Audi A6 2004 Review

Take the Audi Allroad quattro 4.2. It's a "more and more and more" development from the mid-sized Audi A6, moving up through a quattro wagon to the suburbs-and-scrub of the all-road model to the latest punchy V8-engined hero car.

Think of it as a very upscale Holden Adventra, or the Subaru Outback for people who want some serious squirt in the dirt for their family wagon.

That's underselling the Allroad 4.2, but paints the right picture of a hugely capable work-and-play wagon, thanks to an engine that's one of the sweetest V8s in the business. It doesn't have the outright muscle of an FPV Ford or an HSV Holden, but it has more than enough to get the job done.

It's much the same for the rest of the deal: an Audi wagon that comes with high-rider adjustable suspension, enough body protection for soft off-road work, a full line-up of luxury, and a badge that says the owner isn't just a member of the "me too" club who go for Benzes and BMWs.

It also looks seriously tough – and needs to be to compete in a luxury four-wheel-drive scene headed by the BMW X5 and which includes everything from Hondas and Lexuses to Volkswagens, Porsches, Volvos and Jeeps.

The Allroad has the advantage of a passenger-wagon-style body, not just a jacked-up square box, as well as the best cabin quality in the business in 2004. Still, it costs a hefty $108,900 – and that means it competes only with the serious luxury players in its class.

The big bucks buy the bang of 220kW and 380Nm, fed through a five-speed automatic gearbox to constant all-wheel-drive, as well as everything from 18-inch alloy wheels and automatic air-conditioning to CD sound, cruise control, an in-car computer, Xenon headlamps, leather seats and wood panels, and front-side-head airbags.

The Allroad idea isn't new and Audi has done relatively well with a diesel and a 2.7-litre petrol turbo. But the newcomer is part of its S-car family, which means – as have BMW's M cars and the AMG models from Benz – it has been given the sports sedan treatment.

Still, it is a refined performer that Audi Australia believes will sell strongly to a small but select group of customers.

ON THE ROAD

THE drive time in the Allroad 4.2 was great, particularly after our recent experiences with the Holden Adventra. This is what the red lion car should be like, particularly on smoothness and operation of the automatic gearbox, but you'd expect a step change with a price double that of the homegrown machine.

It also shows how the idea for the Subaru Outback can be stretched in all directions, from body size to engine capacity, while still adhering to the basic idea of a suburban family runabout that's also strong in the bush.

When driving, the Audi feels like a high-rider A6 wagon with everything – including some fairly serious off-road ability, thanks to its height-adjustable suspension and the Quattro all-wheel drive. It also gets along really well, with a syrupy V8 soundtrack.

Even so, we don't rate it ahead of the BMW X5. It beats a whole range or rivals – some pretty easily, including the Volvo XC70 – but it is big, heavy, expensive at the petrol pump and pretty costly.

To be honest, the Audi brand still has trouble once you approach $100,000 – because of the strength of BMW and Benz, and weakness in its own secondhand support – and we're not sure whether many people want to splash out on something like the Allroad 4.2.

With that out of the way, and remembering our time with the turbo-diesel model, we have to say the Allroad is a very enjoyable way to travel.

It's very roomy and commendably comfortable, with all the luxury gear you could want. It would be an ideal choice for a Melbourne-Sydney run with the family aboard, particularly if you made it an adventure with side-trips into the scrub.

Off the blacktop, the big Audi will cope easily with the sort of toughish stuff that is a real adventure for most owners. It will hop over rocks, run comfortably along dirt roads and tracks, and has enough ground clearance – if you want more, hit the button – to cover most obstacles.

Even so, it does its best work in the city, and that's where the Allroad will make its biggest impact. It's an Outback that's been working out, as you discover whenever you floor the throttle at the lights.

THE BOTTOM LINE

EUROPE'S answer to the Subaru Outback, complete with V8 power and a $100,000 price.