2024 Audi A6 allroad

There’s an under-populated area of midsize luxury cars, one where the vehicle mixes plushness and practicality to a higher degree than normal, one that makes equally good sense in the ritzier parts of the city and the wilder parts of the country. This is where the A6 Allroad lives, with the Volvo V90 Cross Country as its nearest neighbor.

Based on the A6 sedan, but with a raised ride height, all-wheel drive as standard, and a wagon kind of body, the A6 Allroad also exhibits the usual Audi style, tech and sophistication we’ve all come to know and most of us love. Let the masses keep their lumbering SUVs; this ride is for the more discerning.

The regular A6 midsize luxury sedan is reviewed separately.

A new grille and new wheel designs are the visible differences from the curbside. Premium Plus offers the option of noise-reducing dual-pane front side windows, and remote start becomes available through the Audi Connect app.

Given the uncommon nature of the A6 Allroad — part SUV, part wagon — there aren’t many alternatives. The Volvo V90 Cross Country is one, starting in the $60,000 region. An Audi Q7 midsize SUV begins at around $60K. If the A6 Allroad is too big and perhaps too pricey, the compact Audi A4 Allroad comes in at about $47K.

Before buying a new A6 Allroad, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The A6 Allroad has some of the strongest resale values in the luxury midsize car class.

The A6 Allroad employs a turbocharged V6 making 335 horsepower. A subdued thrum is the only audible indication that this refined turbocharged engine is doing any work. We’ve found that it propels the A6 Allroad with authority — gentle in town or on a dirt trail, forceful on the freeways. There always seems to be more muscle when it’s needed.

The ride quality is suitably sophisticated for one of the most well-rounded midsize luxury cars ever created, in our estimation, with the all-wheel-drive system providing reassurance in tricky conditions. The virtue of having a lower center of gravity than an SUV means handling talents with greater stability. Yet the A6 Allroad still has a somewhat raised driving position — getting in and out can be handled with dignity. And with higher ground clearance than an A6 sedan, it can tackle deeper snow.

Fuel Economy

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the A6 Allroad achieves 24 combined mpg (21 city, 30 highway). The Volvo V90 Cross Country is slightly more frugal at 25 combined mpg (22 city, 29 highway).

If there’s an Audi cabin that isn’t impressive, full of smart design, quality materials and great technology, we haven’t seen it. In true uncluttered Audi form, the dashboard in the A6 Allroad is sparing with buttons but generous with tech. There are three screens. One is the Virtual Cockpit ahead of the driver. Then the infotainment system has a 10.1-inch screen, plus an 8.6-inch lower display. Standard equipment includes wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Audi also installs wireless charging and a phone signal booster.

Front occupants sit in comfortable, heated, 8-way power-adjustable seats, and everyone gets to enjoy leather seating surfaces. The dual-pane sunroof, meanwhile, makes this spacious interior feel even airier.

The Volvo V90 Cross Country isn’t considered cramped in its rear quarters, but the A6 Allroad’s 37.4 inches of rear legroom beats it. Behind the rear seats (that split and fold in flexible 40/20/40 fashion) is a massive 30 cubic feet of luggage space. Audi doesn’t quote a figure with those seats folded down, but the A6 Allroad has real SUV-like cargo capacity.

It’s subtle, but the A6 Allroad wears a revised grille for 2024. It also offers a choice of fresh wheel designs. Overall, we like the car’s understated lines and well-drawn proportions.

Sitting 1.3 inches higher than the regular A6 sedan (whose ground clearance is 4.2 inches), the A6 Allroad also differs from its trunked stablemate with a wagon body style. But a wagon with a twist.

Extra plastic cladding around the wheel arches adds to the SUV flavor, enhanced by a rear skid plate. Full body paint is another option, replacing the gray cladding with the same hue as the rest of the car. This is only available with some colors, however.

Adaptive air suspension
This standard feature is the secret behind the 2024 A6 Allroad’s driving versatility. It can keep relatively low on the freeways for optimum aerodynamics and handling, then its Off-Road mode lifts the car by another 1.2 inches for maximum ground clearance over rougher surfaces. It also provides a luxurious, cushioned-yet-controlled ride.

Virtual Cockpit
Another standard item, this configurable digital driver information display takes the place of a traditional instrument cluster. As well as the usual information like speed and RPM, the Virtual Cockpit can also show directions and Google Maps images from the standard navigation system.

Matrix-LED headlights
Consisting of many small LEDs controlled by sensors, these standard-issue headlights adapt their illumination to retain excellent vision for the driver, but not dazzle other road users.

Bang & Olufsen audio
The standard B&O surround-sound system is perfectly good. The option for the Prestige trim naturally comes with more speakers and greater wattage, accompanied by vehicle noise compensation. It does mean losing the spare wheel to accommodate a subwoofer, though.

Audi Side Assist
Most of us know this feature as blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It’s standard in the top Prestige trim and a worthwhile extra for the Premium Plus model.

Night Vision
Thermal imaging can make driving on dark roads much safer, especially in places where wild animals might be roaming. The images are shown in the Virtual Cockpit. This is on the options list of both A6 Allroad trims.

Both trim levels of the 2024 A6 Allroad have the same drivetrain employing a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This extra piece of equipment provides an exceptionally smooth engine stop/restart function.

Using premium gasoline, output is 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque — 40 more horses and 59 lb-ft more than the Volvo V90 Cross Country. This energy goes to an all-wheel-drive system (always referred to as quattro when on Planet Audi) through a 7-speed automatic transmission.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical for the European luxury car bracket, with most other luxury automakers offering longer powertrain coverage. Audi also throws in four years of roadside assistance.

Safety Ratings

Like the rest of the A6 range, this Allroad variant has been named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and took a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).