Audi RS6 review, test drive

Audi’s high-performance RS6 Avant is here. But is it strong enough to change the buyers’ stance on estates?

Published on Jul 03, 2015 08:00:00 AM

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What is it like to drive?

A word on the mechanicals first. The RS6 Avant features the same engine that powers the Audi RS7. It’s a 4.0-litre twin-turbo, direct injection V8 petrol engine that makes a crazy 553bhp at 5,700-6,600rpm and 71.3kgm at 1,750-5,500rpm. The engine comes mated to an eight-speed torque converter gearbox and power is channelled via Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. In typical driving, the front-to-rear power split is 40:60, but depending on the conditions as much as 70 percent of power can go to the front, or 85 percent can go to the rear. There’s torque vectoring too, for added precision.

In a straight line, the RS6 is just manic. There’s no launch control here, but the all-wheel drive system allows for ballistic controlled getaways. Truth is, you can’t tire of the sheer ferocity with which the RS6 builds speed, be it from a standstill or from 120kph. Seriously, thanks to the turbos, almost the entire rev range is the powerband. As a result, explosive performance is never too far. The super quick gearbox also deserves credit here. It shifts gears without any delay, be it in full automatic mode or when operated manually via the paddle shifters or gear lever. The exhaust also adds its share of drama to the proceedings. There’s an ever-present bassy rumble at low revs that builds up to a deep-throated growl at higher revs. At its loudest setting, the exhaust will also bark and pop on gearshifts. Nice!

Around the corners, the RS6 feels superbly poised. There’s little by way of body roll and you can tell that the car has immense reserves of grip. The Quattro system means the last bit should hold true irrespective of the weather. However, for all its tenacity, the RS6 doesn’t feel as exciting as an M5 or an E63 would on the same roads. A part of this is down to the steering. Sure, it’s got ample weight when set to Dynamic but, like other Audi units, it still tends to keep you at arm’s length from the happenings at the front wheels. And that’s a bit of a downer.

The RS6 comes equipped with adjustable air suspension as standard, and though our test car had the optional steel springs, it balanced out the opposing requirements for agility and comfort quite well. Yes, the ride is firm across all settings but the Comfort mode does do justice to its name — despite our test car running on wafer-thin 21-inch tyres. However, were we to spec the car, we’d stick with the standard 20-inch rims. Not only do they come with more absorbent higher profile tyres, they are also less prone to damage on our roads.