Audi A6 2.0 TDI Avant

What is it?

The new Audi A6 Avant, which has just gone on sale in the UK, and which we’ve just had a first chance to sample in right-hand drive form, and on UK roads.

Audi may be missing a trick with this car. Despite the German brand’s all-wheel drive evangelism, and although the A6 remains the only large executive option available in Britain in any form with four driven wheels, you still can’t get a 2.0-litre TDi - the version that accounts for three-quarters of UK volume, and which we’re testing – with Quattro four-wheel drive.

And yet this new premium wagon’s got plenty going for it besides. Still isn’t the most accommodating car in the class; the new A6 Avant offers minor gains in passenger and cargo room, while also being lower, shorter and lighter than the outgoing car – but if you’re after the biggest premium brand load-lugger out there, you’ll still be better off in an Mercedes E-class. And yet the 2.0-litre TDi is class-leading on benefit-in-kind CO2 tax and depreciation, says Audi, and close-to-class-leading on performance, economy and emissions. Like the last A6 Avant, it’s sure to be a firm fleet favourite.

What’s it like?

Some lovely cabin materials and Audi’s often-lauded high standards in fit and finish make this a very pleasant car in which to ensconce yourself, and a fairly generous standard equipment list helps you feel well provided for. You get 17in wheels, rear seat side airbags, parking sensors front and rear, leather upholstery, sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control as standard for your £32k; don’t get half that for free on Mercedes’ cheapest E220 CDi Eatate.

But so much we already knew from an early drive on the continent. What we didn’t know was that, although still a little short of some rivals in terms of rolling refinement and driver involvement, the 2.0-litre TDi A6 Avant rides and handles on British roads with solid and assured competence. It’s not quite as cosseting as an E-class or as dynamically deft as a BMW 520d, but offers a compromise of handling precision and comfort that’s more than acceptable.

The A6’s engine is quite quiet by class standards but suffers with poor throttle response at low crank speeds. It’s willing enough higher up in the rev range, but off-boost you have to apply wide throttle openings and be patient with the car in a way that you don’t expect to in a premium brand offering. The problem’s particularly noticeable climbing steep inclines, when holding a high gear can be quite hard work.

Still, during motorway driving and most A- and B-road use, the 2.0-litre TDi A6 Avant has more than enough performance, and in our experience will even return close to 50mpg if you’re conservative.

Should I buy one?

Depends if you’ve got room on your drive, or in your life, for something more interesting to drive at the weekend. Though undeniably competent, this A6 will probably seem underwhelming to the interested driver, just as the last A6 Avant might have.

But given that the last A6 estate outsold both of its nearest rivals in the UK by a margin of almost two to one, we don’t expect that lack of motive sparkle will be any barrier to success. This is a practical, economical and refined family car with really distinguishing static virtues. For sheer metal for the money, it’s great value too. One of two cars in the executive class might be slightly more entertaining, but few, we’d wager, would be as pleasing to own and use every day.