After seven years on the market, the seventh-generation Audi A6, also known as the C7, was finally retired in 2018, making way for a much-improved midsize sedan from the Ingolstadt-based automaker. Redesigned to look more modern inside and out and fitted with all the fancy tech that it needs to go against the competition, including semi-autonomous capability. With the A6 sedan unveiled to the world at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, Audi quietly revealed the wagon version, also known as the A6 Avant.

Just like its predecessor, the Avant takes all of its design features and tech from the sedan model. The key difference here is the longer roof and the bigger trunk, which makes the Avant more practical for drivers who haul stuff on a regular basis and an ideal family vacation car. It's as practical as any midsize wagon out there, but it comes with premium comfort features and the latest safety technology. Does it have what it takes to compete against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon and the BMW 5 Series Touring? Let's find out in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi A6 Avant.

2019 Audi A6 Avant

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2019 Audi A6 Avant
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 286
  • Torque: 457
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

2019 Audi A6 Avant Exterior

- Sharper design - Bigger front grille - Standard LED lights - Aggressive bumper - Stylish rear end

Much like its predecessor, the Avant model is heavily based on the sedan, with the two being virtually identical from the nose toward the C-pillar. Taking cues from the A7, the A6 Avant has a sharper overall design and a sportier front end. The Singleframe grille is not only larger but also wider just above the bumper and descends farther toward the ground. The LED headlamps look aggressive with extremely sharp corners toward the grille and angular shapes toward the fenders and the bumper.

The bumper vents are both larger and sharper, with the standard model looking almost as aggressive as the outgoing RS6 version. The fake honeycomb vents and the grey inserts at the corners add to the wagon's sporty front end.

Onto the sides, the grocery getter benefits from the simple yet stylish design of the sedan. The belt line is rather discreet and blends into the door panels before becoming a bit more aggressive on the rear fenders. Despite the wagon configuration, the A6 Avant looks quite sporty toward the rear thanks to the gently sloping roofline and the big quarter windows.

The rear fascia is again shared with the A6 sedan, as we can see the same taillights, diffuser-like element, and a similar trunk opening. Of course, instead of a traditional trunk lid, the A6 Avant gets a big tailgate.

LED lights are standard, but you can get the Matrix LED lights from the options list. Dynamic turn signals are also available. The color palette includes 14 options, and there's a selection of wheels to choose from. Further customization options can be had with the various sport and exterior design packages, as well as the more aggressive S line pack.

2019 Audi A6 Avant Interior

- Stylish dashboard design - Clean center stack - Big displays - Digital instrument cluster - Well-appointed trim lines - More space - Bigger trunk

Redesigned from the ground up, the A6's new interior is minimalist, but it also looks stylish and high-tech. The continuous air-vent strip seen in the Q7 SUV and the smaller A4 found its way into the A6 too, but the midsize looks more luxurious thanks to the thick dashboard insert that includes the massive, 10.1-inch infotainment screen. The second display below, which measures 8.6 inches and is used for climate control, comfort functions, and text input, adds to the wagon's high-tech look.

The new, fully digital, 12.3-inch instrument cluster looks imposing too, but this feature doesn't come standard. In order to have it in the car, you need to order the MMI Navigation Plus option. Do that, and you'll also get multi-function buttons on the steering wheel to access the navigation features. The head-up display that projects information onto the windshield is also optional.

Being a premium car, the A6 Avant is well appointed even in basic trim, but you can opt for an additional four equipment lines: Sport, Design, Design Selection, and S Line Sport. Each comes with its own color concept and add premium Valcona leather and open-pore wood trim. The seats have been redesigned for improved comfort and support, but the ones in the range-topping models have customized contour for the front seats, as well as various adjustment functions. Ventilation and massage features are optional, which the S Sport package adds seats with integrated headrests.

Other options include the air quality package with two different fragrances as well as the ionizer, the large panoramic glass sunroof, and the adaptive windshield wipers with integrated washer jets in the wiper blades.

As far as dimensions go, the cabin is a tad larger than the outgoing model, and Audi claims that it provides more front and rear elbow room as well as more rear knee room than the competition. Luggage room is rated at 20 cubic-feet with the rear seats up and 59.3 cubic-feet with the seats folded flat. That's plenty of room for a midsize wagon and puts the A6 Avant on par with the competition. The BMW 5 Series Touring also provides 20 cubic-feet, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon offers 20.5 cubic-feet with the rear seats up. When it comes to maximum space, the A6 Avant falls behind the Bimmer, which offers 60 cubic-feet, but provides more than the Merc, which is rated at 57.4 cubic-feet.

The tailgate and the luggage compartment cover open electrically as standard on the new model, while sensor control is optional. Just like in the outgoing model, the luggage compartment is equipped with the company's proven rail system as standard, giving customers the option to individually position four variable lashing points to secure objects. The package also includes a tensioning strap, a net, and two hooks. The optional load-securing kit with telescopic bar and strap allows further individual sectioning of the luggage compartment.

2019 Audi A6 Avant Drivetrain

- Gas and diesel V-6 engines - 340 horsepower - Up to 457 pound-feet of torque - Mild hybrid system - Up to 43 mpg U.K. cycle - 7-speed S Tronic - 8-speed Tiptronic - Standard AWD - Optional all-wheel steering

The Avant gets the same engines as the new A6 sedan, which is available with two drivetrains from launch. First up is a 3.0-liter, TFSI, V-6 which produces 340 turbocharged horses and 369 pound-feet of torque. Charging from 0 to 62 mph should take 5.2 seconds, a tenth-second slower than the sedan. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph as usual. This version should return up to 35 mpg on the British cycle.

Next up is a diesel, which also comes in a 3.0-liter V-6 configuration. Output is rated at 286 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of twist. While performance figures aren't yet available, the diesel version returns more miles per tank, being rated at 43 mpg in the U.K.

Both engines are fitted with a mild hybrid system, which includes a belt alternator starter that recovers up to 12 kW with the 48V system during braking and feeds the electricity into a separate lithium-ion battery. With the engine switched off, the A6 Avant can coast between 55 and 160 km/h (34 to 99 mph). The start-stop system kicks in at 22 km/h (14 mph).

While the gas engine mates to a seven-speed S Tronic and the diesel comes with an eight-speed Tiptronic, both versions get the company's already iconic Quattro all-wheel-drive system. If that's not enough for you, there's an optional sport differential that actively distributes the power between the rear wheels when cornering at high speed.

Audi also offers the dynamic all-wheel steering for this model. At speeds up to 37 mph, the rear wheels turn as much as five degrees in the opposite direction. This not only makes the A6 Avant highly maneuverable, but it also reduces the turning circle of the car by up to 3.3 feet. It also increases agility in corners and driving stability at speeds above 37 mph, in which situation the front and rear axles steer in the same direction.

There are plenty of choices to make in the suspension department too, where Audi offers four setups. There's the standard steel-spring suspension, the sport suspension, the suspension with shock absorber control, and the adaptive air suspension. In addition to the shock absorbers and the air springs, the electronic chassis platform also controls the dynamic all-wheel steering and the sport differential. Settings include comfort, auto, and dynamic.

2019 Audi A6 Avant Safety

- Adaptive Cruise Assist - Emergency Assist - Pre Sense package - Crossing Assist - Rear Cross Traffic Assist

The A6 sedan is a state-of-the-art machine when it comes to safety and driver assisting features, and the wagon benefits from the same attributes. One key feature is the adaptive cruise assist with narrowed road assist, which takes care of slowing down and braking in stop-and-go traffic and at driving speeds up 155 mph. This function also helps maintain the set speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead.

Then there's Emergency Assist, which enhances safety by detecting when the driver fails to act and providing a visual, acoustic or haptic warning. If the driver doesn't respond to the warning, the Emergency Assist system takes over, turns on the hazard warning lights and automatically brings the A6 to a complete stop in its lane. This system also activates the Pre Sense protection measures, such as seat belt tensioning, window closing, and automatically makes an emergency call.

Other features include Crossing Assist, which detects crossing traffic in front of the car, and Audi Pre Sense 360, which detects collision hazards. Rear Cross Traffic Assist makes it easier to exit a parallel parking space. Exit Warning and Lane Change round off the safety package.

2019 Audi A6 Avant Prices

Pricing information is not yet available, but it's safe to assume that the new generation with come with a small premium. With the outgoing model priced from £35,305, the new A6 Avant should cost at least £36,500 before options. Unfortunately, the A6 Avant won't make it in the United States.

2019 Audi A6 Avant Competition

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

The E-Class was the first to arrive from this new wave of midsize wagons, but it's far from old. Unveiled for the 2017 model year, the E-Class Wagon is as fresh as it gets, and needless to say, it's among the most modern vehicles on the road. Based on the latest E-Class sedan, it's both stylish and sporty. The wide front grille gives it a planted stance, while the profile is a bit more muscular than the A6 Avant's. The rear, on the other hand, is more on the utilitarian side thanks to the horizontal taillights and the clean design. The interior is gorgeous to look at and lacks nothing when it comes to appointments and technology. Fitted with Merc's latest features, it also features the Drive Pilot, which enables the vehicle to follow the car in front at speeds of up to 130 mph. The Steering Pilot also enables the wagon to handle moderate bends, which gives it semi-autonomous capability. The steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons is a world-first feature and detects horizontal and vertical swipes, just like the screen of a smartphone. Six engines are available for this model, starting with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 181 horsepower and 221 pound-feet or 208 horses and 258 pound-feet. Next up is the 3.0-liter inline-six that delivers 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet. As for diesels, there's a four-cylinder with either 148 horsepower and 265 pound-feet or 191 horsepower and 295 pound-feet and a six-cylinder rated at 254 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of twist. Pricing for this wagon starts from £38,030 in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., it retails from $63,050.

Read our full review of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon.

BMW 5 Series Touring

Unveiled for the 2018 model year, the 5 Series Touring is also as fresh as they get. The styling of the new 5 Series is definitely evolutionary, just like the Audi, but the Bimmer benefits from a more contoured exterior with a beefed-up beltline and more muscular fascias. As usual, the wagon version retains most of the aggressiveness of the sedan. The interior si clean and simple, but unlike the competition, BMW went with a more cluttered center stack. It's not all that bad, but Audi went with the more modern design here. Other than that, the 5 Series has everything it takes to compete here. It's packed with fine materials, state-of-the-art tech, and it looks like a nice place to spend time in. As usual, there's a wide range of engines to choose from. There's the 530i with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo rated at 252 horsepower and 258 pound-feet and the 540i with the larger, 3.0-liter six-cylinder that makes 340 horses and 332 pound-feet. If you're into diesels, you can choose between the 520d with 190 horsepower and 295 pound-feet and the 530d with 265 horses and 457 pound-feet of twist. The 5 Series Touring isn't available Stateside, but it starts from £40,025 in the U.K., which makes it the most expensive of the bunch.

Read our full story on the BMW 5 Series Touring.

Volvo V90

Based on the state-of-the-art S90 sedan that replaced the traditional S80, the V90 competes in this niche with a different approach. Although Volvo wagons aren't as boxy as they used to be, the V90 boasts significantly more premium features that its predecessors. The vertical, tablet-like infotainment display, the optional carbon-fiber, and the sporty, leather-wrapped seats turned the Volvo station wagon from a hearse with seating for five into a full-fledged luxury grocery getter. The approach is different under the hood too. Whereas the German cars get six-cylinder engines too, the V90 is restricted to four-cylinder units. Output isn't an issue though. While the T5 cranks out 254 horsepower and 258 pound-feet, the T6 makes 316 horses and 295 pound-feet. The diesel lineup includes three engines that deliver between 150 horsepower and 236 pound-feet to 225 horses and 346 pound-feet. A hybrid is offered too, in the form of a T8 drivetrain good for a whopping 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet. British pricing starts from £37,620, but the V90 is also available in the U.S. in Cross Country trim from $52,300.

Read our full review of the 2017 Volvo V90.

Conclusion

Much like the sedan, the wagon version of the A6 has been a solid choice in this segment ever since it was introduced back in the 1990s. The nameplate has seen massive improvements since, being transformed from a somewhat upscale wagon into a full-fledged competitor for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series. After seven years on the market, the A6 was finally redesigned and received all the niceties it needed to catch up with the competition. Although it may still lack the sportiness of the BMW and Mercedes models design-wise, its subdued appearance is what makes it stands out. The interior is rock-solid in just about every department, while drivetrain choices include two powerful engines for every taste. Sure, the A6 Avant could use a bit more diversity under the hood, but Audi will probably add more options soon. The only downside here is that the Germans still don't want to send the big Avant to the U.S. Not even in Allroad trim.

References

Audi A6

Read our full review on the 2019 Audi A8.

Read our full review on the 2018 Audi A8.

Read more Audi news.