Should you buy one?

Yes, if you need the practicality of an estate car and some genuine off-road ability, but don’t buy into the SUV trend and, honestly, don’t need the bulk of something like a Q7 or BMW X5. The Allroad benefits from all the regular A6 Avant’s best bits – there’s a high-tech and luxurious interior that’s packed with equipment (with plenty more available from the options list), enough room inside for a family and their luggage, and it drives largely like a regular estate car.

It’s also reassuring to know that the Quattro system and modes selected via Drive Select mean the Allroad will actually tackle tougher terrain than you might expect it to, while remaining a composed performer on the road without feeling as big and bulky as a full-on 4×4. If it does feel a bit too big for you, the smaller A4 Allroad feels much more agile and the boot isn’t that much smaller.

However, while the A6 is an impressively capable all-rounder with a practical, high-quality interior and a lovely, strong choice of V6 TDI engines, its high price could be a no no for some. At well over £50,000 for the entry point to the range, it’s not cheap, and at almost £74,000 at the other end of the range, it comes uncomfortably close to many other high-end cars.

That’s not to say the Allroad doesn’t feel it, and it’s unlikely to be a problem for Audi because it’ll only sell in small numbers and the types of customer for this car buy it time and time again. But when it’s sitting level with the Q7 for price, it won’t be surprising if you see many more Q7s on the road than A6 Allroads. Objectively however, the Allroad is well worth a look if you want a capable all-rounder, and we also think it’s worth considering over the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain.