Audi A6 Avant Pre Model 3.0 TDI quattro (245ps) SE 5dr Car Review - March 2012

All the A6 cars are powerful estates even with the smaller engines in the range and the handling is great. The car has good grip, especially with the four-wheel-drive, but the suspension can be quite firm. The option of S line suspension is even firmer and makes the ride quite uncomfortable.

The engine uses diesel fuel with a fuel tank capacity of 65 litres. There is a seven-speed S Tronic automatic gearbox, which provides smooth but strong acceleration that allows the car to travel from 0-62 mph in just 6.3 seconds. On top of this the car has an impressive top speed of 151 mph thanks to a maximum power output of 242 bhp with 368 lb-ft of torque.

Neither engine (diesel or petrol) is particularly refined and this is a huge disappointment. There is quite a lot of wind noise at high speeds and road noise is excessive when driving on uneven ground.

The interior of the A6 is well-designed and high-quality, living up to the reputation of Audi as a stylish manufacturer.

The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably and the dash is free from clutter and well organised.

The 3.0 TDI Quattro 245 SE comes with leather seats, power steering, cruise control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, MP3 connectivity, and stereo as standard, with optional extras including metallic paint for £750.

For fuel economy, the A6 has a start/stop system and electromechanical power steering as standard, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.

The A6 comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality car including driver, passenger and front side airbags as well as alarm and immobiliser to protect the car from theft. It also has stability control to prevent accidents and anti-lock brakes to provide additional confidence on the road.

There are also front and back ISOFIX child seat mounting points and options to fit adaptive xenon headlights, lane-departure warning systems, a rear-view camera and blind-sport warning systems.

Unfortunately, despite the high levels of safety buyer confidence is likely to be low and that is because of concerns over reliability. Recent years have seen Audi’s reliability come into question and the manufacturer did not fare well in the 2011 JD Power survey. Of course, the car does come with a three year warranty but buyers should still exercise caution when considering this range.

The boot is sizeable offering 565 litres with the seats up and 1,680 litres with the seats down. The A6 Avant has got plenty of room for front and back passengers in both head and leg room as well.

The running costs are good with the A6 and CO2 emissions are fairly low for the engine size. The 3.0 TDI Quattro 245 SE model costs £40,950 and has a combined economy of 47.9 mpg and CO2 emission rate of 156 g/km.

The diesel engine is much more efficient than the petrol version and also cheaper to buy. It will also save for company car drivers on tax due to the low CO2 emissions. The 2.0 litre engine is the best for a combination of performance and economy, as the 3.0 litre engine is too large to have really economical running costs.

The SE trim is much better value for money than the S line, as it comes with all the same equipment as the pricier S line trim which only adds the firmer sport suspension and a few style changes.

The resale value on the A6 Avant is great so it is a worthwhile investment.