2016 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance Quick Review

TELL ME ABOUT THIS CAR

It’s the mid-cycle update of one of the world’s fastest wagons that unleashes even more power, torque and speed from the twin-turbocharged 4.0 V8. Audi RS 6 Avant Performance combines vast load carrying ability and daily practicality with near-supercar-rivalling performance.

3

STRENGTHS

• Stunning, epic performance: even more so than the already stellar Audi RS 6 Avant. Audi claims a reduction of 0.2 sec for 0-100km/h, bringing it down to a brutal 3.7sec.
• The engine responds with even more eagerness and aggressiveness than in the ‘regular’ previous RS 6, meaning ferocious acceleration and top-end firepower for keen drivers, along with a belching, burbling soundtrack
• Additional interior styling elements and equipment make the cabin even more stylish and desirable, bringing many bits that were optional on the regular RS 6.
• Despite the seemingly huge price, this Performance variant actually represents reasonable value when you consider the old RS Design package (many elements of which are incorporated here) was $13,900. It means buyers get the additional 33kW/50Nm and a crackling exhaust for about $2000.
• Quattro drivetrain means all four wheels receive optimum allocations of the engine’s vast outputs, meaning massive traction and no wasteful wheelspin. Huge performance remains accessible even on wet or slippery roads.

3

WEAKNESSESS

• It’s still a large, heavy vehicle, so it’s at its best in open, sweeping country. You’ll feel the mass when pushing the RS 6 hard in tight traffic.
• The ‘Performance’ suffix suggests full inclusion of everything needed for a complete ultra-high-performance vehicle, but this is not the case. For maximum spec, buyers still need to add expensive carbon-ceramic brakes and even the firmer dynamic suspension package.

ANY RIVALS I SHOULD CONSIDER?

Logical rivals would be wagon variants of the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz AMG E63, however neither of these are offered in Australia at this time. So in terms of vast engine outputs with load-carrying ability, you’re left looking at the dynamically inferior SUV pair from BMW, the X5 M or X6 M. Porsche’s all-new Panamera Turbo arrives early next year, offering similar levels of firepower as the RS 6, but without the same huge load space or ease of access.