Audi’s New A6 Allroad Wears RS6 Fenders To Fight Boring SUVs

Audi has rolled out a new generation of the A6 Allroad, handing it an RS6-style widebody to go with the raised stance and added plastic cladding. The high-riding wagon pitches itself as a leaner, more muscular alternative to premium SUVs like the Q5 and Q7, and for the first time it comes with a plug-in hybrid option alongside the familiar V6 turbodiesel.

The wide fenders are the visual headline, a first for the Allroad after years of being reserved for the hotter RS6. Audi pairs them with Allroad-specific touches that lean toward ruggedness rather than sport.

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The front bumper picks up a honeycomb grille and gloss-black inserts around the side intakes. Down the flanks, discreet cladding wraps the flared arches and side skirts, while the rear gets its own bumper with faux vents and a skid plate that doubles as a diffuser. Buyers who’d rather skip the black can have those same pieces in matte silver chrome, joined by aluminum roof rails and chrome-plated tailpipes.

According to Audi, the digital Matrix LED headlights can project lane boundaries and ice warnings onto the road surface ahead, while the digital OLED 2.0 taillights display warning symbols for other vehicles. The wagon rides on 19-inch wheels as standard, but it is optionally available with sportier 21-inch alloys.

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The A6 Allroad measures 5,016 mm (197.5 in) long, 1,986 mm (78.2 in) wide and between 1,479-1,508 mm (58.2-59.4 in) tall. This means it is a full 111 mm (4.4 in) wider than the standard A6 Avant and 84 mm (3.3 in) wider compared to the previous A6 Allroad.

Lifted Air Suspension

What makes the Allroad more than a jacked-up A6 is the chassis work underneath. Audi gave it a bespoke suspension and steering setup, starting with a ride height that sits 34 mm (1.3 inches) taller than standard in normal mode. The active air suspension offers 55 mm (2.2 inches) of travel, so the offroad settings adds another 15 mm (0.6 inches) and the lift function tops out at 20 mm (0.8 in) at low speeds, with the dampers recalibrating for the extra height.

A softer Comfort mode handles everyday road driving, while a Dynamic setting drops the body 20 mm (0.8 inches) for what Audi calls greater precision and stability. Above 75 mph (120 km/h), every mode lowers the Allroad by 20 mm to improve efficiency.

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Audi also claims sharper agility from all-wheel steering that turns the rear wheels up to 5 degrees against the fronts at low speed, shrinking the turning circle by as much as a meter (3.3 feet), then up to 2 degrees with them at higher speeds for added stability. Finally, the stiffer progressive steering promises greater feedback.

PHEV And Diesel Options

Under the hood, the headline news is the first-ever plug-in hybrid option for an Allroad model. The electrified powertrain is shared with the A6 Avant e-Hybrid, comprising a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a single electric motor. The combined output is 362 hp (270 kW / 367 PS) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. Furthermore, a 25.9 kWh battery pack offers a zero-emission WLTP range of 95 km (59 miles) and can recharge in 2.5 hours when plugged in an 11 W AC socket.

The other option is the mild-hybrid 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel which is good for 295 hp (220 kW / 299 PS) and 580 Nm (428 lb-ft) of torque, with the 48V system contributing an additional 24 hp (18 kW).

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Both engines are combined with a standard quattro all-wheel drive system. The mild-hybrid diesel has a towing rating of 2,500 kg (5,512 lbs) compared to 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs) for the e-Hybrid. The TDI is also the quickest of the two, accelerating from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.4 seconds (-0.1 seconds). In both cases, top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).

High-Tech And Practical Interior

Inside, the Allroad benefits from the latest tech already introduced in the sedan and Avant bodystyles of the A6 family. The dashboard houses a 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen and an optional 10.9-inch passenger display.

Premium features in the optional list include four-zone climate control, an air quality package with a dust sensor, an acoustic glass package, a dimmable panoramic glass roof, and seats with pneumatically adjustable bolsters, heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. Furthermore, buyers have access to personalization options such as silver-brown poplar wood inserts or a light gray linen mesh inlay made of recycled plastics.

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As for practicality, the A6 Allroad inherits the large cabin space of the A6 Avant. The boot has a capacity of 466-1,497 lt (16.5-52.9 cubic feet) in the diesel and 404-1,423 lt (14.3-50.3 cubic feet) for the plug-in hybrid due to the larger battery. Those who need to carry more gear can order the matte black aluminum roof basket from the Audi Genuine Accessories catalog.

Pricing And Availability

Order books for the new Audi A6 Allroad Quattro open in European markets on June 18, with first deliveries due this fall. German pricing starts at €77,250 ($89,600) for the V6 TDI and €80,250 ($93,100) for the e-hybrid. Besides SUVs, the only direct rival of the raised wagon is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain, since the Volvo V90 Cross Country has been retired.

There’s no word yet on US availability, though past Allroad generations made the trip across the Atlantic, including the original C5 and the outgoing C8. Right now the only new A6 sold in the States is the sedan, so importing the Allroad would hand American buyers their first crack at the wagon before the flagship RS6 turns up down the road.