Audi RS6 - New Cars 2022 Overview - Progress through Technology
0Highs A muscular-looking station wagon, the twin-turbo V-8's thrilling soundtrack, its driver engagement exceeds its performance stats.
Lows Pricey, fuel economy is an afterthought, 190-mph top speed requires expensive carbon-ceramic brakes.
Verdict The RS6 Avant impresses with a brawny body and outsize performance.
Overview
With an intimidating appearance and a raucous 591-hp engine, the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant is one wicked station wagon. Not only can it launch to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and reach speeds up to 190 mph, but it'll carry a quartet of passengers in complete comfort along with all their gear. Audi justifies the car's six-figure price with a lavish interior and plenty of high-tech features. We even named it to our 2022 Editor's Choice list. Similar to other expensive and powerful station wagons such as the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo, the 2022 RS6 Avant is ridiculously quick and rewarding to drive. Those who don't subscribe to the longroof lifestyle but lust for everything else the RS6 has to offer should check out the mechanically identical Audi RS7 hatchback.
What's New for 2022?
Audi made only minor changes to the RS6 Avant for 2022. The interior has a new standard trim called Carbon Twill. An RS-design package brings unique floor mats, black seatbelts with colored borders, and more surfaces covered in racy microsuede. The Carbon and Black Optic packages gain a set of black 22-inch wheels. Titanium wheels are also available. And buyers can enhance the RS6 Avant's suspension with Dynamic Ride Control, which should reduce body roll and improve handling.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
RS6 Avant: $117,595
This car comes in only one spec, but you can deck it out with lots of fancy options. Unless you want a gray car, you'll have to pay extra for paint. We'd have ours sprayed in the pretty Navarra Blue Metallic. We'd also select the Black Optic package, which gives the wagon an even more sinister look with black exterior bits and snazzy 22-inch wheels on summer performance tires. Those who want their Avant to reach 190 mph will have to shell out for carbon-ceramic brakes, but we'd spend that money on massage chairs up front and the Executive package (extended leather, heated rear seats, soft-close doors, and a head-up display). Of course, our wagon needs the optional sport exhaust so we can revel in its intoxicating engine sounds.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Audi endows the RS6 Avant with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, which generates 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The powerplant combines with a 48-volt hybrid system that's found on other Audi products, such as the A8 luxury sedan and the Q8 crossover. The RS6 Avant feeds its standard Quattro all-wheel drive through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The combination helped rocket our 5031-pound test car to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 11.5 ticks at 120 mph. But those numbers don't accurately demonstrate the wagon's glorious ability to increase our heart rates and tingle our ear drums with its breakneck acceleration and badass soundtrack. Rolling on a set of 22-inch wheels with summer performance rubber and buoyed by a sport-tuned air suspension with adaptive dampers, our Tango Red RS6 Avant was able to deliver a relaxed or rollicking ride depending on the selected drive mode. The longroof Audi also felt extremely agile thanks to its four-wheel steering and torque-vectoring rear differential. Ours stopped from 70 mph in a tidy 160 feet with the standard brakes. A set of front and rear carbon-ceramic stoppers are available for a sizable sum, and the upgrade unlocks a higher top speed of 190 mph.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the RS6 Avant showcases a sophisticated design and cutting-edge technology. The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and the dashboard features a pair of large touchscreens between the front passengers. The rest of the cabin is covered in leather and accentuated with racy materials. The RS6 Avant has a roster of upscale standard features, including heated and ventilated front seats, four-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and wireless phone charging. Buyers can order a head-up display, massaging front seats, richer leather, and heated rear seats for more coin. The wagon has 30 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats too. A power rear liftgate comes standard; a motion-activated one is optional.