Audi’s new A6 Allroad makes more sense now than ever, yet it looks unlikely to persuade the masses of SUV buyers who dominate the new-car market. The format it represents, a jacked-up estate with extra ground clearance and rugged styling, has never quite found a mainstream audience, despite a long run of cars that have tried.
The A6 Allroad stands out for its interior and its road manners. Its air suspension, premium cabin materials and a kerbside presence that few SUVs can match all count in its favour. Our Vorsprung test car cost £90,335, a figure that reflects how far the model sits from budget family transport. Audi has kept the Allroad on sale in the UK long after Mercedes withdrew the E-Class All-Terrain, which is still offered in mainland Europe with a petrol straight-six engine.
The rough-road estate has a long and patchy history. BMW never built a production version, but it did co-operate with German magazine Auto Motor und Sport on a one-off 530iX Enduro based on the E34 Touring, a car that was crafted by the company’s Individual department and went no further. The idea goes back much further still. American Motors’ Eagle arrived in 1979 with a 4.2-litre straight-six producing just 110bhp, and it left such an impression on Car and Driver’s David E Davis Jr that he bought 200 AMC shares as soon as he returned home from reviewing it. Other examples include the Volvo V90 Cross Country, the Subaru Outback and the more recent Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
Despite that record, the format remains a niche. The author suggests that police traffic vehicles could help raise its profile, pointing to the cachet a Volvo V70 police car once carried. He also argues that market conditions may favour the category. Electric estates are more aerodynamically efficient than SUVs, and the BMW i5 Touring, which must disguise the height of its battery, would look more natural with bulging arch guards and extra height. A single car that handles many tasks may also appeal to buyers trying to reduce their carbon footprint.
Even so, the writer does not expect the A6 Allroad to change the balance of the sector. He predicts Audi will discontinue the model within 18 months, a view that reflects how difficult it has been for rough-road estates to build sustained demand. For readers weighing a premium estate with an SUV-style stance, the Allroad remains a distinctive option, even if its future is uncertain.