2021 Audi A6 allroad

Pros: SUV practicality with carlike ride and handling; luxurious look and feel inside and out

Cons: Complicated infotainment controls; high starting price

CG Says: The 2021 Audi A6 allroad has few changes. There is a new Black Optic appearance package and adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are now part of the Executive Package. After a 15-year hiatus, the Audi A6 allroad returned to the American market last year, joining the smaller A4 allroad that Audi has offered since 2017. Whether A4 or A6, the allroad concept is the same: a passenger-car-based station wagon with standard all-wheel drive, SUV-inspired styling cues, and a raised ride height for better rough-terrain capability than a traditional station wagon. The A6 allroad’s sole powertrain is a 335-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; the A6 sedan’s base turbo 4-cylinder engine isn’t offered. All-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height are among the standard features. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and 360-degree camera. Available safety features include adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, turn assist, safe-exit assist, blind-spot alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. Just like the Volvo V60 and V90 Cross Country wagons, the A6 allroad aims to offer a “best of both worlds” vehicle that blends the sleekness and road manners of a traditional passenger car with the beefed-up looks and enhanced all-weather/rough-terrain capability of an SUV. You’ll pay plenty for the premium look and feel, and it’s really more of a “soft roader” than an off-roader, but the A6 allroad stands out from the pack as a fine alternative to a conventional luxury SUV.