Overall rating:

Audi is building on the success of the A6 saloon with the new Avant estate. Due in showrooms in November, it's up to 70kg lighter than the outgoing A6 Avant but it's no smaller.

Key Facts

Pricing: £32,100 - £43,480
Engine: 2.0-litre TDI, 3.0-litre TDI, 3.0-litre V6 petrol
Transmission: six-speed manual, CVT, eight-speed S-Tronic
Body style: five-door estate
Rivals: BMW 5 Series Touring, Mercedes-Benz E-Class estate, Volvo V70
CO₂ emissions: 129 - 190g/km
Combined economy: 34.5 - 57.6mpg
Top speed: 141 - 155mph
0-62mph: 5.4 - 8.7 seconds
Power: 175bhp at 4,200rpm (2.0 TDI), 296bhp at 5,250 - 6,500rpm (3.0 TFSI)
Torque: 280lb.ft at 1,650 - 2,500rpm (2.0 TDI), 325lb.ft at 2,900 - 4,500rpm

In the Metal:

If you've seen the Audi A6 saloon then you'll know what you're in for with the Avant. Tidy, clean and sharp lines that ape the four-door model in every respect aside from the tailgate, which appears larger in the metal than it does in the pictures.

That's no bad thing, though, as it can accommodate 565 litres of clobber with the rear seats in place and 1,680 litres when they're folded down. The flat sides of the boot, seats that drop at the tug of a lever and the wide loading area render the A6 even more practical. Leg- and headroom are equally generous and there's an optional advanced key feature, which allows the driver (when holding the key) to open the boot by making a kicking action towards sensors in the rear bumper.

Driving it:

The entry-level 175bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine will do the trick for most punters. It's nowhere near as silky and powerful as any of the V6 petrol or diesel units - there's an audible clatter and a bit of shake through the gear lever - but by any other standards it's refined and powerful enough. It's also the most efficient of the lot, with 57.6mpg and 129g/km.

Less of a seller but much more fun is the 3.0-litre TFSI petrol V6, with 296bhp. It's tuneful and has a welcome dose of top-end power that sets it apart from the diesels. The 0-62mph sprint takes 5.5 seconds. There's also a pair of 3.0-litre V6 TDI engines with 242- and 201bhp respectively. They're just as lazy and easygoing as you'd expect a big oil burner to be and offer significant punch and refinement gains over the 2.0-litre. They work especially well with the S-Tronic automatic transmission, but the Multitronic CVT is best left alone.

Finally, a flagship 309bhp bi-turbo V6 TDI engine will become available towards the end of the year. The two-stage turbo system means it's bursting with torque and good for 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. Audi's boffins have also tweaked the exhaust note so it's about as fruity as a diesel can sound. We like.

As for the handling, the A6 Avant is as planted and composed as the saloon, particularly in quattro four-wheel drive guise. The estate's extra bulk is only noticeable under sharp cornering and the steering is precise. Don't expect feedback on an engaging level, though. Comfort and accuracy are well catered for, but thrills are scarce.

What you get for your Money:

Being an executive model, the Audi A6 Avant isn't cheap. It starts at £32,100 for the 2.0-litre TDI SE model and you'll be nudging £45,000 with a specced-up, flagship V6. There's plenty of kit as standard, though, like Audi's Multimedia Interface (MMI) system, Bluetooth, satnav and loads more. Some of the many options include an eight-inch, foldaway flat screen monitor, Google mapping 3D satnav and a thermal imaging camera.

Worth Noting

We also got the chance to try the forthcoming Audi A6 hybrid in saloon guise. It's conventional enough in that there's a rear-mounted electric motor and a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine up front. Combined, they create 242bhp and return 44.1mpg and 146g/km. The A6 hybrid is capable of hitting 62mph on electric power alone, but you'll need the punch of the petrol engine on anything more than a light uphill slope. The hybrid is no less refined than conventional models, but it doesn't move the alternative fuel game along in any way.

Summary

Much like the saloon, the A6 Avant executes its tasks in a faultless, clinical fashion. The build quality, refinement and the ride comfort are superb; there's more in the way of technology and gadgets than we can mention and the engines mix power and economy beautifully. The Avant has space and practicality to spare, too. Well-rounded and competent though it is, it's unlikely to stir the soul, but that won't stop it from selling.