The getaway vehicle

The Audi allroad models have always occupied a special place in the premium vehicle market – a unique combination of luxury car, off-road vehicle, SUV and performance car all beautifully rolled into one. The look has always been distinctive, a luxury wagon – Avant in the Audi lexicon – but with a more rugged style and greater ground clearance than the other Avant models.

This is a model that is perfectly at home in the big city operating as a luxury conveyance or heading deep into the countryside for an action-packed weekend away.

I fondly remember a spirited drive from Broken Hill out into the middle of nowhere in a previous A6 allroad quattro many years ago. Absolutely eating up the miles as the undulating blacktop became rough dirt, then deep sand and then deeply rutted dirt. The A6 allroad never faltered no matter what was thrown at it, and the ride and handling were never compromised. There was simply nothing it couldn’t do and do well.

For this reason amongst numerous others, the A6 allroad quattro and its slightly smaller stablemate, the A4 allroad quattro, have always enjoyed a particularly loyal following in Australia. With talents and abilities as diverse as the country itself. A prestige car for all seasons so to speak, for those who want the quality ride and appointment of a luxury car, but have a lifestyle that sees them head to places where most luxury cars would be out of place and out of their depth. 

The new model Audi A6 allroad quattro 45 TDI continues that specialised tradition, with a car that takes the modern Audi design language and seamlessly incorporates the styling cues that have traditionally been a part of the allroad quattro line. 

Although obviously a member of the Audi A6 family there are enough design elements to set the allroad apart without screaming ‘I’m different’. There’s no doubting that this is an elegant car, from the wide Singleframe grille and Matrix LED headlights up front, down the muscular flanks to the 

sculpted rear end with its distinctive LED light treatment.

Aluminium highlights around the windows, on the roof rack and across the tailgate accentuate the car’s lines and the big 20-inch Audi Sport alloys perfectly fill out the flared guards which feature the contrasting black trim – a staple of the allroad vehicles.

But it’s not just about looking the part but actually being able to handle all manner of terrain and conditions that sets the A6 allroad quattro apart from its stablemates and the opposition. Powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder TDI engine, producing 183kW and 600Nm of torque, it knocks over the 0 to 100km/h spirit in 6.5 seconds but is still able to return 6.6L/100km fuel figures. The silky-smooth eight-speed tiptronic provides complete control and quattro all-wheel drive delivers a surefooted feel in all conditions and on all surfaces, including when the allroad is being used as a tow vehicle with its 2.5 tonne capacity.

Its adaptive air suspension adjusts the height of the vehicle to suit the conditions, offering up to 184mm of ground clearance depending on the road speed and choice of driving models set using the Audi drive select. This is not just handy as conditions change, but simple to use without impeding or even slowing your progress. It’s all very much a matter of ‘in its stride’.

And regardless of the conditions outside the vehicle, inside you are transported in complete comfort in a beautifully executed interior that is pure luxury – after all, just because you lead an active lifestyle and like to get away from the madding crowd doesn’t mean you have to leave the style and comfort back in the city.

Front sports seats (that are also heated) and Valcona leather upholstery throughout with contrasting stitching and allroad embossing make this cabin a subtle joy to behold and more importantly to sit in. Indeed the leather extends across the dashboard, door rails, centre console and door armrests, and illuminated door sill trims (with aluminium inlays) and door LEDs with ‘allroad’ projection are beautiful touches. Likewise the pedals and footrest in stainless steel, the multi-function leather steering wheel and of course three-zone climate control.

The dual touchscreen architecture (with a 10.1-inch and 8.6-inch screen) now familiar from the other A6 and S6 models as well as the A8, Q7 and Q8 SUVs is employed in the wide, clean dash design. A 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit gives the driver a bird’s eye view of navigation and vital functions according to their designed configuration and the new MMI Navigation system offers countless controls and switches for a clean, minimalist cabin layout.

The A6 allroad also features the Audi connect plus technology connecting it to the outside world, along with Audi phone box light with wireless charging for mobile phones, 4 USB outlets (including two in the rear) and the Audi smartphone interface with Android Auto and Wireless Apple Carplay capability.   

The safety equipment too is state-of-the-art with a raft of driver and safety systems that you will remain blissfully unaware of until they step in at a crucial moment (or hopefully never). Think Audi side assist with rear cross traffic assist, collision avoidance assist and turn assist, intersection assist, exit warning and even loose wheel detection to name just a few. Then there are the more obvious systems that make life easier and more comfortable on a daily basis, from the brilliant head-up display to the adaptive cruise assist with Stop&Go and traffic assist and even illuminated seat belt buckles. Priced at $109,500* the new A6 allraod quattro is an impressive offering that includes more than $15,000 worth of additional equipment, compared to its predecessor.

Of course if you like you can opt to take things even further with the Premium plus package that gives a choice of two wheel designs and additional equipment like privacy glass for rear (and rear side) windows, HD Matrix LED headlights, electric steering column adjustment, panoramic glass sunroof, Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System, four-zone climate control, LED colour interior lighting package and a choice of two 21-inch alloy wheel options.

From its performance, versatility and supreme comfort, to its distinctive design and understated presence, once again the new A6 allroad quattro is an impressive offering that hits the mark for those with an individual style and an active lifestyle. Right at home in the heart of Sydney, or flying over that red sand out Broken Hill way.

Learn more about the Audi A6 allroad quattro

(*Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges)