While SUVs and crossovers have replaced the beloved station wagon in much of the globe, the estate car still lives on, thanks to the determined hearts and minds of enthusiasts. Even as one of the pioneers of the modern wagon, Volvo has abandoned the category, Audi remains very adamant that their uber-popular A6 Avant will continue to sell like hotcakes, and Audi’s brand-new and updated A6 Avant is certainly a hugely compelling option. You still get that low, long, sharp styling of the old A6 Avant, but this new ‘C9’ generation offers a sportier and even more aerodynamic body. It is, in fact, one of the slipperiest cars today, with a Cd rating of just 0.25!
Audi was able to bring down the drag coefficient by that much by adding active cooling elements that adjust airflow automatically, optimising airflow elements like the air curtains on the front, and using an underbody that features air-guiding panels to minimise turbulence. On top of that, you can even spec the optional, aero-focused 18-inch wheels for an even slipperier car, still! Aside from better high-speed stability and improved fuel economy, another upside of all these aero enhancements is that you’ll be able to enjoy a quieter cabin. According to Audi, you now get 30% improved sound insulation, especially against pesky road and wind noise.
(Mild) Hybridising Audi’s Most Popular Family Wagon
If you need any more of a reason to get the new A6 Avant, then you may be keen to hear that Audi is making use of it to debut their new and enhanced MHEV Plus mild-hybrid system. This mild-hybrid system basically integrates a 48V MHEV set-up for better fuel efficiency and even smoother performance. Some of the more noteworthy bits of this mild-hybrid system that I’ve been a bit of a geek about include the BAS (Belt Alternator Starter) that allows the engine to shut off and restart almost seamlessly. Moreover, the A6 Avant’s MHEV also features a brand-new ‘powertrain generator’ that recovers energy for the hybrid system while you’re braking.
Elsewhere, there’s even an electrically-driven air-con compressor that helps you with reducing load on the engine, and improving your MPGs. Using Audi’s MHEV Plus system, the new Audi A6 Avant is able to drive partially on electric power alone, particularly at lower speeds or in stop-and-go traffic. Meanwhile, the regenerative braking can recover up to 25kW of energy, made even better when paired with the included boost function which, at the press of a button, gives you an extra 24PS and 230Nm, when you need a bit more responsiveness. Speaking of, the A6 Avant ‘C9’ comes with 2 distinct powertrain options for the UK market – a petrol and a diesel.
Now More Efficient, Refined, And Performant, Too!
On that note, you could spec between a new 2.0 TFSI petrol engine, with 204PS and 350Nm of torque, but it will be front-wheel drive only. There are a number of neat engineering bits here, such as an optimised combustion cycle and turbo design, yielding you more performance, and better efficiency (up to 43.5 MPG – WLTP). Alternatively, you can otherwise opt for the 2.0 TDI diesel engine, with 204PS and 400Nm of torque, but this time, it’ll come with Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel drive system. This latter is probably what I’d pick, given that it’ll feature the neat MHEV system, a more refined turbo-diesel set-up, and higher MPGs (52.3 – WLTP).
Of course, this being an Audi, there’s more to the new A6 Avant than ‘just’ some great engines and a superb all-wheel drive system. Their engineers have spent quite a bit of time fine-tuning the new A6 Avant’s adaptive suspension (with one of three modes), setting up the progressive steering that adjusts input sensitivity based on speed, and offers you brake torque vectoring to enhance cornering agility. There is even a distinct version of Quattro on offer – Quattro Ultra – which only engages all four wheels when absolutely necessary. For a starting price of £52,510, Audi might be onto another winner here, and hey, I’m definitely all in for more wagons!
