Audi A6 Avant road test

The premium estate sector is a competitive segment of the company car market, with the default choice being diesel models such as the Volkswagen Passat Estate, Audi A6 Avant and the BMW 3 Series Touring.

Is a 3.0-litre petrol powered A6 Avant a sensible choice, then? On the road the A6 Avant with the 295bhp 3.0-litre engine proves an excellent all-round package. Coupled to a seven-speed S-tronic gearbox it tackles long motorway journeys with ease. The engine makes light work of the 0-60mph benchmark sprint, completing the dash in 6.1 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 155mph.

Take it on to more challenging B-roads and you’ll find that this is the best A6 Avant to date. It feels composed when cornering and there is very little body roll. Predictably, while it’s good, the BMW 5-Series Touring is still the best choice for driving enthusiasts. The Audi's steering feels a little vague and is not as engaging as the BMW. Our test car had Quattro four-wheel drive, which provides better traction - particularly in wet or cold conditions.

The A6's cabin is a comfortable place to spend time in, although it’s not as cosseting as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate. The interior is well-built and the materials used are of high quality. Road, wind and tyre noise is minimal, as the cabin is well insulated. The front seats offer a good amount of support and make long journeys a pleasure.

Practicality is also good. The A6 offers a boot space of 565 litres with the seats in place, that’s a larger capacity than the BMW 5-Series Touring, but it is still dwarfed by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class’ 690 litres. Fold the rear seats and the Audi has a maximum load space of 1,680 litres. The 5-Series has a maximum 1,670 litres of space and the E-Class 1,950 litres.

Audi claims that this model returns 34.3mpg. Emissions are rated at 190g/km of CO2, and that’s with stop/start technology. If you are in a 20% tax bracket then you’ll pay £190 per month. If you are in 40% tax bracket, however, you’ll pay a rather more costly £379 per month.

Standard kit on the SE model includes cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, stability control, dual-zone climate control, a rail luggage fixing system, double cargo floor, side restraining straps and bag hooks.

This variant of the A6 is a comfortable executive estate which offers excellent performance and practicality. Given the price difference of petrol and diesel, at the pumps, this may be a good alternative choice with its reasonable fuel figures.

P11d prices for the Audi A6 Avant, in 3.0-litre petrol TFSI SE specification, start at £40,630 before options. It's available to order now.

Also consider

BMW 5-Series Touring

It's still the stand-out choice if you want a car that is practical and engaging to drive at the same time. There’s also an excellent mix of high-powered petrol and eco-focused diesel engines available.

Volvo V70

On the road it is comfortable and quiet, if not especially exciting to drive. The seats - a traditional Volvo strength - are regarded by many as the most comfortable around, while it’s the top choice in terms of practicality and boot size.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The latest E-Class Estate feels more robust than before, while the handling has received some much needed improvement. It's incredibly refined and comfortable, and feels like the most premium offering.