2020 Audi A6 allroad Review

　　

2020 Audi A6 allroad Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Station wagons have nearly vanished from the marketplace. But one automaker, Audi, seems to have discovered the Land of Wagons That Time Forgot. After a 15-year hiatus from North America, the Audi A6 Allroad has returned to the lineup. (It was simply called the Allroad Quattro back then.) The 2020 Audi A6 Allroad is based on the Audi A6 sedan but designed for light off-road exploring with a higher ground clearance, plastic wheel arches and standard roof rails.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Audi A6 allroad Premium Plus 4dr Wagon AWD w/3.0 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$208/mo  for A6 allroad Premium Plus

　　A6 allroad Premium Plus

　　Premium Plus 4dr Wagon AWD w/3.0 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) (Most Popular) - $65,900 MSRPPrestige 4dr Wagon AWD w/3.0 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $70,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　There is also added emphasis on style and technology. The Allroad has a standard air suspension and an advanced 48-volt mild hybrid system providing boost to the turbocharged V6 engine. Audi's latest MMI infotainment system is standard as well. Is it an off-roader? Not quite. But this is one station wagon that makes a statement.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the A6 allroad drive? The A6 Allroad is only available with one engine — Audi's 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 — and it's the party piece of this big wagon. At our test track, the A6 Allroad zipped from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, a very quick time for the class. Its seven-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and smoothly. Unfortunately, it falls behind in other areas of the driving experience.

　　The Allroad's brakes feel spongy in daily driving, the steering is vague, and handling is compromised by the higher-than-average ride height and off-road-oriented tires. Off-road capability is better than average for the segment, with an adjustable suspension that gives the Allroad more ground clearance, but the long front and rear overhangs limit capability overall.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the A6 allroad? An ultra-quiet interior, comfortable seats and smooth highway ride make for an excellent combination in the Allroad. The optional Contour Seating package provides supportive and well-padded front seats, while the rear seats are just as well suited to long drives. The standard air suspension and big tire sidewalls combine to absorb almost all bumps, big and small.

　　Thanks to the optional dual-pane acoustic glass, the Allroad's interior is whisper quiet. The climate control cools things down quickly inside the large cabin, but there is a pretty steep learning curve for the touchscreen controls. Heated and ventilated seats work well too, so achieving the perfect temperature inside is easy.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Allroad's cabin is spacious, with plenty of room for adults in all four main seating positions. There's lots of headroom, legroom and shoulder room — it's at the head of the class in this regard. The driving position gives you a commanding view of the road thanks to the Allroad's higher-than-standard ride height. That higher ride height also makes it easier to get in and out of.

　　Outward visibility is good, though the large front pillars impede the view somewhat. But the side and rearview windows are large, and the Allroad comes standard with an excellent 360-degree camera for fitting into tight spaces. It take a bit of time, but after a few days in the A6, all the controls feel relatively intuitive to use and are easily within reach.

　　

Technology

9.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The dual-screen infotainment and climate system can seem daunting, but tech-savvy users willing to adjust to the lack of physical buttons will get the hang of it after a few days and it becomes very easy to use. Driver aids such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring work well too.

　　The Virtual Cockpit configurable instrument cluster is genuinely useful in putting maps as well as vehicle and engine speed data right where they're needed. It's augmented by an extremely crisp full-color head-up display and a powerful standard audio system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and connect quickly, but if you don't want to connect, the A6's native voice command system is easy to use and it understands natural language.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Compared to a standard A6, the Allroad wagon has impressive trunk space and 1.4 inches of additional rear headroom. But compared to other luxury wagon rivals, the Allroad is merely average. Its trunk offers 30 cubic feet of storage space, but wagons from Mercedes and Volvo offer more space.

　　Small-item storage is average too, with a few cupholders, an adequate-size center console and slender door pockets. The rear seat has enough space to fit most child seats, with easy-to-locate anchor and tether points in the outboard seating positions.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates that the A6 Allroad will return 22 mpg combined (20 city/26 highway). That's a little bit below average for luxury wagons with upgraded powertrains, but during our test, the A6 was relatively efficient. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation loop, it achieved 25.8 mpg.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the A6 allroad a good value? The A6 Allroad, like its sedan brother, offers an extremely well-built cabin with attractive materials that are pleasant to see and to touch. Even against rivals from BMW and Mercedes, the Audi feels top-notch. Fuel economy estimates are average for the segment, as is the Audi's four-year/50,000-mile warranty.

　　Our test vehicle was the top trim, Prestige, and along with a few options it checked in with a price of $74,940. It comes with several desirable safety features, as well as a long list of creature comforts. However, that price is pretty high when you consider that a similarly equipped Mercedes E 450 wagon comes in nearly $2,000 lower and a Volvo V90 Cross Country with similar equipment is around $15,000 less.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　You might have fun tossing the Allroad around on a dirt trail, but when it comes to truly difficult off-road terrain, you'll want something with a bit more ground clearance. And because of all the off-road oriented equipment, the Allroad is significantly less fun to drive on a curvy back road than the standard A6. Powerful turbocharged V6 acceleration is always there to make it exciting on the highway, and its understated, classy looks always make it feel upscale, but the A6 Allroad isn't as exciting or as practical as we'd like.

　　

Which A6 allroad does zzdcar recommend?

Buying an A6 Allroad is straightforward since there are only two trim levels. The base Premium Plus is a solid pick, but we suggest going for the Prestige if you can. Its extra driver safety features and luxury add-ons are worth the higher price.

　　

2020 Audi A6 allroad models

The A6 Allroad comes in two trims: Premium Plus and Prestige. Each is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine good for 335 horsepower. It's matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

　　Premium Plus

　　Standard feature highlights include:

　　Adaptive air suspension (can adjust ride firmness and ride height) 20-inch wheels Heated front seats Digital gauge cluster display (Audi Virtual Cockpit) Dual-screen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration Four-zone climate control Bang & Olufsen premium sound system Panoramic sunroof Power liftgate Roof rails Top-view camera system with 360-degree view Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)Prestige

　　Takes the Premium Plus's standard features and adds:

　　Full-color head-up display Power soft-closing doors Dual-pane acoustic glass Ventilated front seats and heated rear seats Ambient lighting Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Rear window shadesMany of the Prestige's extras are optional for the Premium Plus. Exclusive optional features for the Prestige include:

　　All-wheel steering 20th Anniversary Edition package with special interior materials Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced Sound System

　　

2020 A6 allroad Highlights

Trim: Premium PlusPrestigePremium Plus

　　

Base MSRP	$65,900
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$208/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles