Audi A6 Avant estate (2011-2018) - Interior & comfort

The standard steel suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels on the basic SE Executive model make for a very comfortable ride. The interior is nicely insulated from any wind or road noise, while the comfortable, supportive leather seats (also standard) prove very welcome on longer motorway drives.

If you choose the sportier S line model, however, the addition of 18-inch alloy wheels and lowered sports suspension makes the ride much firmer. The car fidgets a lot, disturbing the ride for both the driver and their passengers. But the S line's more aggressive bumpers do look great, so it really comes down to your priorities. You can bypass this issue by specifying the SE Executive’s softer suspension on the S line as a no-cost option – and we think this is well worth doing.

The RS6 comes with air suspension as standard, meaning the car can be softened when you aren't trying to hustle it down a twisty road. Though the suspension does feel firm, it never feels unacceptably hard and the car is comfortable despite the huge performance on offer.

Audi A6 Avant dashboard

15

The materials used inside the A6 Avant are top-notch – soft-touch plastics and plush surface finishes abound. The controls are positioned in sensible and easy-to-reach places, with an intuitive MMI control system that takes care of many of the car’s functions. It’s just a shame that the scroll wheel controller takes a bit of getting used to, as it tends to operate in the opposite direction to what you expect.

Equipment

All Audi A6 Avant models come with plenty of equipment and accessories, with even entry-level SE Executive models sporting a Bluetooth phone connection, sat nav, four-zone climate control, DAB radio, parking sensors and leather seats as standard. As you go up the range, things like powered sports seats and bigger bumpers are also included.

15

Options

You should be careful when presented with the A6 Avant's extensive options list, because tempting gadgets such as night vision, a head-up display, upgraded voice recognition, a high-quality Bang & Olufsen stereo and a TV will very quickly add thousands of pounds to the price.