Audi A6 allroad 2015: Launch Review

The term 'sports utility vehicle' could easily be applied to the new Audi A6 allroad. It's sporty, with loads of squirt off the line, and practical too with a cavernous boot, jacked-up suspension and a go-anywhere attitude.

But for whatever reason it's technically not an SUV – but Audi reckons that's precisely what owners love about it.

There used to be a stigma attached to owning an SUV (do you even go off-road bro?) which has virtually evaporated, so does that mean the A6 allroad is obsolete?

Not according to Audi, and hence the arrival of this all-new model, which brings with it an almighty tech upgrade, with 4G Internet, Google Maps sat-nav integration, super intelligent matrix LED headlights and a supremely efficient V6 engine.

Like any six-figure Audi, the $111,900 (plus on-road costs) A6 allroad quattro has a sumptuous interior, its Milano leather seats – with full electric adjustment and heating – keeping everyone cosseted. The lack of ventilated cooling in the seats isn't good enough though. There are sub-$40K Hyundai's that get it...

But factor in four-zone automatic climate control and other goodies like active lane assist, LED headlights, auto-dimming and folding mirrors, push-button powered tailgate and the mother of all infotainment systems and mostly everything required of the driver is simplified.

It's by no means a small wagon at almost five metres long (4938mm) but parking it facilitated via a sensor suite comprising 360-degree surround vision, a reverse camera and front and rear sensors.

Naturally the car can park itself, if you're feeling really lazy.

Passenger space is ample for five people and like any good SUV the A6 allroad's boot is plenty spacious, with 565 litres that expands to 1680 litres with the rear seats folded.

That's about enough room for a useless flatpack couch that takes a whole weekend and a PHD in civil engineering to assemble. The boot also has a number of useful shopping bag hooks, one touch seat-fold latches and rails if you want cargo storage partitions.

One of my favourite things about the interior of this lavish-but-rugged German is the upgraded MMI or multi-media interface. If you like your electronic gadgets you'll probably dig this – the pop-out high-res central screen makes use of Google Maps, overlaying the satellite navigation with satellite vision of your surroundings. It looks great, thanks in large part to a more powerful processor, and planning and plotting routes is effortless, especially with voice input.

And the kicker is the full-colour screen wedged into the instrument panel, which can duplicate the pretty navigation.

The interior design is typically Audi: conservatively stylish, ergonomic and comfortable. And although the MMI input system is beginning to look a little busy compared to some of its peers, it's well labelled and easy to use.

And how does it drive? Very nicely.

Although the new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine is less powerful now, it uses significantly less fuel, emits less carbon dioxide and is Euro 6 compliant.

Until recently, however, it's been rare to see a mainstream German engine sacrifice power, this particular engine losing 20kW and 80Nm, dropping from 180kW/580Nm to 160kW/500Nm. But this is a trend that's likely to continue as the domineering European and Californian emissions regulations tighten towards 2020.

Audi reckons the power bleed sees the car accelerate from 0-100km/h more than half a second slower, from 6.6sec in the previous A6 allroad to 7.3, but the car is still rapid and delivers its torque in a gorgeously smooth but powerful wave that retain a mild push in the chops when you're on it.

The seven-speed S tronic transmission is a great partner for the refined V6 engine, shifting smoothly when cruising and snapping through the gears with haste when its hammer time. The radar cruise control also contributes to a relaxing drive; fire and forget.

Although performance is down on paper, efficiency has improved from 6.3 to 5.6L/100km. Carbon dioxide emissions are lower too, from 165 to 149g/km. Put another way, you'll travel further on each tank of fuel.

Ride comfort is very good on sealed roads and above average on gravel, the continuously adaptive dampers and adjustable air suspension earning their keep. The air suspension has four levels and the car is smart enough to adjust them by itself to suit the scenario, from a 185mm maximum ground clearance for off-roading to 125mm for aero-efficient highway cruising.

Both the ride height and damping levels can be manually adjusted too – not so for the quattro AWD system. It apportions torque 40:60 front to rear and the full-time 4WD system can shunt up to 75 per cent torque to the front or 85 per cent to the rear axle when needed.

We only tested the quattro system on around 30km of gravel roads in Darwin and it was just as predictable when on bitumen. Perhaps a little stiff over the really rutted, corrugated sections, but with so much traction the stability control never kicked in – even when antagonised.

The Audi A6 allroad has rudimentary underbody protection and plastic cladding on the wheel arches fortify the body a little, plus there's hill descent control and tilt angle display systems. But apart from that no other offroad systems are available.

Although it difficult to tell from a distance, the new A6 allroad benefits from all visual updates seen on the regular A6 and I really like the metallic brown paint job. Naturally there are loads of options too, with the big ticket items the matrix LED headlights ($2300), full body paint ($1450), BOSE surround sound system ($1950) and a panoramic sunroof ($2980).

When Audi first launched the A6 allroad almost 15 years ago, it appealed to wagon-hungry buyers in Europe who wanted something capable enough to navigate snowy Alps, traverse boggy valleys and carve its way along the road less travelled.
And it did in the lap of luxury.

Today the story is no different, except for more luxury, more technology and a more efficient and user-friendly powertrain. Will buyers pick one of these over a BMW X5 or a Mercedes-Benz M-Class? It's unlikely, and the forecast sales of just 10 units a month reflect that fact.

As the only A6 wagon offered in Australia, the big allroad is a unique proposition. It has the capability of an SUV but doesn't feel as top heavy and handles more like a car. So if you're looking for an SUV that's not really an SUV and don't mind paying for the privilege, put this one on your short list.

Also consider:
>> BMW X5 (from $84,200 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz M-Class (from $83,900 plus ORCs)

See new Audi A4 allroad review