Find yourself a girl, and settle down / Live a simple life in a quiet town.
Despite our best efforts to try otherwise, as captured by the opening lines of The Raconteurs' 'Steady, As She Goes', there will come a time where we all eventually grow older, wisen up and begin to settle down. There is only so long one can be the titular king of party-town.
This is certainly reflected in our changing tastes in cars as well. Hot hatch racers and sporty two-seater roadsters eventually give way to sensible sedans, practical wagons, as well as the flurry of compact crossovers and sports utility vehicles that we see on our roads.
First introduced back in 2011, the Audi A6 Avant combined the brand's signature elegance and a host of practical features for a family-friendly wagon aimed at the sensible adult. Four years on, the A6 Avant has undergone its mid-cycle update, and now that it is finally here on our shores, we take a look at how the model has advanced. Up close and Personal
The Avant bodystyle is iconic of the brand, and while wagons are significantly less popular here compared to sedans, it no doubt possesses greater road presence than its sibling, the A6 sedan. With its distinctive rear end and flowing lines, the Avant looks arguably better than the sedan.
Physically and visually, the Avant has an added dimension over the sedan. The boot is obviously much bigger - 565 litres compared to the sedan's 530 litres. With the rear seat bench folded down, boot capacity rises to a generous 1,680 litres. Visually, the extra booty adds Kim Kardashian-esque curves, all the while still maintaining a sleek and clean overall look.
Despite our best efforts to try otherwise, as captured by the opening lines of The Raconteurs' 'Steady, As She Goes', there will come a time where we all eventually grow older, wisen up and begin to settle down. There is only so long one can be the titular king of party-town.
This is certainly reflected in our changing tastes in cars as well. Hot hatch racers and sporty two-seater roadsters eventually give way to sensible sedans, practical wagons, as well as the flurry of compact crossovers and sports utility vehicles that we see on our roads.
First introduced back in 2011, the Audi A6 Avant combined the brand's signature elegance and a host of practical features for a family-friendly wagon aimed at the sensible adult. Four years on, the A6 Avant has undergone its mid-cycle update, and now that it is finally here on our shores, we take a look at how the model has advanced. Up close and Personal
The Avant bodystyle is iconic of the brand, and while wagons are significantly less popular here compared to sedans, it no doubt possesses greater road presence than its sibling, the A6 sedan. With its distinctive rear end and flowing lines, the Avant looks arguably better than the sedan.
Physically and visually, the Avant has an added dimension over the sedan. The boot is obviously much bigger - 565 litres compared to the sedan's 530 litres. With the rear seat bench folded down, boot capacity rises to a generous 1,680 litres. Visually, the extra booty adds Kim Kardashian-esque curves, all the while still maintaining a sleek and clean overall look.
Instead of dramatic styling changes, Audi has focused on refining the lines on the Avant's body, while adding modern technology and visual cues to bring it up to date. At the front end, a restyled front bumper features chrome trimming that runs across the entirety of the car's front fascia, while Audi's Matrix LED head lights and dynamic turn signals come standard. At the rear, trapezoidal exhausts round out the modern update. These combine for a sharply contoured yet dynamically elegant look.
The elegant design continues into the spacious and high-quality interior, outfitted with materials that are soft to the touch.
The MMI system has also been updated, offering greater ease-of-use through a faster and more intuitive interface. One notable improvement is in the system's voice recognition capabilities. It responds quickly and intuitively, and you can spell out individual words, which is especially useful in Singapore with non-English road names like Keong Saik Road or Kadayanallur Street.
The elegant design continues into the spacious and high-quality interior, outfitted with materials that are soft to the touch.
The MMI system has also been updated, offering greater ease-of-use through a faster and more intuitive interface. One notable improvement is in the system's voice recognition capabilities. It responds quickly and intuitively, and you can spell out individual words, which is especially useful in Singapore with non-English road names like Keong Saik Road or Kadayanallur Street.
The Drive
The most significant change is under the bonnet, where the downsizing trend has hit once more. The engine is a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine - the same one you get in the sedan. But despite the smaller capacity, the engine is still a refined and punchy unit, delivering 190bhp and 320Nm of torque.
There is some turbo lag, meaning that if you mash your foot right down, the turbo takes a short while to spool before kicking quite hard. However, with a slightly more cultured foot, the engine is actually fairly pleasant and engaging, and working through the initial turbo lag brings about a strong pull and hasty acceleration. The car pulls forward with a distinct smoothness that is particularly sweet, and you can almost feel the car slicing through the air and onwards through traffic.
On the road, the car is more than comfortable. The suspension, while firm, is never harsh. Noise dampening is excellent as well, making for a refined and unfettered drive. The A6 Avant is also equipped with Audi's all new seven-speed S-tronic transmission, offering seamless gearshifts that further enhance the comfort and simplicity of driving.
The most significant change is under the bonnet, where the downsizing trend has hit once more. The engine is a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine - the same one you get in the sedan. But despite the smaller capacity, the engine is still a refined and punchy unit, delivering 190bhp and 320Nm of torque.
There is some turbo lag, meaning that if you mash your foot right down, the turbo takes a short while to spool before kicking quite hard. However, with a slightly more cultured foot, the engine is actually fairly pleasant and engaging, and working through the initial turbo lag brings about a strong pull and hasty acceleration. The car pulls forward with a distinct smoothness that is particularly sweet, and you can almost feel the car slicing through the air and onwards through traffic.
On the road, the car is more than comfortable. The suspension, while firm, is never harsh. Noise dampening is excellent as well, making for a refined and unfettered drive. The A6 Avant is also equipped with Audi's all new seven-speed S-tronic transmission, offering seamless gearshifts that further enhance the comfort and simplicity of driving.
Geared towards comfort, the A6 Avant isn't the most engaging car to drive. While its road holding characteristics are hard to upset, the car's handling is slightly on the numb side, taking to straight roads much better than curved ones. But considering how a car like this is one for the grown-up and sensible adult, its ability to gobble up highway tarmac far outweighs the need for razor-sharp handling.
Conclusion
The A6 Avant may not be the most exciting or fun car to drive, but we see that as a good thing. Most people buying such cars are looking for comfort, practicality, space and refinement, and the A6 Avant delivers in spades. The updated drivetrain means the car is more efficient than before, making it more practical for growing families as well.
The mid-cycle facelift represents a steady advancement for the model, and it should come as no surprise, then, that the Audi A6 Avant continues to be a sensible and high-quality all-around proposition for the grown-up adult looking to settle down.
Steady, as she goes.
