2023 Audi RS 6 Wagon

　　

2023 Audi RS 6 Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　, rating written byDan FrioVehicle 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.

　　The 2023 Audi RS 6 Avant answers an automotive question we're sure no one asked, at least in the context of American buyers: Who wants a high-performance wagon, let alone one as comically fast and punchy as the RS 6? Audi must think there's a case, or it just enjoys being among the only automakers to offer a V8-powered, 591-horsepower wagon capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 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

　　$276/mo  for RS 6 Base

　　RS 6 Base

　　4dr Wagon AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $121,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Yet the RS 6 does all the other wagon things too. It's roomy, quiet and comfortable, seats five, and offers 30 cubic feet of cargo space, nearly as much as most compact SUVs. All-wheel drive helps put the prodigious power to the ground, while all-wheel steering spices up handling around tight turns. It comes remarkably well equipped, as you might expect given its six-figure price, but offers several options to upgrade interior and appearance. Not that we'd bother with the latter. The RS 6's long, low-slung profile is as good as it gets.

　　If you like it and can afford it, we don't suggest waiting. High-performance wagons don't last long in America. The Cadillac CTS-V bowed out in 2014 after just four years. Clean, low-mileage examples now list for more than $80,000. Mercedes-Benz, too, appears done with its high-performance AMG E 63 S wagon, last seen in 2021. Mercedes announced a limited-run "final edition" E 63, likely available next year, but unlikely to reach the States. So while we think buying an RS 6 is smart money, be sure to read our Expert Rating below to see if it's right for you.

　　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-AMG 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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below