Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi A6 Avant estate - Interior & comfort

Technology from the flagship A8 gives the Audi A6 Avant a class-leading interior

Carbuyer Rating

4.3 out of 5

Owners Rating

5.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Interior & comfort Rating

5.0 out of 5

The Audi A6 Avant has traditionally trailed its rivals when it comes to ride smoothness, but the latest model is right in contention with the best in class – as long as you avoid the biggest alloy wheels. On 18-inch wheels it's adept at absorbing bumps, and even better on the optional air suspension. However, the sportier S line, with its 20-inch wheels, judders more uncomfortably over potholes.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Few ever criticised the previous A6 for its interior design, but the latest model has made a lot of progress here, too. It shares much of its layout with the Audi A8 flagship, and in doing so, sets a new standard for the executive estate class. Not only does it look impeccable inside, but the technology on offer is comprehensive and works intuitively. Remarkably, the materials used are even better than before, and quality is beyond reproach.

Audi A6 Avant dashboard

While it might be somewhat conservative, there's no denying that the swathes of aluminium and leather trim adorning the Avant's interior look and feel fantastic. There are very few buttons on the dashboard, because most functions are now taken care of by the steering wheel or infotainment system, whose 10.1-inch screen seems invisible until switched on, disguised by being set into a glossy piano-black panel.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Audi has abandoned its previous rotary controller in favour of MMI Touch, which provides a click or vibration via 'haptic feedback' to confirm when you've made a command on the touchscreen. It's about as user-friendly as touchscreens get, but still unintuitive to use without taking your eyes from the road. Fortunately, you can also use your voice, and no longer need to stick to rigid commands, because the voice-recognition software is now advanced enough to try understanding what you mean.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There's also a smaller display panel to control the car's convenience features and climate control. You can input text on the lower screen while resting your wrist on the gear selector.

Equipment

There are four trim levels, but it's possible to create exactly the A6 Avant you want thanks to a serious number of options. The Sport grade is hardly anaemic, though, with 18-inch wheels, leather and heated seats, dual-zone climate control and a rear-view camera. On the Avant, the tailgate is also power-operated. The infotainment system has an 8.8-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower screen, sat-nav, DAB and Bluetooth.

S line largely offers design upgrades, upping the wheel size to 19 inches while lowering the suspension by 10mm and adding more aggressive bodywork. The sports seats are trimmed in Alcantara and leather, while the headliner is black and there are touches like a sports steering wheel and stainless-steel pedals. At night, drivers will notice the Matrix LED headlights, which automatically adjust to other road users and the conditions, to provide the best visibility without dazzling anyone.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Black Edition cars also feature a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, privacy glass, 20-inch bi-colour alloy wheels and a handful of black styling details.

Top-spec Vorsprung has a price tag that’s head and shoulders above the rest of the range but then it does include features like a panoramic sunroof, self-parking ability, extra safety features and a B&O premium sound system.

Options

Be warned, it's very easy to add another £10,000 to the price of your A6 Avant if you get carried away with the options list. Unless you're happy with Brilliant Black or Ibis White, you'll need to spend around £700 for metallic paint. The chassis can be upgraded to include adjustable dampers and the 50 TDI can be equipped with air suspension and four-wheel steering to make it more agile. Adding Matrix LED headlights to the Sport trim costs just over £1,500.

Audi also groups lots of equipment into packs to help keep things simple. Choose the Comfort & Sound Pack if a 360-degree camera view, Bang & Olufsen stereo, LED ambient lighting and keyless entry sound appealing for £2,000 or so. The Technology Pack is also likely to be popular, adding MMI Navigation Plus (with a 10.1-inch main screen), Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster and wireless phone charging for £1,500.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

All-new Audi A6 e-tron costs from £69k, 463-mile range
Audi S6 e-tron front quarter
News
9 Sep 2024

All-new Audi A6 e-tron costs from £69k, 463-mile range

Top 10 best hybrid estate cars 2024
Best hybrid estate cars
Best cars
15 Feb 2024

Top 10 best hybrid estate cars 2024

Most Popular

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: details and first drive of the sleek executive four-door
BMW M235 Gran Coupe front quarter
News
26 Nov 2024

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: details and first drive of the sleek executive four-door

New Audi Q5 Sportback lands with SUV stance and a swoopy roof
Audi SQ5 Sportback front quarter
News
26 Nov 2024

New Audi Q5 Sportback lands with SUV stance and a swoopy roof

Volvo XC90 review – understated upmarket large SUV
Volvo XC90 front quarter dynamic
In-depth reviews
25 Nov 2024

Volvo XC90 review – understated upmarket large SUV

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024