fine car, with a range of exceptional engines and an extremely clever load bay. Engines first. The base model (for now) costs £26,505 and is a 2.4-litre petrol with 177bhp; it's sonorous and powerful enough to propel the estate's 1600kg or so bulk from 0-62mph in 9.2sec in manual form, and retains much of its sprightliness as an auto. The next petrol motor up the ladder is a 3.2-litre FSI, priced from £32,605. Like the 2.4 it's an aluminium V6, but with direct-injection and 255bhp, 62mph arrives in just 7.1 seconds. And from £44,805, there's the 4.2 which, unlike the other petrols, is available only in quattro four-wheel-drive form and only with an auto 'box. The gnarly V8 with 355bhp squeezes the dash to 62mph to a very respectable 6.2 seconds; it's governed, like the 3.2-litre, to 155mph.
The A6's diesel engines, however, are the real action is in this segment, with around 75 percent of British A6 Avant buyers likely to opt for an oil-burner. Sad to report, then, that we haven't yet been able to drive a 3.0-litre turbodiesel or the 2.0-litre unit that will likely become the best-selling model in the UK. But unless you must have four-wheel drive, we can't imagine finding ourselves recommending a (quattro-standard) 3.0-litre over the new (front-drive-only) 2.7-litre unit, which replaces my brother's 2.5, and develops 180bhp.
