Audi A6 allroad

The Audi A6 Allroad is possibly the most universal-use machine on the road today – drive this and then try to justify a Range Rover.

• Comfort

  Stick the Allroad in ‘comfort' mode and it's pretty much as good as it gets. Audi build quality means there's little noise and loads of space for five folk, plus saddles and bottles of horse wax.

  

• Performance

  The new one only comes as a 3.0-litre V6; Audi is offering the petrol 310bhp V6 that hits 62mph in 5.9 seconds, and three versions of the V6 diesel, in 204bhp, 245bhp and 313bhp variants. That last unit is a twin-turbo and pushes out 479lb ft of torque, coaxing the allroad to go from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds.

  

• Cool

  The cachet is there, it's just a bit grown-up. Think very rich farmers, or people who want to be very rich farmers.

  

• Quality

  As with all current Audis, the general quality is very high. They seem to have nailed this car-building business.

  

• Handling

  We haven't driven the new one yet, but the last Allroad could be raised, lowered, stiffened and softened all at the touch of a button. It doesn't feel as composed as a ‘normal' Avant on the Tarmac, but it's fine, and you get the off-road ability thrown in for free. Well, not for free, but you get the idea.

  

• Practicality

  The Allroad offers the same amount of space as an A6 Avant. Which is a lot. And because this car can cover lots of bases as an SUV/car hybrid, it's possibly one of the most useful things in production.

  

• Running costs

  Fuel economy isn't great across the range (especially the big petrol variant) but residuals are rock solid. Not cheap, but preferable to the horrid Q7 mothership.