Audi A6 Allroad 2009 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $108,900
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): metallic paint $1755; Technik package (includes power tailgate, MP3 interface, MMI Navigation plus) $3675; tyre pressure monitor $252; xenon headlights $2100; high-beam assist $327
Crash rating: not tested
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.5
CO2 emissions (g/km): 199
Also consider: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, BMW 5 Series 530i Touring

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0?
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

About our ratings

Unusually, my reaction to the first drive home in the A6 Allroad was to lift the bonnet and run an appreciative eye over the engine.

Why so? Because the 3.0 V6 turbodiesel's unruffled smoothness, lusty response and noticeable quietness had already engendered admiration. Portents of good week's driving ahead, methinks. Besides, even the mechanically illiterate can see this well-dressed engine is worth a good look.

Unlike many makers today, Audi is at pains to present its engines as nature and expressive engineers intended, without hiding visual (high)lights beneath gormless plastic mouldings. Come to think of it, that attitude pretty much characterizes the A6 Allroad. What you see is what you get.

There may be other well heeled all-wheel-drive wagons that are even bigger, even more opulent, even more offroadable, but the A6 Allroad strikes a self-assured balance between performance, fuel economy, driving dynamics, accommodations, cargo capability and tangibly high quality throughout.

Now, if you're wondering where the new 3.0 TDI fits within A6 Allroad range, be aware that it is the A6 Allroad range.

Previously the Allroad offered 2.7-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 petrol engines, and a 2.5 V6 TDI. But earlier this year the new 3.0 TDI was given sole charge of the Allroad.

The 3.0 TDI didn't win that appointment just on rugged good looks. Its qualifications are such that it also gets guernsies in the Audi A4, A5, A6, A8, Q5 and Q7 line-ups. Volkswagen and Porsche are fans too, for the 3.0 TDI has sufficient spirit to bring respectable fuel economy to the hefty, separated-at-birth, Touareg and Cayenne twins.

The specs tell you that the 3.0 TDI makes 176kW maximum power from 4000-4400rpm, while affording a solid 500Nm of torque from 1500-3000rpm. In this respect the Audi 3.0 TDI oomphatically holds the well regarded Mercedes and BMW 3.0-litre turbodiesels to account.

On the performance front, Audi credits the Allroad with 233km/h top speed -- reported only for academic interest's sake. More to the point, judging by the wagon's vigorous back-slapping thrust from standing start, Audi's claim of 0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds is believable. And not bad for an automatic AWD wagon weighing (even with aluminium bonnet and front guards) almost 1900kg.

It scores 7.5L/100km consumption in the official drive-cycle but the ADR-test fuel economy results aren't what you'd call real-worldly. We're certainly not complaining about the very credible 8.4L/100km averaged in our week's over-600km of allsorts driving conditions, however. At that rate, an occasional appreciative smug smile is allowed. Or unavoidable.

Moreover, the engine is a soul of discretion. Apart from a light mumble of diesel-speak at idle, the V6 usually utterly quiet. Even when working fast and hard, it's charitably unobtrusive. Always charmingly smooth too, yet punchily accelerative from all speeds.

Complementing the V6 to form a dynamic duo, the highly cultured tiptronic automatic slurs luxuriously as it rifles through the six speeds with almost stepless dexterity. If preferred, manual selections can be introduced via the floor lever or steering wheel paddles.

From the autobox, the quattro drive is distributed to the front and rear axles via a self-locking mechanical centre differential. Front-to-rear differentation is 'tolerated' says Audi during cornering and braking. But in other circumstances the usual 50:50 front/rear torque split can vary up to 75:25 to either end depending which bias best does the business.

The quattro all-wheel drive system plays a large part in enabling the Allroad to live up to its name, especially in treacherously wet, snowy, muddy conditions when tyre grip is marginal. Still, in terms of job descriptions, the distinction seems to escape some pundits that all-road doesn't imply off-road, let alone cross-country.

Rough roads certainly come within the Audi's ambit. They're taken in stride thanks to versatile air-suspension, but a Range Rover it's not.

The Allroad puts five suspension modes at your disposal. For example, selecting so-called dynamic (sports) mode lowers the Audi to 125mm ground clearance for agile handling's sake. Automatic mode raises the body 15mm higher, but returns it to 125mm stance in over-120km/h cruising. Comfort mode keeps the body at its 'automatic' height regardless of speed.

The allroad setting brings 175mm ground clearance; reduced by 15mm at 80 km/h, and by a further 20mm at 120km/h. And Manual lift mode maintains 185mm ground clearance at speeds up to 35km/h; above which the control reverts to the allroad situation/s.

The normal use the air-suspension automatically maintains ride height and level attitude regardless of how the Allroad is laden. Sensors and an electronically controlled compressor cause extra air to be pumped into the springs when the vehicle is heavily laden, and discharged (softened) when the load is lightened.

The ride quality combines comforting absorbency with disciplined composure while adapting to the prevailing road surface and driving style. It all works just like Audi says...

So, by design, does the luggage security system. There, the feet of a stout telescopic rail are contained within two longitudinal tracks spaced wide between the rear floor's wheel arches. The rail is placed against your cargo (at an angle if necessary) and latched to prevent movement. If needed, the provided luggage net can also be used.

Of such attentions to detail are the Allroad made. Of course its undeniably handsome, head-turning styling helps. As do the features and equipment (also the inevitable range of options), capped by the sheer depth of visual and tactile quality throughout the whole package. It feels as good as it looks, and as it drives.

Which isn't to say it's perfect. However, the shortfalls are fairly few and relatively minor. The steering, for instance, is accurate but only rarely and barely communicative in road feel. Coarse-chip surfaces make their presence heard in the background. Brake feel and reaction are a touch zealous at low speeds.

Then, at the bottom line there's the $108,900 price. Plus dealer and statutory charges remember, plus $$$ options.

On the bright side, the A6 Allroad is only about $400 above the A6 3.0 TDI quattro sedan. It's also under-cuttingly competitive against the rear-drive only wealth wagons from BMW (petrol) and yet-to-arrive new diesel E-Class Mercedes... And let's face it, once you reach six figures price isn't often the deal-decider. Those who can afford it, just do.

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