Audi A6 Avant 55 TFSI e quattro - a fast, electrified family car

Audi’s TFSI e range, the range of rechargeable hybrids, is growing rapidly. The A6 Avant, now in test drive, challenges its closest Bmw and Mercedes rivals on paper, both on price and performance – and is not a winner on all counts.

The A6’s biggest strengths are definitely its quality and its pleasant, quiet ride. The ride is very stable, and the weight gain of around 300 kilos from the hybrid system makes the ride even more stable. At 2150 kg, the A6 Avant cannot be called a lightweight charging hybrid.

In terms of appearance and functionality, the A6 and A6 Avant’s cabins go hand in hand with their big brother, the A7. The dashboard is dominated by two large overlaid touchscreens and the buttons have been reduced to a few fingers.

The look is intriguing

The Audi design world has remained respectably calm and elegant for a long time. There has been no rush to the wildest new styling trends, with the A6, for example, seeing only very modest styling updates to the latest body styles.

The biggest design updates in the latest bodywork are seen in the more pronounced boxing between the rear fender and the rear window. More shallow and wider styling has been introduced to the front bumper. Overall, the design has gone in a more angular direction compared to the previous body style.

The car’s overall length of just under five metres can be seen and felt inside. There’s plenty of space in all directions, front and rear. There’s room in the boot for luggage for a larger party and the floor is perfectly flat, something that can’t always be taken for granted in hybrids. However, according to the technical specifications, the volume is only 405 litres.

More power than the competition

The electric motor has plenty of power. The power available is a delayed 105 kilowatts, or 141 horsepower. The electric motor is mated to the 7-speed S tronic automatic transmission. Driving on electric power alone, the car’s handling is effortless and responsive.

The car is powered by a two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The 252 horsepower of the combustion engine propels the chunky wagon smoothly. The 370 Nm of torque from the petrol engine is available from 1600 rpm onwards.

Both engines currently have a combined output of 270 kW and a maximum torque of 500 Newton metres. Zero to 60 mph is achieved in 5.7 seconds, aided by four-wheel drive as standard, even in slippery conditions. The A6 Avant 55 TFSI e doesn’t have to stay on its feet.

Drivability is unsurprisingly Audi. The edgy feel is a little lacking on the faster bends. The light steering feel is the main contributor to the numbness. The chassis and powertrain seem to have plenty of punch for a sportier ride.

Electric or petrol, you decide

The electric driving modes are familiar from Audi’s range. In the MMI menu, you can choose which power source to drive with. You can choose between all-electric EV, the hybrid mode AUTO, which uses both engines, and HOLD, which saves battery power.

The car’s battery has a capacity of 14.1 kWh. Driving style really influences the actual range of the EV.

At best, the car will reach the manufacturer’s stated electricity consumption of around 18 kWh/100 km.
When starting out in a completely cold car in cold weather, the electricity consumption for the initial journey is so high due to heating and other systems that the total distance on a full battery is easily around 30 km.

During the test drive, with the car pre-heated and a full battery in mixed urban driving, 42 fully electric kilometres were achieved.

Pricing ahead of the rest

In terms of features, the Audi A6 Avant plug-in hybrid has been honed into a fine package. Starting at just over €70,000, the price is puzzling, and will certainly put off potential buyers and even brand-loyal Audi drivers.

As for the charging estate hybrids, the starting price for the four-wheel-drive BMW 5 Series is just over EUR 61 000 and the rear-wheel-drive Mercedes E Series around EUR 62 000. On paper, the A6 is the fastest of the three, but that’s not quite enough to make up for a price difference of more than €10 000.