Jonathan Gitlin
With all-wheel drive, the powerful Audi adores wet weather.
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
Note the flared arches.
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
Even at its louder setting, the exhaust is not obnoxious.
Jonathan Gitlin
Note the flared arches.
Jonathan Gitlin
Even at its louder setting, the exhaust is not obnoxious.
Jonathan Gitlin
It is, as you might imagine, rather rapid. From a standstill 60 mph, it takes just 3.3 seconds, just a tenth longer than the V10-powered Audi R8 supercar that, like the RS6 Avant, is no more, having gone to its own sunset in 2024. (Fans of really quick Audis need to go completely electric: the RS e-tron GT will do the same dash in as little as 2.1 seconds, which even to this jaded author still feels extremely violent.)
The mechanicals and electronics are all shared with another fast Audi that’s also now out of production, the RS7, which might give you the impression they’re similar to drive. In fact, this is not the case. Even though they both weigh about 4,900 lbs (2,222 kg), depending on the options, and both have the same air suspension, the RS6 Avant manages to feel much lighter than the RS7—more eager to change direction. It also feels a little looser at the rear axle; like the last RS7 I drove, this RS6 Avant was fitted with a torque-vectoring rear differential, but the station wagon body shell means the car’s center of gravity is a little higher up and farther back than the fastback RS7.
That adds a measure of playfulness not always found in RS Audis, and less often in the company’s normal models. Forget taking the long way home—this is a car that you’ll find excuses to drive. In summer I’m sure there’s even more grip, particularly from the front axle, but even on winter tires, I never came close to reaching the limit on public roads.
Credit:
Jonathan Gitlin
The black 22-inch wheels were part of the RS6 Avant’s options, as were the blue brake calipers.
Credit:
Jonathan Gitlin
The bit I didn’t remember from the last time I drove an RS6 Avant was how easy it is to drive slowly, too. I make a note of this, because that’s something I found much harder to do in the recent Audi S5, for example. Here, the big white wagon was quite content to cruise along at 20 mph (30 km/h) or less, and in comfort mode you barely even hear the engine burble. With 30 cubic feet (850 L) of cargo volume with the rear seats in use and almost twice as much (59.3 cubic feet/1,679 L) with the rear seats flat, there’s more than enough room for Costco runs and camping trips.