2007 Audi A6 Avant Review

Specifications

If you’d asked me just a couple of years ago whether or not I would consider driving a station wagon, I’d certainly have said that you were out of your mind. I wouldn’t be caught dead in a family grocery getter. Well, how quickly life stages change one’s perspective. Although I still have the periodic hankering to get behind the wheel of a compact sport coupe every now and again, my better half hardly hesitates in reminding me of our pending stork’s delivery in a few months. So needless to say, these days our automotive search criteria revolve around features such as comfort, practicality, reliability, and for sure safety.

Therefore it was a timely opportunity to get behind the wheel of the 2007 Audi A6 Avant wagon for a few days. The A6 Avant is a luxury wagon poised to compete against the BMW 5 series, Volvo V series, and the Mercedes E-Class wagon, so it’s hardly entry-level family fare. Rather, it blends the advanced technology, power, and handling of the A6 sedan with the practicality of an SUV. Wagons have generally been associated with soccer moms hauling the kids, dog, and groceries around during weekdays, but what if performance minded enthusiasts also wanted to fulfill these needs? I think the Audi A6 Avant can fill them completely, and I must say that this is a serious car to consider if you want to be one of the exclusive few that gets to drive one around town. Dare to be different!

The A6 Avant is packaged within a very handsome shell. I like to compare this midsize Audi to a timeless Armani suit that still looks great after years of wear, compared to the flashier Versace outfits that are so prêt a porte for one season. For those that appreciate understated elegance, check out the familiar front treatment with the pronounced Audi trapezoidal grille surrounded in chrome. The bi-Xenon adaptive headlights are packaged neatly behind the light covers. Like all other current Audi models, there is no protruding front bumper. Everything is integrated flush from hood to the lower bumper valence. This model doesn’t come with any flashy ground effect kits like air dams or side skirts either, but what it lacks in the “athletic look” department it makes up for in attention to details, with materials’ fit and finish taking the limelight. Take, for example, the standard 17-inch 16-spoke wheels wrapped in grippy 245/45 Pirelli P6 tires (18-inch 5-spokes wrapped in low profile 245/40 rubber are also standard, your choice). This in and of itself, you may say, isn’t all that special. It’s not until you take a closer inspection of the wheel center cap and notice that it’s finished in a matte gray with a chrome ring around it, and of course the chromed Audi logo. It’s this type of detail that I appreciate, and would cause me to find a way to own one of these vehicles. The choice of chrome trim around the side windows and aluminum roof rails adds to the sense of functional elegance. From the rear, the conservative styling is maintained with clean lines and an integrated spoiler on top of the window. The overall treatment of the taillight shape is consistent with current Audi models. The big difference is the all-red LED lamps that really make this car stand out when the brakes are applied. Finished off with dual chrome exhaust tips, the A6 Avant reminds passersby that this is a serious performance machine.

Measuring 194.2 inches long by 79.2 inches wide and 58.2 inches tall, the A6 Avant commands quite a presence. Especially looking from the side profile, I began to appreciate how long this car actually is. The dimensions translate into a very functional and comfortable interior seating space and a large, accommodating cargo area. With one press of the remote, the trunk lid automatically opens to reveal a cavernous trunk with a rack and gate system that allows for modular configurations to separate luggage from groceries, or anything else you might be toting along. The rear seats fold down 60/40 from a latch on each side of the rear seat headrest. For this class of vehicle, mind you, it would be nice to have buttons inside the trunk to put the seats down rather than being forced to walk around to the back seats in order to make the adjustments.

Once you get past opening the heavy doors and step inside, you are treated with one of the most elegantly designed interiors today. I firmly believe that Audi leads the pack with automobile interior design, build and quality. The leather front seats are firm and supportive, while those in back are also as comfortable, minus the unlucky person who has to sit in the middle. The protrusion of the middle back seat feels like you’re sitting against a surfboard. Just the same, the choice of interior materials and textures are consistent with Audi quality. The door panels and dash are soft to the touch and accented with real wood inlays and aluminum trim.

The entire dashboard has a nice symmetric appearance too. The speedometer and tachometer each reside inside a tear drop shaped cluster, while the center stack features dual zone climate control, and following down the console is the Multi Media Interface (MMI) that centrally controls the radio, navigation, climate control, and communications.

The leather wrapped four-spoke steering wheel is comfortable and the center design is reminiscent of the trapezoidal front bumper grille. Steering control buttons activate the entertainment system volume and toggles between different modes on the speedo display. I would personally like to see a three spoke steering wheel instead.

The A6 Avant comes with an advanced key system where you can unlock the doors and start the car without having to use the key or fob as long as it is in your pocket, purse or a few feet away from the vehicle. The electric mechanical e-brake is a great feature as well. With a simple press or pull of the button, the brakes are applied or released. I actually spent a good few minutes looking for the parking brake handle or release lever when I first got in the car.

Once you start the car, you’re greeted with a symphony of instrument cluster ambience; mostly red, but also LED white ambient lighting is tucked beneath interior door handles and along the foot wells. There were more switches and displays than many cars I’ve driven, so I must admit that it took a day of driving to get used to all of the bells and whistles that are packed into the A6. Our test car came equipped with the convenience package which includes a BOSE surround sound system that can match any of today’s home entertainment systems. I was amazed at how crisp the sound was just playing off the FM radio, let alone the Sirius satellite radio stations. The MMI was at first distracting as I was getting used to the buttons and configuration, but the learning curve is steep and at no time was I adjusting cabin temperature settings, using the navigation system, and changing radio presets all from the rotary push-in control button. I also would like to comment on the tactile finish of the console buttons and the textured aluminum rotary knobs. When turning the knobs, there is a distinct clicking feedback that corresponds to the LCD display and lets you know which options you’re toggling through. The high resolution color display worked great even during bright sunny days, without any glare. Though I am a fan of technology, there does seem to be a trend these days to have a lot buttons and visual displays jam packed into the center stack. This can be a potential distraction, and therefore a hazard when on the road.

Our A6 Avant was equipped with a 3.1-liter V6 (not to be misled by the 3.2 model designation) that pushes 255 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm. Mated to a six-speed Tiptronic manual-mode transmission, also with Sport mode, the A6 has plenty of low end grunt to kick your head back. So much so that 90 percent of the torque is available between 2,400 and 5,500 rpm. With a combination of mostly city driving and some highway stretches, we averaged 20 miles per gallon of gas consumption. The EPA rating for this vehicle is 17 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway, so my real life test seems to be right in the middle.

I found the car to be well balanced between comfort and sport while going over bumps and taking on high speed cornering. Because its cornering ability is so linear and stable, I never really felt my torso having to require the support of the side bolsters of my seat. My wife, on the other hand, found the ride to be a tad on the firm side in city driving. The A6 Avant is a great highway car, the Audi Servotronic steering is speed sensitive where low speeds and parking make turning the wheel effortless, and as speeds climb requires greater effort so that it provides the driver with the ideal amount of steering feedback without numbing the senses. Suspension design elements are borrowed from the Audi A8, with the four-link front setup in combination with the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear axle. Lightweight metals and alloys are used to minimize unsprung mass.

The 24 hour Le Mans racing inspired FSI direct injection technology is applied in the V6 engine, and allows for instant fuel supply, four-valve technology, a variable intake manifold, as well as infinite camshaft adjustment on both the intake and exhaust sides. This combination maximizes fuel efficiency and instant power delivery through a higher compression ratio. Literally, better bang for the buck.

My favorite feature of this car is the back up camera. Because it’s so long and wide, parking in the city can be a breeze, as the rear facing image is projected on the LCD screen with visual turning display guides that adjust to the amount of turn in the steering wheel.

Other features that our test car came equipped with included Adaptive Cruise control that houses a radar unit near the front grille which sends and receives signals to automatically maintain the chosen distance from the vehicle ahead. Supplementing the optional cruise control function, this system significantly enhances driving comfort by automatically controlling the speed of the car.

Because of my growing family situation these days, I find myself more concerned about vehicle crash safety features. It gave me great peace of mind to be transporting my wife (and child) around in the A6 Avant, because it was named the “Top Safety Pick” in the large car category by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Two-stage passenger-sensing advanced airbags along with seat-mounted front side airbags, curtain-type airbags and optional rear side airbags help protect the driver and all passengers in a collision. Standard electronic stability control, ESP in this case, is a highly sophisticated anti-skid system, made possible because of the standard ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and hydraulic brake assist (BA), the latter of which automatically increases brake power when the driver applies the brakes in an emergency.

The A6 Avant starts at $49,000. Our test vehicle with the optional Premium, Technology, and Cold Weather packages, navigation, adaptive cruise control, manual side and rear window sunshades, and rear side airbags climbed up to $59,600. While expensive for a V6-powered wagon, I like to think of this car as multiple vehicles for the price of one. On one end, you’re getting the performance of a sports sedan and on the other end you’re gaining the practicality of a station wagon, not to mention the quattro all-wheel drive traction of an SUV. The A6 Avant is a true sleeper vehicle, so if you want to drive in the soul of a luxury sports sedan without attracting the unnecessary attention, then the Audi A6 Avant should be on your list.