► New 2025 Audi A6 Avant driven in the UK
► Joy! A combustion-engined estate car!
► Very aerodynamic, but rivals carry more
In an age of dramatically changing powertrain technology, genre-bending bodystyles and see-sawing market economics, how refreshing to see Audi revisiting its transitional strengths. The new 2025 Audi A6 Avant is a straightforward, premium executive estate car powered by a choice of petrol and diesel engines, two- or all-wheel drive and a seven-speed twin-clutch S-tronic auto transmission as standard. And we’ve now driven it in the UK.
In a reflection of the changing speed of the Great Electric Car Transformation™, Ingolstadt has chosen to offer the new A6 in distinct EV and combustion forms (and we’ve got more on Audi’s future product strategy if you want it). Hence the conventional Audi A6 Avant wagon, offered in right-hand drive form as a TFSI petrol or TDI Quattro – for those customers who aren’t ready to take the plunge and go for the electric version, covered in our separate Audi A6 Avant e-Tron review.
The combustion A6 wagon tested here squares up to the trad BMW 5-series Touring, Mercedes-Benz E-class… and not much else. Jaguar has stopped selling the XF estate, Lexus doesn’t offer anything in this sector and rivals are effectively just large premium SUVs. Even Volvo can’t decide if it’s still going to build the wagons it’s so famous for.
Read on for our full 2025 Audi A6 Avant review.
At a glance
Pros: Simplicity of range choice, comfort, smooth drivetrains, clever toys, wholesome estate car skills
Cons: That fastback shape pinches ultimate boot space, interior not quite as luxo as previous iterations
What’s new?
This is the C9-generation of Audi A6 Avant and it is based on the group’s latest Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, meaning the hardware is related to the oily bits in the latest Audi Q5 and other larger models wearing the four rings. This wagon was originally supposed to be badged A7, but Audi eventually saw sense and stuck with even numbers for this most mainstream of estate cars.
Compared with the outgoing A6 Avant, the engines are designed to be more frugal and – in a nod to its slippery Audi 100 Avant forebear from 48 years ago – it is also the brand’s most aerodynamically efficient combustion estate of all time, sporting a drag coefficient of just 0.25. All the better for cleaving the air with minimum drag and maximum hush.
Though set-square boot loyalists may worry about the practicality implications of that fastback rear profile…
What are the specs?
Pick from just two 2.0-litre engines in the UK right now: a single TFSI four-cylinder petrol and a four-pot TDI diesel. As you would expect at this level of the market, no manual gearbox is offered and all models come with the S-tronic dual-clutch transmission.
The 2.0 TFSI develops 201bhp and 251lb ft of torque, sent through the front wheels only. No Quattro all-wheel drive is offered on the base petrol engine and key performance stats are 8.3sec 0-62mph and 149mph flat-out.
Spend £4570 extra and you’ll secure the 2.0 TDI with Audi’s clever Quattro drivetrain as standard. The diesel produces 201bhp and 295lb ft, with an additional 24bhp and 170lb ft from the MHEV Plus mild hybrid 48-volt system, which is the bag of tricks enabling low-speed electric-only running at low speeds. Top speed is 148mph and 0-62mph takes a brisk 7.0sec.
At UK launch in May 2025, only these two models are offered, although further engine variants, plug-in hybrids and – in time – S6 and RS6 Avant performance estate cars are all in the pipeline.
How does it drive?
This is a grown-up estate car and it feels large on the road, as any vehicle measuring five metres in length should. Once you head out of town, that size dissolves around you somewhat, abetted by the fitment on higher-spec models of four-wheel steering which does indeed make the Avant feel remarkably nimble during fast flick-flack changes of direction. It’s even better around town, where manoeuvring is really aided by an additional 5deg of rear steer.
Most A6s come with passive dampers as standard, though air springs are available as an option. You have to really drive both options back-to-back to determine the difference. Our verdict? If you can afford the air – which is a fairly reasonable £2050 – it does bring even greater plump and isolation, and certainly works well in the UK. But you really won’t exactly be slumming it on steel-sprung models, judging by the time we’ve spent driving them in Europe. All Audi A6 Avants ride well.
The new 2025 Audi A6 Avant feels mature and premium and you’re well protected from the clatter of combustion and roar of road. Audi claims it’s 30% quieter than its predecessor, thanks to more sophisticated noise suppression, and we’d back up that assertion.
Our biggest regret is that only four-cylinder engines are offered at launch in the UK. Do you rue the loss of multi-cylinder engines in the sake of emissions? We do – a point rammed home by the availability at the European launch of a creamy smooth 362bhp/406lb ft 3.0-litre V6 petrol. It was cultured and smooth and just a little bit burbly (although we only averaged 24.7mpg… go figure). Guess we’ll have to wait for the Audi Sport derivatives that are waiting in the wings.
What’s the interior like?
Audi had become the envy of its peers with top-drawer cabins. You won’t climb in the new C9-generation Audi A6 and be disappointed, but we can’t help wondering if you might be a little less impressed than the days of yore. The technology is staggering, but we question why they use cheap, shiny piano black trim everywhere across the the centre console, the main touchpoints of the steering wheel and the annoying – flimsy even – panel on the driver’s door that controls lights, locks, mirrors and seat memory function. It just doesn’t have the heft and class of earlier Audi materials in our experience.
That said, this remains a solid and comfortable cabin. Space is plentiful up front and two passengers in the rear seats will be just fine. Just watch out for the mother of all transmission tunnels, which renders a third rear passenger a little tricky to accommodate with ease.
The technology onboard will blow your mind or annoy you to smithereens, depending on where you’re coming from. The external touchpad door handles won’t be to all tastes and when the doors open (nice and wide for easy access), you’re greeted by huge colour touchscreens, which optionally extend across to a private display in front of the passenger, if you want it, complete with privacy watching mode so the driver can’t see your film. It’s a very digital experience onboard, but thankfully Audi’s Teutonic logic makes everything easy to operate.
Like Mercedes-Benz, Audi has unfortunately gone big on haptic touch points on the steering wheel, which are as poor to use here as physical buttons were easy. C’mon folks… Others are already reversing out of digitising everything. At least the Bang & Olufsen stereo is commendably crisp and an aural delight. The actual build quality evident on the A6 is first rate, it’s the over-complication and final execution that we question.
Boot space is paramount for estate cars and here the new A6 Avant performs solidly. Check out the tailgate angle and you’ll notice they’ve raked the bootlid by a few extra angles compared with the C8, to the detriment of ultimate loadbay space. It’s still a decent 503 litres, though that dips slightly if you pick the mild hybrid. Just remember, it’s noticeably smaller than the 5-series Touring (570 litres) or the gargantuan E-class Estate (615 litres).
The boot is beautifully trimmed and there are some amazing storage solutions and luggage holding devices and dividing belts which stow neatly away in an underfloor compartment. It’s this attention to detail that endears us to cars like the A6 Avant. Fold the rear seats away and that boot expands to a 1534 litres; still smaller than the 5-series (1700 litres) and E-class (1830 litres).
Before you buy
At 2025 launch, choose from three trim packages on the Audi A6 Avant, ranging from entry-level Sport through sportier S Line and top-spec Edition 1 model. Standard kit includes the following:
Audi A6 Avant Sport: 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights and rear lamps, aluminium roof rails, heat-insulating windscreen, leather upholstery, MMI navigation with 14.5in colour touchscreen, parking cameras, adaptive cruise control, 10-speaker stereo
Audi A6 Avant S line: Upgraded 19in alloy wheels, sport suspension lowered by 20mm, privacy glass, three-spoke sports steering wheel, S line body kit
Audi A6 Avant Edition 1: Larger 20in alloy wheels in graphite with gloss accents, exterior black pack, black roof rails, red brake callipers, Dynamica microfibre and leather upholstery pack, additional protection systems (rear-cross traffic alert, rear turn assist, side assist)
Prices start at £52,210 for the entry-level A6 Avant Sport 2.0 TFSI S tronic, rising by £3100 for the S line and a further £4900 for the Edition 1. Diesel prices start at £56,780 for the Sport, rising by a more modest £2800 to the S line and a further £4900 for Edition 1.
For paint colours, choose from Arkona White, Glacier White (as pictured), Mythos Black, Grenadine Red, Floret Silver, Firmament Blue, Ascari Blue, Chronos Grey, Midnight Green, and Daytona Grey.
Verdict
On many levels the new C9 generation Audi A6 Avant is pure class. We like the way it looks, it’s a slick, sophisticated drive that works well in the UK and it’s built beautifully. Clever styling looks sleeker than before yet the boot is still a good size and there’s plenty of space onboard for limbs and luggage. It’s just a shame the interior is a little over-fussy and not quite as knock-out as Audi cabins of yesteryear. It’s the biggest black mark on the newcomer and we urge you to check the digital details fit into your life before you commit.
You’ve just a couple of four-cylinder engines to choose from at launch, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Audi will quickly flesh out the A6 Avant range with every which powertrain and combination of driven wheels. What with the fully electric e-Tron option sitting alongside, it’s very likely you’ll find an A6 that suits your needs and budget – but don’t forget to check the BMW 5-series/i5 first and Merc’s cavernous E-Class, too.
Specs for the bestselling 2025 Audi A6 Avant 2.0 TFSI S line spec
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