Review of the new Audi A6 Avant - LongTerm Test

This Long Term Testcould not have come at a better time for me. Recently, my friend Paul (who drives a four year old Audi A6) had to get his beloved car serviced. He had been a confirmed Audi lover, until he got his four-digit bill. After having the car for only six months, he wasn't at all pleased. You may wonder why Paul didn't buy a nice new Audi that comes with three years' warranty. It's simple, he doesn't like the look of the new Audi A6. He says it has a big grill on the front that makes it look ugly. I was eager to meet the latest model and show him what he was missing out on.

When I did catch sight of the A6 Avant 3.2 FSI model, across a crowded car park, I relished my chance to play the businesswoman again. Maybe it's the horror I see on some drivers' faces when they see a young woman driving a prestige model. Or the confused expression I see on the petrol shop assistant's face, when I calmly tell her that yes, that is my car at pump number four.

I am starting to see the reason that so many female businesswomen are ditching their smaller executive offerings in favour of these prestige estates. They are slick, professional and the stereotypical image of the late, middle-aged man driving them around is starting to fade. In recent years, Audi has won numerous awards for being one of the coolest brands in the UK. This leads me to the conclusion that Audi's are becoming more and more popular with the younger generations.

The new A6 was launched in 2004 and was one of the first model Ranges to feature the new trapezoidal front grille, making the car appear sporty and aggressive. It echoes the race cars of the 1930's, the decade in which four manufacturers, Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer merged to create the second largest motor vehicle company in Germany. The Audi A6 is targeted at the extremely competitive executive market, rivalling the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes E-Class. However, drive a BMW or a Mercedes and certain preconceptions about you will be formed however inaccurately, in the minds of others. Audi manages to remain usefully aloof from all that.

"If you want your engines to be clever as well as powerful, the 3.2-litre FSI petrol unit will be right up your street.."

If you want your engines to be clever as well as powerful, the 3.2-litre FSI petrol unit will be right up your street. The FSI set-up injects unleaded directly into the cylinders at a rate that's adapted According to the demands being placed on the engine by the driver. The engine actually generates 255bhp and 330Nm of torque, which helps to deliver 0-60mph acceleration of 6.9s along with an artificially limited top speed of 155mph. On the road, it feels fast and responsive with a muffled growl growing in the engine bay as the revs rise higher but drive the car more sedately and you'd hardly know it's there. It's an impressive piece of work from Audi, all that complex technology combining to provide simple driver enjoyment.

The 3.2-litre FSI engine is the only one in the A6 Range that's available with either quattro four-wheel drive or standard front-wheel drive transmission. Both SE and S-Line trim levels are offered with both drive options so there are effectively four different A6 3.2 FSI models for buyers to decide between or eight if you allow for the saloon or Avant estate bodystyles. Quattro versions cost £1,600 in addition to the standard A6's price but it's a premium that many will want to scrape around for. With BMW and Mercedes sticking resolutely to rear wheel drive set-ups on all their models, front wheel-drive Audis can feel a little less composed on the road in comparison. The introduction of quattro all-wheel drive alters that balance, with the permanent 4x4 set-up giving greater stability, better traction and an all-round boost to the car's driving dynamics. Quattro is always going to be the way for keen drivers to go if they can muster the requisite budget but even with just two wheels driven, there's plenty to enjoy about the A6.

Your choice of gearbox will have a lot to do with how you use the car: options extend to six speed manual, Tiptronic automatic and the Multitronic CVT. The manual set-up is one of Audi's next-generation Manual/Longitudinal or ML type and without going into the ins or outs of it, drivers can expect to experience a short throw action and a precise feel. If you must have an automatic with your A6 3.2 FSI, the one you get will depend on your preference for front or all wheel drive. The quattro models get a 6-speed tiptronic set-up, with everyone else settling for the multitronic CVT unit with its seven shift stages.

The A6 has an understated elegance and lacks of any discernable stigma of the kind that more aggressively-styled cars might attach to its owners. The current A6 is certainly a more distinctive car than its predecessor with that elongated Audi family grille but it remains inconspicuous with its clean lines and simple sleek shape. Buyers seeking more of an on-road presence can get one through the S-Line specification with its lowered suspension and bigger wheels.

If you are young or young at heart and want to be at the cutting-edge of both technology and fashion, then Audi is the way forward. The A6 has always been a popular choice and with the option of the 3.2-litre FSI engine, you will certainly be able to chase off less able cars at the lights. There are many other marques that could give similar performance for less money but would you consider them? The Audi name certainly carries a big dose of brand equity with it, screaming "I'm successful and I want every one to know it to anyone who cares to listen". The A6 Avant 3.2 FSI is a fabulous choice if you really want to be at the cutting edge of fashion.

Picture the scene; you are at the pub with your mates one of them asks you about your new car. "Oh," you reply, "I've got the new Audi A6 Avant 3.2 FSI." Enough said.