We always seem to have obsessions with things we can't have. Since 2003, there hasn't been an Audi RS6 available in the U.S. Even when we got the first RS6, it wasn't available as their signature Avant (wagon) model. Then, Audi decided to pull the plug on the second-gen RS6 in America altogether. One generation after another, the U.S. market was left out. Why didn't we get access to the brand's most attractive models?

Well, three full generations later, Audi decided to answer the prayers of U.S. fans in celebration of 20 years of the RS6. Finally, the RS6 would make its way back to the U.S. shores, only as an Avant model. Could there be anything more glorious? The muscular proportions of this high-function station wagon are a sight to behold. There are few cars capable of providing the versatility, luxury, and performance of the RS6 Avant. For American customers, the wait may have been long, but it was well worth it.

RELATED: 10 Greatest Audi Sports Cars Ranked

2022 Audi RS6 Avant Performance And Capability

Built on the foundation of competition, Audi's RS or RennSport line (racing sport in German) is a brand that has deep roots within the history of motorsport and continues to make an impact to date.

Audi finds a way to transcribe this racing DNA into their road cars. The best representation of this is the powerful engines placed in the RS models. Now packed with new advancements, the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine found in the RS6 Avant is as exciting and efficient as ever.

Packing a monster 600 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and a frightening 590 pound-feet of torque at 2000 RPM, the RS6 Avant demands respect. The low torque is brutal and immediate, with no shortage of power anywhere in the power band. Using Quattro all-wheel drive, this station wagon gets to 62 MPH in 3.6 seconds flat, sending power to the pavement through an 8-speed automatic transmission. CarandDriver recorded 3.1 seconds to 60 mph. We guarantee that you've never seen a faster family wagon on the road.

Yet, the technology does not stop there. The RS6 now integrates a mild hybrid system to increase efficiency. This allows the RS6 to coast and recovers energy for up to 40 seconds only using electric power. Low-load situations also trigger cylinder deactivation, turning the Avant into a four-cylinder. This allows the Audi wagon to achieve an impressive 20.5 MPG combined City and Highway. If you have ever owned any German twin-turbo V8, you know you're lucky to see MPGs in the 'teens.

Unfortunately, the exhaust sounds too good to not press the throttle down. With the valves open via Audi drive select, the RS6 makes its presence immediately known. An optional $1,000 RS sport exhaust can further increase the glorious sound of that V-8 engine.

Yet, the RS6 offers so much more than a stunning engine. RS adaptive air suspension allows a perfect balance between comfort and performance. At speeds over 74.6 MPH, the RS6 sits 1.2 inches lower than a standard A6 sedan.

A $1,250 option is the signature Dynamic Ride Control (DRC). This is direct integration of motorsport technology with adjustable dampers. If you seek the most responsiveness and feel out of your RS6 Avant, this is a no-brainer option.

Each individual feature of how the RS6 Avant drives are configurable through Audi drive select. This includes six default profiles:

• Comfort
• Auto
• Dynamic
• Efficiency
• RS1
• RS2

The final two are completely customizable to suit specific drivers' preferences and needs.

With 275mm front tires and 285mm rears combined with AWD, the RS6 Avant has no shortage of grip. Optional $8,500 carbon ceramic brakes can elevate the wagon to meet the needs of any race track around the world.

Yet, the RS6 remains unique in its overachievement in every category. The vehicle can serve almost any conceivable function while looking good doing it. Audi states that more than half of their European customers order a trailer hitch with the new RS6 Avant. Capable of any modern challenge with no compromise, it is a solitary vehicle in its segment.

RELATED: 7 Reasons Why the Audi RS6 Avant Is the Perfect Car For All Occasions

Exterior Design

Audi made sure that if they were finally bringing the RS6 Avant to the U.S., they were going to make an impression. As a result, the RS6 shares little to no parts with the lesser A6. The two models share only the roof, front doors, and tailgate.

If you have never seen this car in person, it is stunning to see a wagon of any kind with a roof line this low. The wide hips and long body of the wagon give it an unmistakable presence even while parked. 1.5 inches wider than the A6 sedan with optional 22-inch wheels, classy aggression defines the Avant. It's simple, the Audi wagon has no bad angles. It ensures to grab your attention even in the mildest color and could never be mistaken for an A6 sedan.

Audi is the benchmark for automotive lighting technology and doesn't look to change. The RS6 Avant now offers sleeker RS-specific Matrix LED laser headlights as standard. Combined with the sequential LED tails, this is one of the best-looking lighting packages on any car, ever. From a design perspective, there is no other car available on the market to rival the Avant’s style.

RELATED: Why the Audi RS6 Avant is the Ultimate Long-Distance Vehicle

Interior Quality And Technology

While the Audi wagon hosts room for a whole family in its spacious cabin, it is a driver-focused layout. A beautiful perforated leather steering wheel matches the aluminum shift paddles and pedals. Sleek aluminum trim is present throughout the entire cabin. Where there isn't aluminum, there is leather. Where there isn't leather, there are glass displays or carbon fiber. The interior is high-end luxury to the smallest detail.

The instrument cluster, known as Audi virtual cockpit, displays an incredible amount of information. Unique RS displays give the driver critical details about the car's functional status. From engine temperature to boost pressure to lap times, the virtual cockpit covers all bases.

Each interior body line flows into the next, while dynamic shapes keep the eye interested. Central are two large bezel-less touch displays: one for A/C control and the other for car functions. The interior can be further customized with the $2,500 Executive package for more leather, heated seats, and a heads-up display. For a sportier look, the $1,500 RS Design package adds extended leather, RS floor mats, and constant stitching in red or gray. The $4,900 19-speaker sound system from Bang & Olufsen would quell the desires of any audiophile.

RELATED: 10 Best Station Wagons For Sale In The U.S. In 2022

2022 Audi RS6 Avant Price And Availability

The 2022 Audi RS6 starts at $ 118,900 MSRP. With some premium options, the Avant approaches the $130,000 territory. Even at its luxury price, there aren't any true competitors capable of challenging the Avant's value.

Main Competition

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon was the perfect competitor for the RS6 Avant. Priced to the dollar with similar performance and versatility, we are sad to say it's no longer offered for the 2022 model year. Even worse, the few E63 S Wagons available are selling for tens of thousands over MSRP on the used market.

Another obvious German rival is the Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo. With more power and stronger performance capability, you'd think that the Porsche is a winner. Yet, its $190,400 starting price is a $73,900 premium. It might as well be in a completely different discussion. That's the cost of a 2022 S6 sedan in the difference alone.

To summarize, how many cars can battle with supercars and have the cargo space of an SUV? The RS6 Avant is unique. It can facilitate a cross-country trip with the whole family and have room for all your things. Next week you could beat up the competition on the track and drive back in style and comfort. Its versatility has no real match at its price point.

Thus, if you seek a performance package with an unrivaled value that makes no compromises, the RS6 Avant is an obvious choice. One of the best cars Audi has ever made and after missing it for so long, it feels more special than ever.

FAQ

Q: Why is the RS6 Avant so special?

Building fast wagons is Audi's DNA, and this goes back to the 90s when the brand from Ingolstadt build the Audi RS2 in collaboration with Porsche. The rare and exclusive Audi RS6 Avant continues that lineage making it extremely special.

Q: How fast does the Audi RS6 Avant Go?

The Audi RS6 has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Q: Is the RS6 faster than the R8?

No, the Audi R8 is faster with a top speed of 198 mph. But on paper, the RS6 pack has enough power to go beyond its electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Q: How much is RS6 Avant?

The 2022 Audi RS6 Avant carries a base MSRP of $118,900.

Q: Is Audi RS6 a supercar?

With its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 putting out 591 horsepower and the combined Quattro all-wheel drive system, the RS6 sure does pack the performance of a supercar, but it also happens to be a practical station wagon first.