Station wagons, even in the storied and oft-loved luxury market, are disappearing. It’s a sad state of affairs, but a few automakers are holding the line and producing well-done vehicles in the space. When the A6 was redone, the Allroad wagon version came soon after. It debuted last year.
Most of the changes for the 2021 model year of the Allroad are small. A new “Black Optic” appearance package is now available and the not well-received all-wheel steering has been dropped. This leaves the 2021 Audi A6 Allroad, one of the last of the luxury wagons, with two trim levels and a few package options.
All iterations of the Allroad are powered by a well-done 3.0-liter V6 that’s been turbocharged to produce 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This runs to a beautiful seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive (“Quattro” in Audi-speak) is standard.
Design for the 2021 A6 Allroad is a combination of station wagon goodness and crossover-SUV bulk. The result is a car-like station wagon body sitting on a slightly taller chassis with pretty good ground clearance. From the front and rear, the Allroad looks like a sports wagon or shooting brake. From the side, it looks more SUV-ish with a taller stance and beefier fender edges, but with the classic and beautiful station wagon profile up top.
Audi has done several good things here. 20-inch wheels are standard, for example, as are roof rails, an adaptive air suspension, and three-zone climate control. Several other things are also standard, including a 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen stereo and dual-screen infotainment with navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and plug-in Android Auto are also standard, as is a wireless charging pad. But wait! That’s not all! The list of standard equipment is impressive on the new Audi A6 Allroad.
To add to the robust list of amenities that come with the Allroad are the Executive Package with four-zone climate, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Optic package, new for this year, paints exterior accents black and adds black roof rails. A couple of stand-alone options are also available, including painted wheel arches.
The Prestige model upgrades the standard setup with the Executive Package and an exclusive headlight upgrade. It also adds powered soft-closing doors, sound-reducing glass, and a head-up display. Then if you want even more leather, a night-vision camera, or a 19-speaker B&O audio system, you can add those as well.
With all of those things, it’s no wonder that the drive quality and road appeal of the 2021 Audi A6 Allroad becomes second on the list of things we’d mention. It drives very well, with a balanced feel and good acceleration. It’s no shooting brake, but it feels good. But it’s luxury first in this car, which is a nice step for Audi, who often puts performance first and sometimes forgets the luxury part altogether. That’s been making a comeback in Audi’s designs lately and we’re glad to see it in the Allroad wagon. Where it should be.
In all, the Audi A6 Allroad compares well to the Volvo V90 Cross Country, which is probably its chief rival. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain is a little more over the top price-wise and a lot more sporty by comparison.
The 2021 Audi A6 Allroad has a starting price of $65,190 with a fully outfitted model getting closer to $80,000 after delivery.
