2023 Audi A6 Allroad

Station wagons are a rare breed these days, but spend a week with a vehicle like the Audi A6 Allroad and you’ll wonder why that is. Yes, crossovers promise SUV utility with “car-like” driving dynamics, but this is an actual car. Short of the very smoothest, sharpest-handling SUVs you’d be hard-pressed to find any that drive with the A6’s refinement. Inside it has more room and fancier fittings than some of its compact luxury crossover competitors, and though it’s no G-Wagen, it can even handle a bit of rough terrain. It also radiates style in ways crossovers don’t.

While Audi’s A6 sedan (which we review separately) is an under-the-radar Q-ship, the Allroad is an attention-getter. Long, low and sleek, with standard 20-inch rims, it looks nearly as sporty as the mighty RS6 Avant. It also comes standard with the A6’s optional 3.0-liter, 355-horsepower V6 and an adjustable adaptive air suspension similar to the one on the S6 but which can raise the car by 1.2 inches. Audi gave all the A6 family a big tech update in 2021 but hasn’t changed it much since. 

These days station wagons are mostly luxury lifestyle machines, and the A6 Allroad competes directly with only the Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain (part of the E-Class line) and Volvo V90. Subaru’s Outback is similar in concept but much more plebeian. But the Allroad could easily be considered as an alternative to sedans like the E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Genesis G80 (all A6 rivals) and also sportier crossovers like the BMW X4 or Genesis GV70. The downside? While the A6 Allroad is about as practical as those compact luxury SUVs, it’s considerably pricier.

There’s only one engine choice, but the Allroad’s V6 is uncannily smooth and powerful. It’s not as fast as an S6 or M5 but there’s never a lack of passing power. It also drives like a sporty luxury sedan, with handling that belies its 4,500-pound heft. The air suspension will raise the car up and all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard, but the Allroad falls short of the Outback and V90 in the dirt. Still, it can handle a great many driving situations without ever losing composure and rides smoothly enough for little kids to fall asleep.

Inside, backseat room is comparable to many compact SUVs and good by midsize car standards. The cabin is beautifully detailed and the chairs are supremely comfortable. Cargo volume is comparable to Audi’s own compact Q5 or the midsize Lexus RX SUV overall, but the A6 Allroad has more space behind the rear seats than they do. The lower roof height also makes using the standard roof rails easier than on an SUV, though it means you don’t get the commanding view of the road that crossovers provide. 

Like the other A6 models, the Allroad is rich with modern technology, and many functions are controlled through a pair of screens (a 10.1-inch infotainment unit and an 8.6-inch HVAC panel). Some drivers prefer more hard controls, but Audi’s menus aren’t too hard to learn. There are also many standard and available driver assist features and extras like a night vision assistant and a head-up display. At nearly $70,000 to start, the asking price is steep, but the A6 Allroad does almost everything well and looks great doing it.

Performance: 12/15

Unlike the gaggle of available powertrain choices on the other A6 models, the Allroad offers only one: the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque 55 TFSI engine. Power and economy are both aided by a 48-volt mild hybrid system, and the Allroad uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

While Europeans get a regular A6 wagon, the U.S. only gets the Allroad, which comes standard with an adjustable adaptive air suspension that can lift the car up by an extra 1.2 inches for venturing into rough terrain. The Allroad also gets bigger front brakes and more wheel travel than the regular A6, though its standard 20-inch wheels telegraph some of its limitations.

Although it can handle dirt roads and forest trails far better than any Audi sedan and the body cladding looks very butch, it’s still not really meant for the roughest stuff. The Outback and V90 both offer at least eight inches of ground clearance and more realistic wheels for terrain while the Audi tops out at 7.3 inches. That’s still better than the Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain’s 5.8.

On the pavement, however, it is completely uncompromised by any off-roading emphasis and, depending on the beholder, seems to ride smoother than the A6 sedan. Surprisingly, it’s quite agile for a 4,500-pound station wagon and the steering is fairly communicative. It’s nowhere near as athletic as the RS6 Avant with which it shares its shape, but it isn’t meant to be. The Allroad delivers predictable, safe handling and loads of cozy comfort, mile after mile. It’s also appreciably faster than the V90 or Outback, with zero-to-60 runs of just over five seconds (about a second ahead of the others).

Fuel Economy: 13/15

Regular A6 sedans return above-average fuel economy for the class, but the A6 Allroad returns roughly the same mileage as its wagon peers. The EPA rates it at 21 mpg city, 30 highway and 24 mpg combined, the same rating as the V6-powered A6 sedans, which puts it ahead of sedans like the Genesis G80 and Cadillac CT5 but slightly behind smaller (and cheaper) crossovers like Audi’s own Q5 (which gets 23 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 combined).

Against rival wagons, the Volvo V90 returns 22 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 mpg combined while the Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain does 21, 28 and 24 mpg combined. Subaru’s turbocharged Outback XT earns 22 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 combined. In our real-world evaluations, we came in at about 23.2 mpg combined. Needless to say, all the luxury wagons drink premium gas while the Subaru uses regular 87.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 13/15

Audi makes many active-safety features standard on the A6 Allroad, including forward collision warnings, forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, surround-view monitoring, lane-departure warnings and automatic high beams. Prestige models add rear-cross traffic alerts and rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and active lane change assist. Getting these features on the base Premium Plus means opting for the $3,200 Executive package and a $500 “side assist and pre-sense rear” package, both of which are worth the ask.

Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the A6 a five-star overall rating while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) bestows its highest rating: Top Safety Pick+.

The A6 Allroad’s safety systems all work well (the lane keep assist is less annoyingly invasive than BMW’s but the lane centering can be more aggressive) but both Mercedes-Benz and Volvo bring excellent ADAS systems.

Comfort & Room: 14/15

Almost everything about the A6 Allroad is aimed at making life comfortable inside, and passengers will find comfortable and supportive chairs in every position. It’s hard to imagine this car wearing you out even on a journey as long as New York to Chicago, which can’t necessarily be said of the firm seats in an Outback, and Audi even offers massaging seats to make sure it doesn’t.

There’s loads of room in front, and more rear-seat legroom (37.4 inches) than Volvo (35.9 or Mercedes-Benz (36.1). Only Subaru has more (39.5). The sedan versions of the Volvo and the Mercedes are reversed, with the longer-wheelbase S90 having much more legroom (40.3) and the E-Class sedan less (35.8). The Allroad’s long roof also means more rear-seat headroom than in the A6 sedan.

Infotainment: 12/15

The A6 Allroad uses a 10.1-inch central infotainment screen and a smaller 8.6-inch unit beneath it for the HVAC controls. There’s also a pretty 12.3-inch digital driver’s display using the automaker’s Virtual Cockpit setup. This is a lot of screens, and hard controls for the HVAC functions would probably be better. 

That said, Audi’s MMI infotainment system, with its multitude of menus, is actually not very hard to learn or get used to. Non digital-natives might face a steep learning curve, but this is nowhere near the most overwhelming infotainment system we’ve seen in a 2023 model luxury car (hello, BMW i7). Audi also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment if you prefer those interfaces. 

Every Allroad also gets a six-month trial of Audi connect Plus, which comes with Amazon Alexa integration, a Wi-Fi hotspot and traffic light information for the navigation system. A sonorous 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, optional on the regular A6, is standard on the Allroad.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

Audi only quotes the space behind the A6’s rear seats, but at 30 cubic-feet there’s plenty, and that’s only 8 cubes shy of the big Audi Q7 with its third row folded. Fold the A6 Allroad’s seats down and the cargo hold looks similar to that of the V90 Cross Country (about 54 cubic-feet). That’s more than enough for a family of four, but Mercedes-Benz has a little more (35 cubes behind the rear seats and 64 overall) and Subaru a lot more (32.5 and 75.7). Still, this is a very practical luxury vehicle, and even Audi’s own hatchback A7 can’t match it.

The question is, do you need an SUV? Probably not. The smaller Audi Q5 offers a little less space than this, but the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70 more. The A6 Allroad is nearly as practical though, and much more glamorous. Despite its overachieving nature, small item storage is only so-so inside the Allroad, and Subaru and Volvo offer more.

Style & Design: 10/10

While the regular A6 is understated to the extent it often flies under people’s radar, the A6 Allroad is the opposite. The long roof, massive 20-inch wheels and low, sleek proportions are almost perfect, and it attracts lots of attention everywhere it goes, particularly from Audi loyalists but also from SUV owners. The body cladding, an Allroad staple since 1999, is not to everyone’s taste but it definitely looks good here. It’s also less aggressive and more harmonious than on other wagons like the Outback.

Pictures don’t always do Audi interiors justice, as the unadorned and clean surfaces can look spartan and plain in a web-sized photo. Step inside, however, and the details really pop, with lovely wood inlays and beautifully finished metal, cloth and leather surfaces. It is not as overtly or obviously luxurious as the E450 All Terrain, but it definitely feels special inside.

Is the 2023 Audi A6 Allroad Worth it? Which A6 Allroad is the Best Value? 

There’s no sugar coating it, A6 Allroad is an expensive car, and starts out $68,995 (including a $1,095 destination fee) for the Premium Plus model. Only the E450 All-Terrain costs more among its competitors, and that’s $4,200 more than the equivalent A6 Premium Plus 55 TFSI sedan. The top-spec Prestige model costs $74,495, almost $5,000 above the Mercedes and $9,000 more than the top-trim V90 Cross Country. It also costs more than a bunch of smaller luxury crossovers.

Yes, that’s expensive, but with luxury sedan accommodations, attention-grabbing style, compact crossover utility, and a very satisfying driving experience, it definitely feels worth it. A6 Allroads have a cult following among car enthusiasts and it seems very well deserved.

We’d stick with the Premium Plus, but add some choice options. Any color but black will add $595 to the price, and we’d also select the $3,250 Executive Package, which brings 4-zone climate control, ventilated front seats and heated rears, adaptive cruise control with lane centering and super cool ambient lighting. Add another $500 for the side assist and pre-sense rear features and you’re looking at $73,340. 

Audi also builds an A4 Allroad. It has a tighter back seat and cargo hold, but it also costs only $46,995 to start.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Audi A6 Allroad?

The Audi A6 Allroad’s insurance costs are in line with its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $3,242 on a typical Audi A6 Allroad Premium Plus, though this averages all 50 states. A similar Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain would run $3,289, a Volvo V90 Cross Country $2,960, and a Subaru Outback XT Limited $1,899. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.