The Audi RS6 Avant is one of the offerings of the dying sporty station wagon segment and has been a go-to model for the enthusiasts who want all the thrills and performance of an RS car without compromising one bit on the versatility and space offered by a wagon. Being part of the fourth generation of the RS6 Avant lineup, which came to the United States back in 2020, the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant has been launched with minor upgrades.
The 2022 Audi RS6 Avant is offered for a base MSRP of $116,500 and comes in a single trim configuration. The punchy V8 motor with the electric assist sees no changes from the outgoing model, and it is still one of the fastest in the segment. The handling and driving dynamics haven't been watered down, and the enticing looks give it all the character. With minor updates to the interior features, design, and optional packages, it also manages to outdo its rivals like the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon and Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo Wagon in multiple aspects. Before going forward with the purchase, here are 10 things you need to know about the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant.
10 Muscular Exterior Design
The styling of the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant has seen very minor changes from the earlier model years, however, it is still one of the hottest wagons out there. The massive width, fender flares, beautifully crafted Matrix LED headlights with LED DRLs, and a heavy dose of piano black finish to the grille, air dam, and air vents makes it stunning, especially in the contrasting bright shades.
The bulging hood and the sharp character lines that are present on the profile give it a sporty appeal. The same is also the case with the massive 22" wheels, which turned out to be bigger than even the ones on the BMW M5. The drilled and slotted rotors, red brake calipers, and the satin finish alloy wheels are the stand-out elements on the sides. We adore the rear profile with the blacked-out badges, low roofline, the same graceful LED taillights, and the classy dual exhaust with an air diffuser.
9 Twin-Turbo V8 Makes It Very Fast
The 2022 Audi RS6 Avant is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo direct-injection V8 engine with a 48-volt hybrid system under the beautifully crafted engine cover. This helps it produce 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque and the power is put down with the help of an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission and the legendary Quattro AWD drivetrain.
Even with a heavy curb weight of 4,960 lbs, which is heavier than both rivals, the RS6 Avant could do the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.1 seconds and the quarter-mile run in 11.5 seconds. The revs climb very fast and this sports wagon reaches illegal speeds in no time. The RS mode makes the ride even more fierce and the gearshifts are lighting quick. The Quattro AWD helps to put down the power effectively, and you would never feel wanting for more even when driving through the racetrack at the limits.
8 Handling Is Better Than Most Of The Competition
Some of the modern high-performance monikers from Audi do feel slightly watered down due to their more comfortable tuning of suspension and steering which lacked feel and feedback. However, the 2022 RS6 Avant is not one of those. Drive this sports wagon ferociously on a racetrack, and you would appreciate the poise handling it provides, making you mistake it for low-slung sports coupes out there.
The low center of gravity coupled with equal weight distribution helps the RS6 Avant to turn into the corner with little to no effort. There is adaptive air suspension as standard and dialing it to the RS mode is all that is required to firm up the ride. The sport rear differential transfers power to the appropriate wheels at the right time and the optional carbon-ceramic brakes anchor it down very easily. The twin-turbo V8 motor mated to a fast automatic helps in providing all the grunt while exiting the corner too.
7 Mediocre Fuel Efficiency
Even with the 48-volt hybrid system working in tandem with the twin-turbo V8 motor coupled with the well-spread out 8-speed automatic transmission, the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant is not going to set any benchmarks when it comes to the frugality. This sporty wagon managed to return 15 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway, equating to 17 MPG combined gas mileage.
The 19.3-gallon fuel tank capacity is the worst of the segment and this leads to a combined tank range of just 328 miles, which is the worst in this premium sports wagon segment. In comparison, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon could do 379 miles and the Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo achieved 402 miles on a full tank of gas.
6 Braking Performance Is Excellent
As standard, the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant comes with 10-piston front brake calipers with 16.5" ventilated front rotors, and the rear end gets 14.6" ventilated rotors. All the other braking features like ABS with EBD, brake assist, hill hold control, and electromechanical parking brakes are standard too.
The braking performance is superb and is more than enough to anchor down this sports wagon even when driven hard on the racetracks. It sheds speeds very aggressively, and the initial bite and braking progression would need some time to get used to for the beginners. However, get the optional drilled and slotted ceramic brakes and the braking performance is even better. The whole setup is lighter too. As a result, the RS6 Avant could do 70-0 mph braking in just 160 feet and the 100-0 mph braking in less than 320 feet.
5 Not The Most Comfortable Daily Driver
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If you think that the RS-tuned adaptive air suspension is going to offer a plush ride quality, you're somewhat mistaken. Drive the car in the comfort mode and the air suspension does soften quite a bit in comparison to the hardcore RS mode. However, it is still nowhere as comfortable as a family wagon like the Volvo V90 Cross Country.
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The 22" wheels that come wrapped in low-profile tires do make the ride a bit more jarring than the rivals, like the Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo. However, the ride quality at highways turned out to be pretty good due to the stiffer setup ironing out most of the smaller potholes, but the massive ones do jostle the passengers.
4 Premium Interior
Inside the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant, you would be met with premium materials all-around, making it feel superior to the Panamera and the E63 S Wagon. Both the dashboard and door cards come covered with soft-touch leather, silver accents, and a heavy dose of carbon fiber elements. All of them give it a sporty and sophisticated appeal, and we couldn't find any sub-standard materials anywhere.
The leather upholstery with bright red contrast stitching, subtle RS6 badging reminding you of the performance it packs, and the superb attention to detail make it a must-buy option of the segment if you value the interiors very much. The center console and AC vents get aluminum accents and all the switchgear felt like they are built to last.
3 Spacious Cabin
The space in the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant is not going to disappoint any prospective buyers. Step into the front seat and the first thing you would be impressed with is the easiness to get in and out of the wagon, which is very different from the rivals. Once in the front seat, the leather upholstery with great cushioning, side-bolstering, and under-thigh support helps the driver and passenger to be comfortable during those cross-country road trips. The headroom and legroom are excellent, and the armrest is adjustable.
There are multiple places to put all your stuff inside the cabin. Both the glovebox and the under-armrest storage are wide and deep. The panoramic sunroof adds an airiness to the all-black cabin. The back seat passengers have much better headroom and legroom than in the Porsche. There are magazine holders, heated seat support, USB ports, and a 12-volt port too. The only thing that we disliked is the hard armrest. The 30 cu ft of cargo space is more than enough to carry the luggage of all five passengers for a week-long trip.
2 MMI Infotainment Comes Loaded With Features
The RS6 Avant comes packed with three displays, including the sharp and information-packed digital gauge cluster. The navigation can be taken and viewed from the digital gauge display, and it is easily the best of the segment in terms of features and quality. When it comes to infotainment, like the other premium Audis, the RS6 Avant comes with a 10.1" upper and an 8.6" lower touchscreen display.
Like the digital gauge display, the infotainment display is bright, vivid, and has great viewing angles. All the regular infotainment functionalities like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, radio station settings, vehicle settings, and music functionalities are present in the upper display. The lower screen houses functions related to climate control, seat heating and ventilation, and defogger settings. All the connectivity and entertainment features are onboard this infotainment and the Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system does a wonderful job of providing a crisp audio experience.
1 Superb Build Quality And Many Standard Safety Features
Since the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant is an uber-premium offering in the segment, coming at a price more than the $100,000 mark, neither the NHTSA or IIHS have crash-tested it yet. However, we think it is going to ace the tests in terms of safety due to the superb build quality due to the tough steel and aluminum used for the majority of the construction. All the exterior panels and doors feel tough.
We were also happy with the fact that Audi hasn't skimped on the driver-assistance features too much. As a result, the RS6 Avant comes with forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, 360-degree camera, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation system, and Audi pre sense as standard. However, the features like a night vision camera with animal and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control are part of the optional packages.