Around the turn of the millennium, Audi took an A6 Avant, gave it a set of high heels, and glued on some plastic cladding to create the A6 Allroad. Even though it developed a reputation for going wrong constantly, it was and still is as cool as a walk-in freezer. A lifted, ruggedized, turbocharged or V8 wagon with a properly handsome silhouette. While Audi’s offered subsequent generations of A6 Allroad, none have quite captured the X-factor of the original. Until now.
Because simply slapping cladding on an A6 Avant wouldn’t be enough, Audi went the extra mile by running the classic play of a proper widebody. Some 4.3 inches wider than a standard A6 Avant, and much of that’s in the metal. Those front fenders have shades of RS5 to them, and the pumped rear haunches provide an outrageous view from the rear.
Then there are the wonderfully concave six-spoke alloys, a strong face design fitting Audi’s stance alterations. Track width runs a serious 2.9 inches wider up front and 2.75 inches wider out back, perfect for accommodating up to 285-section tires. Make no mistake, this thing has stance, big-time.
Speaking of the stance, the A6 Allroad normally sits 1.34 inches higher than a standard A6 Avant, largely due to its new air suspension. Air ride’s been a hallmark of Allroads ever since the first generation, and this latest model features 2.16 inches of height adjustability. A little bit of flexibility for highway cruising and gravel crushing. Hit the switch to raise the ride height further, and you’re looking at nearly two inches of extra clearance. Not bad.
Could these wide fenders be a preview of the next RS6? It’s quite possible, but Audi’s not saying right now. What Audi has said, however, is perhaps even more interesting. The new A6 Allroad isn’t just something to gaze at longingly, wishing to import when it’s finally legal. Audi has already announced it’s bringing it stateside.
While we don’t yet know what will power the new A6 Allroad when it makes it across the Atlantic, it should be available with four-wheel steering and a choice of 19-, 20-, or 21-inch wheels. All the mod-cons you’d expect should be offered too, from massaging seats to four-zone climate control to a Bang & Olufsen sound system. That’s all well and good, but the look of this thing might just be the big story.
Roughly fifteen years ago, Audi was on top of the world. Iron Man was driving its supercar, the S5 and A7 were instant objects of desire, and even the A4 just made its two main German competitors look old. Audis were clean, crisp, and cool. Then the novelty faded, with models like the B9 A4 largely just iterating on Walter de Silva’s mold-breaking language.
When it came time for something new, the marque went all blobby, resulting in recent debuts like the new Q5 and the anticlimactic third-generation A5. Sales have been in a spiral for years, and the only way to fix that is to build great cars. The new A6 Allroad elicits a level of visual desire I haven’t felt from an Audi in ages, and if it and the new Q7 are any indication, Audi seems to be finding its footing again.
Top graphic image: Audi
2019-23 Sonata Catfish face is certainly a look.
No manual, no care. Today’s Audi is a tragedy.
These will always represent the absolute worst in German engineering stereotypes. Previous models required removing the entire front clip to replace the belts or change the oil or some nonsense. Hopefully they have improved.
Looking at that interior makes me want to get to work on the wife’s old Wrangler. The deal is that when it passes inspection, I get to choose a British roadster. Which will definitely not have a single pixel in it by definition.
Its awesome, but is is replace our V90 CC awesome? I don’t know…
Those haunches are raunchier than the Queen’s Corgis’
Nature is healing
Pro: LOOK AT IT
Neutral: unknown power train
Con: it’s an Audi
Pro: Wagon
Neutral: Greige
Con: LOOK AT IT…and it’s an Audi
Pro: What could be
Neutral: What it is
Con: Expected repairs and reliability
Pro: Nice looking wagon
Con: It’s an Audi
Con: It’s an Audi with the air suspension
Con: It’s an Audi with 4 wheel steering so you’ll have twice as many steering racks and tie rods to replace
Con: It’s an Audi that is likely to drain your bank account as much or even more than the original once the OEM warranty expires.
I’ll take the Luddite version (analog all the things) in Nogaro Blue, Imola Yellow, or Sonoma Green.
I’d say pass, but that’s going to be hard to do when this is taking up the two lanes in front of you while the driver is distracted with pleasuring themselves to tiktok videos.
Once again, a beautiful car is rendered useless to me by turning the interior into a goddamn video arcade.
agreed, took it from a 10/10 to something you can’t even consider.
I don’t hate it. Does it need to be painted in anything other than seasonal depression gray? Yes. Will I never be able to afford it? Yes. Can that passenger screen go fuck itself to the moon? Extra yes.
But it is a wagon. For that I can celebrate.
Dear auto manufacturers… Can you please make something like this for regular schulbs? I’m not even asking for the Soviet Special like some people here seem to crave, just give me a compact to midsize wagon in a color. That’s it. Under 40k. I’m not even going to beg you for a manual. Hell, you can put the fucking climate controls on the screen because I know that makes you so, so hard for some reason. I will buy it immediately. Even if it’s made by Stellantis. I feel like I’m being pretty flexible here.
Seems to check all the boxes
Ehhhhhhh. Is this really a wagon? I get that it complies with the Torchinsky rules but… Seeems like a hatchback to me.
At that point I’d probably just torture myself with GTI ownership. Do like that yellow though.
The steep slope of the rear window really cuts into total cargo space, which is a measly 54 cubic inches vs the Merc E-class wagon at 64 and an Outback at slightly over 80. To be fair, the Mercedes has also fallen victim to the steeply raked rear windscreen.
I think this fits better:
https://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/2026/01/kia-k4-wgn-ext-print-3600×2400-01.jpg
(Also available with a manual)
Now that’s what I’m talking about.
I can’t understand why we’re occasionally given hatch versions but never the wagon. Could we just have one wagon?
Would
A hybrid Civic wagon (in blue) would be really tempting.
That’d be an amazing all around car.
It is beautiful. In fact, it’ll look like a sculpture on a pedestal given all the time it’s likely going to spend on your mechanic’s lift.
Of fucking course the car in press photos is gray. Between that, the black interior, and the silver metal esque interior trim I think we’ve got all the colors of the German rainbow here!
What is the point of this overwrought turd of a car? Audi kicked the plot in the bin a while ago regarding styling but this gaping monstrosity MUST fail. Foul. I recall 60s to 20s Audis fondly – elegant. I’d be averse to meeting with the potential owners purely due to their lack of confidence (in many areas.)
Everything aft of the A-pillar looks like it was designed by someone else. The de rigueur gaping maw and the strange front fenders which look like they were stamped for an entirely different car? No thanks.
But can it tow? Prob not in the US. And will its rear seats fold flat? One can dream.
I am not sure this thing fits in an European narrow lane…
Is this the first time RS quarter panels have been applied to a non-RS model?
Also, with that rear end shot, it is insane how much wider the car is than the usable cabin width based on the glasshouse. Once you start seeing how bottom-heavy car designs are now with wide hips and a narrow glasshouse, it’s hard to unsee it.
It looks ridiculous.
Like a Turbo-look Audi.
This reply made me look at the photo again and I’m pretty sure that the mirrors are narrower than the rear arches!
It’s a bit like the Renault 5 Turbo II.
But the 5 Turbo had real substance to back it up (even though it is true that the II was not the homologation car).
Turbo-look Porsches were all the widebody and fat arches without any of the go fast goodies.
This feels more like the latter rather than the former.
Agreed.
I am honestly struggling to see this as a wagon and not a crossover. Not sure if I feel the roof is too high or what, but it doesn’t feel Carish. It feels SUVish.
But those hips are pretty great.
Giggity
Mr Audi I grew up in a wagon, I spent 10 formative years in a wagon, You sir are no wagon.
I mean it is a great looking car but no way you are fitting a little league baseball team with equipment in that unless you run everything through a wood chipper first ala Fargo.
Very nice, but sorry it’s an Audi.
Apologies in advance, but it looks a bit like me in tight jeans. There your weekend is well and truly spoiled. Thank you for your attention in this matter.
You have to imagine these cars were developed roughly side by side. How do you get the A5 so wrong but the A6 and Q7 so right? Assuming the powerplant is the same 3.0T that powers everything else, it should scoot, too.
It doesn’t matter. Iwantitiwantitiwantit. I know what’s replacing my S5 in 2031.
In Europe it has a 300bhp V6 diesel.
It’s actually the car in the picture (judging by the twin tail pipes to the left side, the petrol cars have a dual exhaust).
That is a big ass in the best possible way.
Now I just await VAG to give it ridiculous pricing and then say no one buys wagons.
Oh these will start at $75,000+.
Is it me, or do the photos make the front fender look like it’s not attached properly?
WOW you’re not kidding unless that is a reverse air scoop that makes Teslas look like quality build.
I went back to look, and nothing jumped out but my car/body judgement isn’t that good. The gaps look tight, but there’s a lot going on there. What looks askew to you?
The air vent looks awkward and makes the fender look like they didn’t form the sheet metal properly. It just looks poorly implemented.
I see that now too. The whole front cap looks poorly implemented. Just too much going on.
I don’t mind the slightly jarring vent at the panel gap between fender and door.
I do mind spending Audi money for VW reliability.
Could be worse: you could be getting Audi reliability.