Audi continues the tradition started back in 1999 with the original A6 Allroad by unveiling the fourth-generation. An alternative to the Volvo V90 Cross Country and Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain, the jacked-up executive estate still mixes the off-road capability with a comfortable drive on tarmac.
It’s still differentiated from the rest of the A6 Avant models by the distinctive exterior updates such as the added plastic body cladding, underbody protection and increased ground clearance. The car rides on standard 18-inch wheels and optional up to 21-inch.
The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard and adjusts the ride height depending on the selected mode and speed. In Auto and Comfort, the new A6 Allroad has 139 mm (5.5 in) of ground clearance, whereas in the highest setting, the body is raised by another 45 mm (1.8 in), although top speed is now limited to 35 km/h (22 mph).
Go over 120 km/h (75 mph), and the suspension height is lowered by another 15 mm (0.6 in). Selecting the Offroad mode limits the top speed to 80 km/h (50 mph) and increases the height by 30 mm (1.2 in) compared to the standard setting.
Aside from the adaptive air suspension, the 2020 A6 Allroad gets the Quattro all-wheel drive system as standard, obviously. Furthermore, drivers are being assisted on challenging terrains by other systems, such as hill descent control and tilt angle assist.
The dynamic all-wheel steering is optional and turns the rear wheels by as much as five degrees in the opposite direction to the front ones at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph), reducing the turning radius, while at higher speeds, the rear wheels turn by two degrees in the same direction as the front ones, thus improving stability.
Users can choose between six driving modes called Dynamic, Automatic, Comfort, Efficiency, Allroad and Lift.
Power comes from the 3.0-liter TDI diesel engine with mild hybrid tech, available in three outputs: 231 PS (228 hp / 170 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque, 286 PS (282 hp / 210 kW) and 620 Nm (457 lb-ft) and 349 PS (344 hp / 257 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft). All units are hooked up to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. The sport differential, which distributes the output between the rear wheels, is optional.
Inside, customers can choose between three colors: black, pearl beige and okapi brown. Black cloth and partial leather upholstery is standard, whereas beige and brown tones, along with perforated Valcona leather, are available. The sport seats with Alcantara/leather combo in two colors, petrol gray and black, cost extra, along with other décor variants such as special color combinations, contrast stitching, decorative trims and so on. The panoramic glass roof, air quality package, massage function for the front seats and others are also available.
The new A6 Allroad gets the same infotainment system found in the A6 and A7, up to 10.1-inch in the range-topping version, or 8.6-inch in the lesser variant. The Audi Virtual Cockpit with the 12.3-inch display is optional.
Celebrating two decades of the model is the ’20 Years Allroad’ special edition, with individual upgrades. It can be ordered in three exterior colors (gavial green, glacier white and Soho brown), rides on 19-inch wheels and comes with the black styling package and black sport seats with leather/Alcantara upholstery, aluminum inlays and illuminated door sills.
The 2020 A6 Allroad will go on sale in selected markets this month. Pricing starts at €61,500 ($69,189) in Germany for the base model.