Used Audi A6 Avant (2005 - To Date) review

The Audi A6 Avant offers a beguiling blend of quality and quantity. As long as you don't expect scalpel sharp handling or any bargain buys, it's hard to see how you could come away disappointed. The 3.0-litre TDI and S6 versions are probably the editor's picks in this instance.

Size isn't everything. There are many compact cars that due to clever design, can offer almost as much versatility as bigger ones - with significantly less bulk. Unfortunately, the raison d'etre of a big estate is rather more focused than in some other sectors. Here, it's all about being able to haul a serious amount of goods and consequently, all the clever design in the world won't disguise a lack of cubic inches if you're shopping for a car of this kind. Audi quickly realised this and in introducing the MK3 A6 Avant in 2005, brought to market the perfect riposte to the crop of sportwagons, trendy estates that couldn't carry a tune. This generation A6 also came with a big hit of attitude. Whereas it took some time for many buyers to become comfortable with the styling of the BMW 5 Series, the A6 was an instant hit. The combination of big car and big presence had been tried before but never with this depth of quality control to back it up. Used examples are now starting to filter onto the market and make very interesting buys.

AUDI A6 HISTORY

It took Audi a little while to flesh the A6 range out with an Avant variant, the saloon models appearing in mid 2004 while customers looking for an estate had to wait until April 2005 for the privilege. It was well worth the thumb twiddling though. Like the saloon, the key styling feature was that prominent grille or, as Audi prefer to call it, the 'single frame'. Look beyond that and you'll notice the curvaceous flanks, topped and tailed by a sharp longitudinal crease line that forms a definite hip and the rising edge in the door sills that creates a great deal of tension and shadow in the A6's profile. The Ingolstadt company claims the world's tightest shut lines and the panel fit around the door is indeed superb, the 2.5mm apertures between the doors and body panels being astonishingly uniform. Gone are the days when the 'pound coin test' would separate the best from the rest when it comes to panel fit. In spring 2006, the 430bhp V10 S6 Avant became available to order. The 4.2-litre V8 was upgraded to use FSI direct injection technology at around the same time.

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MONEY?

The MK3 A6 Avant features what has to be the most meticulously designed load bay in estate car history with all manner of hooks, eyes, hidden compartments, storage nets and so on. An optional reversible mat features velour carpeting on one side and a wipe-clean rubberised finish on the other, additionally incorporating a pull-out protective sheet that extends over the bumper, preventing damage to the car's paintwork. A detachable ski or snowboard bag was developed for this derivative, as was an internal cycle rack system - we could go on but you probably get the idea already.

WHAT PRICE AM I LOOKING AT?

Expect to pay from around £18,750 for a 55-plated 2004 A6 2.4 SE with a manual box. The sporty S-Line trim level adds around £1,400 to that price. The 3.2-litre FSI is well worth looking for and prices here open at £21,500 for an SE with a quattro version starting at £24,200. The 2.0-litre TDI is a decent budget pick and an SE version on a 55 plate will be just over £21,500. The 3.0-litre TDI is probably the pick of the entire range and a quattro SE can be yours for £25,500, again on the 55 plate. Insurance ranges from Group 15 for the entry level petrol and diesel models up to 20 for the S6 Avant.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR?

Audi would probably be mortified had a car with this much development budget behind it developed any significant faults. It's all been quiet so far with no major recalls to report either. When buying, look for cars with leather and metallic paint and don't pay over the odds for optional extras such as satellite navigation. The ride on the A6 is rather firm, so watch out for this if the car you're looking at has the optional larger alloy wheels. The complexity of the car should be enough to ensure you insist on an A6 with a cast-iron service history and, at this stage, Audi dealers are still likely to have the best examples. The premium they charge may be well worth your peace of mind. Interiors are hard wearing and well designed, much like the rest of the car. As for corrosion, with an Audi you're pretty safe and there's a lengthy anti-perforation warranty to reassure you (ensure any conditions have not been breached by previous owners).

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

Gone are the days when base specification A6 Avant models were fitted with puny engines. This did Audi's image no good and the MK3 model only has two four-cylinder engines: they are a grunty 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI turbodiesel and a 168bhp 2.0-litre FSI Turbo. Other than that, the line-up consists of V6 and V8 units exclusively, opening with a 2.4-litre 177bhp V6. Next up are 180bhp 2.7-litre and 225bhp 3.0-litre TDI turbodiesels. Then there's a 3.2-litre V6 FSI petrol engine that manages 255bhp. At the top of the mainstream range is a 335bhp 4.2-litre V8 although the S6 is something that, once sampled, some will be unable to resist. As usual with Audi, there are choices between front wheel drive and all-wheel drive Quattro variants and gearbox options extend to six speed manual, Tiptronic automatic and the Multitronic CVT. All models benefit from double wishbone front and multi link rear suspension, banishing the memory of the rather agricultural torsion beam rear axle that front-wheel drive A6 models have traditionally campaigned with.

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

PARTS INFORMATION

(based on a 2005 2.0 TDI SE - ex Vat) A clutch assembly is around £150. Front and rear brake pads should be about £65 a set. A radiator is about £140, an alternator about £235 and a starter motor £160.

TOP 5 A6 DEALS

The results below show the top A6 deals on buyacar

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