Audi A6 Allroad (2006 – 2012) Review
Audi A6 Allroad (2006 – 2012) At A Glance
Very comfortable to drive on tarmac or off-road. Classy image and styling. Height adjustable air suspension. Large boot. Ideal for towing. Best on Pirelli Scorpion STRs for the road.
Doesn't handle quite as well as A6 quattro on which it is based.
The second generation Audi A6 Allroad of 2006 is half way between a normal estate and a full-blown 4x4, making it the ideal car if you need the extra traction of four-wheel drive, but don't want the bulk usually associated with off-roaders. The A6 Allroad comes with Audi's quattro four-wheel drive system as standard, as well as height adjustable air suspension, so it's perfect for towing trailers or caravans across wet fields.
It's based on the Audi A6 Avant (and only comes as an estate) so it's very practical with plenty of rear legroom and a huge boot. It's great on the motorway where it effortless soaks up miles of road with minimal fuss thanks to a forgiving ride and low noise levels.
Of course there is a trade off for this and the A6 Allroad doesn't handle quite as well as the standard A6 and feels noticeable softer in corners, but the extra ground clearance and four-wheel drive makes it superb in snowy and icy conditions where a standard car would struggle.
It comes with Audi's larger engines, but it's the TDI diesels which make the most sense thanks to more reasonable running costs. The 2.7 TDI with the Multitronic gearbox is especially smooth while the 3.0 TDI offers a bit more punch. As with all Audi cars, the A6 Allroad has a superbly built and high-class interior, while a long list of optional extras gives you the chance to personalise your car - at a cost of course.
Audi A6 Avant 2005 Range Road Test
Audi A6 Allroad 2006 Range Road Test
Reviews for Audi A6 Allroad (2006 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals
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Audi A6 Allroad (2006 – 2012) handling and engines
- Engines range from 2.7 TDI quattro to 3.0 TFSI quattro
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 30–42 mpg
The A6 Allroad is great for motorway cruising where it's forgiving ride and refined nature make it incredibly relaxing. It's also very quiet with very little noise from either the engine (whichever you choose) or from the tyres, so makes a good family car for long trips.
Of course the while point of the A6 Allroad is that it can venture onto more challenging terrain and here it's surprisingly capable considering it doesn't have any dedicated off-road systems. There is a mechanical self-locking centre differential plus height adjustable air suspension with five settings - the highest of which raises ground clearance to 185mm (at speeds up to 22mph).
The ESP electronic stability control has been specially tuned with off-road settings and if you are serious about tackling tricky ground, there are purpose-built all-terrain tyres and a reinforced engine under-guard available as extra cost options, naturally.
On the road, the A6 Allroad strikes a decent balance between comfort and handling, but it does feel a little soft in corners compared to the standard A6. It's certainly not wallowy, but it lacks the agility of an A6 Avant and doesn't feel as precise. There's a good choice of engines though and all of them are strong - but it's the TDI diesels that make most sense.
The most popular is the 2.7 TDI with 180bhp which is only available with a smooth six-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox. This engine was improved in 2008 with an extra 10bhp and also made more efficient with average economy improving from 32.5mpg to 37.7mpg.
The other diesel is the excellent 3.0 TDI with 233bhp and 450Nm of torque (available from as low as 1400rpm). This engine was also improved in 2008 with power boosted to 240bhp. It's available with either the Tiptronic gearbox or a six-speed manual and with the latter it's capable of 39.2mpg making it the most economical engine in the line-up.
There are also a range of petrols including the 3.2-litre FSI and the top of the range 4.2-litre FSI V8 with an immense 350bhp on tap. Later a 3.0 TFSI was introduced (a turbocharged engine) with 290bhp. However, while the petrols sound great and offer strong pace, running costs are high.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 TDI quattro | 38 mpg | 8.8 s | 199 g/km |
| 3.0 TDI quattro | 39 mpg | 7.2 s | 189 g/km |
| 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic | 38 mpg | 7.4 s | 199 g/km |
| 3.0 TFSI quattro | 29 mpg | 6.3 s | 225 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Audi A6 Allroad (2006 – 2012)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
92%
Real MPG
30–42 mpg
MPGs submitted
62
Audi A6 Allroad (2006 – 2012) interior
- Boot space is 565–1660 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4934 mm |
| Width | 1862 mm |
| Height | 1521 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2833 mm |
The interior of the A6 Allroad is pretty much identical to the A6 Avant so that means a high-class finish and a neat design. You can choose from more traditional wood inlays or modern brushed aluminium trims but all look good and have a quality appearance. Leather upholstery is standard on models from 2008 which is useful if you have younger children as it's easier to keep clean than cloth. Prior to that, the standard cloth trim was a special material called monoPur, which is designed for heavier use than standard cloth.
The layout of the dash is pretty straightforward and the main controls are accessed via the MMI system (which stands for Multi Media Interface) which includes a colour screen. It's very intuitive and easy to use, plus it means the centre console isn't cluttered with buttons. There's also an electric parking brake (rather than conventional handbrake) which also frees up space. The climate control system can be a little confusing to use at first, but it's simple once you've got the hang of it.
There's plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel so finding a comfortable driving position is easy, even for taller drivers. There's also plenty of legroom for those in the back, but the large central tunnel means that getting three people in the back can be cramped in terms of foot room.
Bootspace is immense with 565 litres of room with the rear seats up and 1660 litres with them folded down. The tailgate opening is wide and square too, so awkward and boxy items such as the odd bit of furniture, will fit in easily. The Allroad also gets a boot rail system which includes lashing points and a folding floor, so you can separate items in the boot and stop them sliding around.
Equipment from launch (July 2006):
Just one version of the A6 Allroad is available and it comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, four-corner adaptive suspension with five modes, CD stereo, air conditioning, MMI system, cruise control, electric windows, electric parking brake, electronic differential lock, ESP stability control, multifunction steering wheel (with gear change paddles for automatic models), luggage cover, monoPur upholstery, quattro four-wheel drive, automatic lights, rain sensitive wipers, remote control central locking, aluminium roof rails, split folding rear seats and underbody protection. 4.2 FSI models add 18-inch alloys, electric front seats, electric lumbar support, heated front seats, leather upholstery and xenon lights. Leather upholstery was made standard on all models in October 2008.
Audi A6 Allroad (2006 – 2012) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4934 mm |
| Width | 1862 mm |
| Height | 1521 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2833 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1840–1880 kg |
| Boot Space | 565–1660 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | - |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £40,080–£42,395 |
| Insurance Groups | 32–39 |
| Road Tax Bands | J–K |
| Official MPG | 29.1–39.2 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.7 TDI quattro 5dr Auto | £40,080 | 37.7 mpg | 8.8 s |
| 3.0 TDI quattro 5dr | £40,965 | 39.2 mpg | 7.2 s |
| 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic 5dr Auto | £42,395 | 37.7 mpg | 7.4 s |
| 3.0 TFSI quattro 5dr Auto | £42,370 | 29.1 mpg | 6.3 s |
Model History
January 0001
New Allroad based on 2004 A6 launched in 2006.
4,934mm long x 1,862mm wide x 1,459 - 1,529mm high according to whether car lowered or raised on its adaptive air suspension.
Load area 565 litres extending to 1,660 litres withs seats folded.
3.2 FSI V6 with 255bhp, 4.2 FSI V8 with 350bhp, 2.7 V6 diesel with 180bhp or 3.0 V6 diesel with 233bhp. 6 speed manual or 6 speed Tiptronic, quattro drivetrain (4.2 Tiptronic only; 2.7 manual only).
Normal wheel and tyres size 18 inche with 235/55 R18 tyres.
3.2 FSI manual 0-60 6.9, top speed 151, 25mpg combined
3.2 FSI Tiptronic 0-60 7.4, top speed 150, 26mpg combined
4.2 FSI Tiptronic 0-60 6.0, top speed 156, 25mpg combined
2.7 TDI manual 0-60 9.0, top speed 134, 32mpg combined
3.0 TDI manual 0-60 7.2, top speed 144, 34mpg combined
3.0 TDI Tiptronic 0-60 7.5, top speed 144, 32mpg combined
What to watch out for
Aluminium brightwork on bases of doors is prone to oxidising within 3 years.
15-08-2013:Multi variable air suspension rear dampers may leak after 6 years or so and are very expensive to replace.
12-11-2013:Complaint of continuous bleeping from rear parking sensors of 2011 Audi Allroad in the rain or damp which 4 Audi dealers have been unable to eradicate.
