On the road

It is impressive to note the difference between a brand new car and one that has travelled over 10 000 km. The A4 3.2 Quattro I recently tested felt drowsy. That V6 had barely turned over with less than 50 km on the clock when I got it. The A6's 3.2L is alive and very well thanks to a complete break-in period. It darts forward all the while playing that melodious tune. The fly in the soup of the powertrain is the electronic drive-by-wire gas pedal. It displays an annoying delay especially when shoved to the floor. To further aggravate the situation, the autobox is reticent to kick down a few notches. In normal conditions, the 6 gears are quickly shuffled through with authority. It simply does not like to be bossed around.

The driving experience of the A6 Avant is best described as being at the helm of a profiled tank with immense grip. The wagon feels big but its size and weight are defied by how nimble it is. The Quattro system catapults the car onward and does not let go as the A6 flies through corners and curves. The supreme-planted impression and the car's weight make the driver think that he or she is invincible. The adaptive air suspension has three settings of which I found the comfort mode to be remarkably well adapted to our roads. On the highway, the dynamic mode rivets the wagon to the tarmac.

The brakes are not as grabby as those of the A4. The left-side pedal requires more sustained pressure to come to a full stop. That being said, they still perform admirably well. Audi's variable assist power steering works great. It is delightfully light at low speeds and noticeably becomes heavier as speed increases. Feedback is good however the overall feel is somewhat artificial. Also, the turning circle is large at 11.9 meters.

What reassures me most about the A6 is that there were no rattles or trim panel squeaks. The A4 literally rattled me with the number of noises originating from inside the cabin. I will assume that had the A4 received more attention, many if not all of the noises would have been cancelled.

Safety

The A6 sports standard dual front, side and side curtain air bags, ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and assist, stability and traction control, first aid kit and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has not yet crash-tested the A6 sedan or wagon. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has rated the A6 sedan "Good" and awarded it a Silver Top Safety Pick in its category.

Conclusion

The A6 Avant is a wonderful way to get the family and gear around town and to the country place this side of an SUV. Although the 3.2L is a fine performer, the sedan's optional 4.2L would certainly liven things up but at what cost. At $83,000, the addition of the V8 would easily push the price up to $90,000.

As great as the A6 feels on the road, the problem lies within the car's innards. Although the overall quality of Audi products has improved over the last twenty years, they remain labour intensive and delicate cars to own. The A6 would a be wiser choice than an E-Class wagon nevertheless, a BMW 530xiT provides a more dynamic driving experience and is more reliable than the other two.

Good stuff:
Great cruiser
Fuel economy

Not so good stuff:
Electrical glitches
Reliability

Competitors:
BMW 5-Series wagon
Mercedes Benz E-Class wagon