2021 Audi RS 6 Review

　　

2021 Audi RS 6 Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Performance wagons are like catnip to a lot of performance enthusiasts. First off, there's a wagon's combination of sedan-like driving dynamics and SUV-like utility, which is sort of like a best-of-both-worlds situation. Then you add in the fact that wagons are a rare sight these days. Oh, and a performance wagon? Even rarer. All of which leads us to the sublimely intriguing 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi RS 6 4dr Wagon AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) 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

　　$260/mo  for RS 6 Base

　　RS 6 Base

　　4dr Wagon AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $109,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Compared to an A6 sedan or the A6 Allroad wagon, the RS 6 Avant gets a major power upgrade in the form of a twin-turbocharged 591-horsepower 4.0-liter V8. Mash the gas and this hot-rod wagon rips from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. Audi's engineers also went over the entire car front to back. Highlights include a special adaptive air suspension, grippier tires, more powerful brakes, flared fenders and sport front seats.

　　The RS 6 only has a few direct rivals. The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S wagon is the clearest competitor and similar in price, overall performance, features, and passenger and cargo space. The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is another alternative, though you should expect to pay significantly more if you want one of the V8-powered variants. So is this new Audi RS 6 Avant for you? Check out our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth review.

　　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.

　　Great

　　8.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the RS 6 drive? Few cars will make you giggle quite as much as the RS 6. For starters, it sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. That's quicker than most dedicated sports cars we test and roughly on par with rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz E 63 wagon. Braking and handling performance are equally impressive. Few cars on the road feel as athletic and sure-footed as the RS 6, which is somewhat shocking given this Audi's nearly 2.5-ton curb weight. We wish there was a bit more steering feedback, but there's enough there to feel confident at any speed.

　　More broadly, the RS 6 is a peach to drive around town. The 4.0-liter V8 is smooth and powerful and pairs well with the smooth-shifting transmission that always picks the right gear. The brakes are strong and easy to control for smooth stops. In our emergency braking test, our RS 6 test vehicle stopped from 60 mph in just 109 feet. The RS 6 is stunning in its all-around competence.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the RS 6? The engineers at Audi Sport have worked some real magic here. Despite our test car's optional 22-inch wheels, the ride was smooth and relaxed, with most road imperfections smoothed out or at least well muted. Put the RS 6 into Dynamic mode and the air suspension and adaptive dampers stiffen up, but even then it's not backbreaking. Helping comfort are the RS 6's supportive but comfortable seats. We'd like a bit more adjustment, but we found both the front and rear seats to be pretty excellent. 

　　The RS 6 is surprisingly quiet too, making it far more inconspicuous than you might expect. The interior is whisper-quiet even on the highway. Even noise from the twin-turbo V8 is toned down compared to what you might expect. We liked the standard four-zone automatic climate control system too.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? As you might expect with any modern Audi, the RS 6's interior is clean and stylish, with a minimalist design that does away with most buttons and knobs. One of the two touchscreen displays control settings for things such as climate control. As slick as it all looks, it's not as easy to use as an interface with physical controls because it requires taking your eyes off the road longer than we'd like.

　　But that's really our biggest complaint about the interior. The RS 6 is spacious, with the wagon's roofline a big plus for taller rear passengers. Visibility is good in all directions thanks to a relatively low window line and tons of glass, helping to reduce blind spots. The backup camera isn't quite as good as the ones in some rivals, but it's not a deal-breaker either. The steering wheel feels a bit large for something this sporty, but the driving position itself is excellent.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The RS 6 uses the latest and greatest tech and driver aids Audi has to offer. The infotainment has a mild learning curve, but we think it's one of the best systems out there. Both the digital instrument cluster and head-up display can show navigation directions, meaning you don't have to switch back and forth between screens to adjust the radio or media settings. For phone connectivity, the RS 6 has Apple CarPlay (with wireless connectivity), Android Auto and multiple USB-A and -C ports.

　　Audi's driver aids work well. The smooth adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems keep the RS 6 pointed straight without noticeable or clumsy inputs from the assist systems. The surround-view camera makes parking much easier.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? This is one of the bigger selling points of the wagon, or Avant in Audi speak. With 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, the RS 6 has more than double the cargo space of the A6/S6 sedan. Fold the second-row seats down and it opens up the cargo space even further. While it's not quite as spacious as the Mercedes-AMG E 63 wagon, the RS 6 is roomier than the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo.

　　Small-item storage up front isn't as generous. The center console is shallow, and the two-touchscreen setup means there's no bin in front of the cupholders for sunglasses or other small things. That means using the cupholder, which is far from ideal.

　　The RS 6 does score well when it comes to car seats. There are child safety seat anchors on the outside seats, and the long roof makes maneuvering in the back seat relatively easy.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Audi RS 6 Avant gets 17 mpg combined (15 city/22 highway). That's about average for the class. We observed 20.2 mpg on our 115-mile mixed-driving test route, which is impressive given just how tempting it is to dip into the throttle.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the RS 6 a good value? The Audi RS 6 Avant starts at around $110,000 when new. That's not cheap, but it does undercut the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S wagon slightly. As soon as you close the door on the RS 6, you see where the money has gone. The build quality is excellent, with no flaws, squeaks or rattles to speak of. Audi also nails the little things, such as the click of the window switches.

　　The warranty isn't quite as impressive. Audi offers a four-year/50,000-mile basic and drivetrain warranty and 12 years of rust protection. That's average for the class but less coverage than some rivals provide. Audi also includes four years/50,000 miles of roadside assistance.

　　

Wildcard

9.5/10

　　Like a lot of high-performance cars based on more mainstream products, the RS 6 sails under the radar. Sure, it's got a nearly 600-horsepower V8 and one of the best all-wheel-drive systems around to spread that power evenly to the pavement. But it's quiet and subdued most of the time, especially given its mild exhaust note. The wagon shape gives that extra bit of cool that you'll only find on a handful of cars. It's so much fun too. There's a comical amount of power, and it feels endlessly entertaining on a twisty back road.

　　

Which RS 6 does zzdcar recommend?

The RS 6 is only available in a single, well-equipped trim level. We would highly suggest opting for the driver aids included in the Driver Assistance and Audi Side Assist packages as well.

　　

2021 Audi RS 6 models

There's only one trim level on the 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant. This fast wagon is powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (591 hp, 590 lb-ft) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. As with other Audi Sport performance models, all-wheel drive is standard.

　　RS 6 Avant

　　The RS 6 comes very well equipped from the get-go. Standard features include:

　　21-inch wheels with summer performance tires Sport-tuned differential for improved traction All-wheel steering (improves high-speed stability and shortens turning radius to ease parking) Sport-tuned adaptive air suspension Matrix LED headlights Hands-free tailgate Panoramic sunroof Keyless entry and ignitionInterior and technology features include:

　　Leather upholstery Heated and ventilated power-adjustable front sport seats Power-adjustable tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster Four-zone automatic climate control Dual touchscreen displays (10.1-inch top and 8.6-inch lower) with navigation Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay Wireless charging pad with phone signal booster Bang & Olufsen audio system Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the RS 6 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)The RS 6 is available with a handful of options. These include:

　　Side Assist package Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Driver Assistance package Features of the Side Assist package Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Executive package Additional leather trim Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Heated rear seats Soft-close doors Upgraded Bang & Olufsen audio system Carbon-ceramic brakes (improve high-performance braking) Black Optic and Carbon Optic styling packages

　　

2021 RS 6 Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$109,000
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$260/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles