2016 Audi RS6 Avant Performance Review

So this is the RS6 Avant, and the recipe remains pretty much the same as before. A big-engined version of the A6 Avant, all-wheel drive, auto ‘box. But the execution is different. Cleverer. A 4.0-litre V8 instead of a 5.0-litre V10. Better balance. More thoughtful deployment of resources. Now, the previous bi-turbo V10 was an excellent express train for mauling Das Autobahn, but tended towards the bloodless when attempting a corner (it required extreme conditions to really show you what it was capable of), and fuelling it was like tipping buckets of unleaded down a car-shaped storm drain. So this version attempts to deal with some of those issues.

The big twin-turbo V8 delivers searing acceleration and instant responses throughout the rev range, while full throttle acceleration delivers a hard-edged engine note and addictive pops and bangs from the standard sports exhaust. However, while the RS6 is explosive in a straight line, the light steering lacks the feedback to inspire confidence that the four-wheel-drive system can use all of the engine’s power.

However, like the RS7, the real bonus of the RS6 Avant is that the car’s electronics allow you to dial everything back to make the car just as comfortable a cruiser as a top-spec diesel A6 Avant. Combine this with a spacious five-seater cabin, a generous 565-litre boot and a lower list price than the RS7, and it could be all the fast family car you could ever need.