2027 Audi A6 allroad brings the V6 diesel wagon Australia deserves

Audi has confirmed the new A6 allroad for Australia, and it may be one of the most pleasingly sensible luxury-car announcements in some time. The raised wagon will arrive in the first half of 2027 with a choice of plug-in hybrid or V6 turbo-diesel power, standard adaptive air suspension and quattro all-wheel drive.

That combination gives the 2027 Audi A6 allroad a rare sort of appeal. It promises the practicality and long-distance manners of a large estate, enough ground clearance for rougher roads, and none of the visual mass or cumbersome proportions that have become routine among luxury SUVs.

I have not driven it yet, so any verdict on ride quality or handling will have to wait. Still, on specification and appearance alone, this looks like a deeply tempting car, particularly in V6 TDI form.

A more muscular take on Audi’s executive wagon

The latest A6 allroad is 84mm wider than its predecessor, with more pronounced wheel arches and a broader stance intended to distinguish it from the conventional A6 Avant. It wears the expected allroad cues, including protective body cladding and raised suspension, but Audi appears to have avoided turning the wagon into a caricature of an SUV.

That restraint is a large part of the appeal. The surfaces are clean, the proportions remain recognisably estate-like, and the extra visual toughness does not overwhelm the car’s executive-car purpose. Standard 20-inch Audi Sport wheels, black exterior detailing and Matrix LED headlights should give Australian cars a suitably cohesive look.

Buyers can also specify digital Matrix LED headlights and OLED rear lighting. These are expensive-sounding details, certainly, but they suit a car positioned as a long-distance luxury wagon rather than a utilitarian soft-roader.

Audi has confirmed two powertrains for the Australian range. The A6 allroad TDI quattro uses a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 producing 220kW and 580Nm, paired with a seven-speed S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. It also receives Audi’s mild-hybrid-plus technology and an electrically powered compressor intended to improve response at lower engine speeds.

For this particular format, the diesel is the especially appealing option. A strong six-cylinder diesel suits a big wagon far better than it would a car built primarily for short urban trips: the torque should make relaxed work of motorway overtaking and loaded touring, while the engine’s character ought to complement the allroad’s quietly purposeful brief.

The alternative is the A6 allroad e-hybrid quattro, which combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor for total outputs of 270kW and 500Nm. Audi quotes up to 87km of electric driving range for the plug-in hybrid. It may make more sense for drivers able to charge regularly at home, particularly if much of their travel is suburban.

Air suspension and serious standard equipment strengthen the case

Every Australian A6 allroad will have adaptive air suspension as standard, which feels essential rather than indulgent on a car like this. Audi says the system offers 55mm of total ride-height adjustment, lowering the car by 20mm in Dynamic mode and raising it by up to 35mm through a lift function at lower speeds.

That adjustability is central to the allroad idea. The car should be able to settle into the role of executive express on a long highway journey, then gain useful clearance when the road turns rougher. Whether Audi has achieved the right balance between comfort and body control remains an unanswered question until the car is driven, but the hardware is promising.

All-wheel steering is also standard, with Audi claiming a turning circle of 11.4 metres. For a large luxury wagon, that could make the A6 allroad less intimidating in car parks and city streets than its footprint suggests.

The cabin brings Audi’s latest display architecture, including an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit, 14.5-inch OLED infotainment screen and 10.9-inch passenger display. A head-up display, four-zone climate control and a panoramic glass roof with switchable transparency are also included.

More importantly for a car intended to cover serious distances, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats are standard, along with a 16-speaker, 685-watt Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system. An optional customised contour seat package adds further adjustment and adjustable bolsters, with Nutmeg brown leather among the available finishes.

There is one obvious frustration. Audi has included plenty of equipment, and a Premium package will be offered, but the apparent room for genuinely individual specification looks relatively limited. That may simplify the buying process, though it feels slightly at odds with the old premium German-car ritual of selecting every trim, seat and colour detail personally.

Australian pricing starts at $127,900 before on-road costs for the A6 allroad e-hybrid quattro. The V6 TDI quattro starts at $137,900 before on-road costs. Neither is inexpensive, but the standard chassis technology, drivetrain options and luxury equipment make a more convincing case than another oversized premium SUV with less imagination.

The arrival of a new diesel-powered allroad is also a small win for Australian wagon enthusiasts. Audi has not announced any hotter S6 or RS allroad variants, and it would be unwise to read anything into that absence. For now, the regular V6 diesel looks like the version to watch: a handsome, well-equipped luxury wagon with the right engine, the right suspension and a reason to take the long way home.