It’s straightforward to be thrilled by the 2022 Audi RS 6 Avant given its lengthy checklist of superlatives. Its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine produces 591 hp in addition to 590 lb-ft of torque, all whereas making a stunning roar. That engine is paired with a really competent eight-speed automated gearbox and, naturally, Quattro all-wheel drive. The result’s a big-ass, very sensible automotive that may scoot to 60 mph in simply 3.5 seconds. It will possibly additionally haul 5 folks and a complete bunch of stuff from Ikea. Actually, the RS 6 Avant is a automotive that may do nearly every little thing.
Full Disclosure: Audi wished me to drive the RS 6 Avant so badly that it had one dropped off at my home for per week with a full tank of fuel. They did make me give it again, regardless of some shameless pleading on my half.
The RS 6 Avant is a powerful efficiency automotive, and it’s superb how briskly it feels all the time. The engine and transmission work effectively collectively to ship energy rapidly and easily, and the huge P275/35YR-21 summer season tires and Quattro all-wheel drive be sure that energy will get to the pavement with a minimal quantity of trouble. The midrange acceleration supplied by that turbocharged V8 is very spectacular, with little or no perceivable turbo lag, making the automotive relentlessly fast whereas passing.
The RS 6’s chassis is nice sufficient to deal with the ability of that snarling V8, too, although the wagon does generally tend to understeer when pushed. Nonetheless, thanks to straightforward air suspension and non-obligatory Audi Dynamic Journey Management 48-volt anti-roll know-how, the RS 6 is ready to conceal its appreciable bulk effectively. That’s no small feat when this wagon weighs a not-insubstantial 4,982 kilos.
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That road-hugging weight demands a serious set of stoppers to haul it down from warp speed, so massive, 16.5-inch, 10-piston front brakes with steel rotors are standard. Similarly beefy carbon-ceramic brakes are available for an extra $9,000 (or $8,500 if you want black calipers instead of red), and while I would normally advise skipping the carbon brakes on a road car like this, the RS 6’s immense power combined with the hefty curb weight make them seem like a good buy – if not exactly a good value.
The RS 6 offers typical Audi steering, which is to say accurate but numb. At least the ride quality on those 21-inch wheels and summer tires is surprisingly good.
The interior is typically Audi, as well. This means that the materials are of excellent quality and put together beautifully. The ergonomics are phenomenal, with all controls in easy reach of the driver. Seat comfort is exceptional, too. The big sport buckets hug you while managing to promise all-day comfort, and seat heating and cooling are standard, which is great.
Infotainment is another classic Audi stronghold. The RS 6 Avant’s MMI software is sensibly laid out, very nice to look at and extremely responsive to inputs. Of course, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, and connect wirelessly. My test car’s optional $4,900 Bang & Olufsen stereo is also pretty good, but gets put to shame by the Burmester sound systems offered by Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
This being the flagship of the A6 line, the RS 6 has plenty of available tech on hand for safety. Unfortunately, even at its six-figure price, a lot of the good stuff is hidden in expensive add-ons, like the $2,250 Driver Assistance Package that gets you adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition. (If you can live with just the rear automatic emergency braking and the blind-spot monitoring, you can buy the $500 Audi Side Assist package instead.) Audi also offers a $2,500 night vision package, but I’ve yet to use one of these systems that actually feels like it provides a real benefit in the real world, so save your money.
The odds are good that if you’re shopping for a very fast station wagon, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo and Mercedes-AMG E63 are in your checklist. The Panamera Turbo S begins at $191,850 together with vacation spot and presents much less room for cargo and other people, whereas the Mercedes wagon will begin at $121,100. The Audi RS 6 Avant begins at $122,995, together with a $1,095 vacation spot payment, however my totally loaded tester is available in at $154,090.
The RS 6 Avant is an unbelievable automotive that seemingly does every little thing effectively, however at over $150,000 for a loaded one, it’s not precisely the automotive that most individuals purchase for schlepping their children. It’s a distinct segment fanatic car in a sadly dying kind issue that celebrates all the perfect facets of a model recognized for making quick, sensible vehicles. And for that cause alone, I adore it.
