The only car you really need? This is the new, widebody Audi A6 Allroad

Audi’s Allroad cars have long been the cooler offerings from its range, via reasons not really that complex. Basically, ‘not being a massive SUV’. And so we come to the fifth generation of the actually still quite massive A6 Allroad.

That’s because for the first time, Audi’s given it a ‘widebody’ for reasons not really that complex. Basically, being “more powerful” and more “striking” than the puny A6 Avant it takes its base from. It’s a full 11cm wider than that car.

It’s also 34mm higher, thanks to Allroad-specific adaptive air suspension, which is the real clincher here. And wider tyres. And better all-wheel steering, body cladding and lots more Audi-ness thrown in. Looks… like a modern Audi, too. Teethy. Angry. Lean. Good stance on this car.

It’ll come with the option of a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-pot matched to an electric motor for totals of 362bhp/369lb ft, a 0-62mph time of 5.5s and top speed of 155mph. There’s also up to 59 miles of electric-only propulsion, which is a decent slug of e-range from a hybrid. No doubt the big 25.9kWh battery helps.

Then comes the bigger-engined, electrified 3.0-litre V6 diesel that’s actually down on power and performance but up on torque: you get 295bhp and 428lb ft to play with in this car, but only a 5.4s dash to 62mph. Still, it gets a belt alternator starter, e-motor and compressor that basically work to beef up the V6’s delivery “whether pulling away, accelerating out of town, overtaking, or driving on the highway”.

What about when you’re not on the highway? That adaptive air suspension gets Allroad-specific tunes with convenient labels like ‘offroad’ and ‘offroad+’ that add another 15mm of height and – via the gearbox, dampers, traction control and diff lock – better ability to handle the rough. Like rocks. And mud. And snow. And massive kerbs.

More traditional modes follow, including ‘comfort’ that makes it nice and spongy and sounds very ideal, and ‘dynamic’ that lowers it by 20mm. Why, in a car famed for being high and capable, we do not know.

The steering’s said to be ‘stiffer’ than the old A6 Allroad, more direct, and more agile thanks to its AWS. Better turning circle, too. There’s complex brake regen that works out what’s best when you push the pedal – regen or hydraulic pressure.

Plenty to work out inside, too, via a 11.9in virtual cockpit display, 14.5in central touchscreen, and 10.9in optional passenger display. That’s a lot of display. A lot of customisable display, naturally. A few buttons remain on the steering wheel, and you can also use Audi’s “self learning voice assistant” which doesn’t sound terrifying at all.

Otherwise it’s as you’d expect from a premium executive Audi: plush sports seats, “excellent” acoustics (better window seals, glazing, that sort of thing), a Bang & Olufsen stereo, soft-closing doors, contrast stitching, wood… that sort of thing.

And this being an estate – and therefore cooler than that SUV you’ve got your eye on – means it’s practical too. Audi quotes 466 litres seats up, 1,497 litres with the seats down for the V6 car. Those numbers drop a bit if you get the 2.0-litre hybrid, mind.

We’re still waiting on UK numbers, but German prices start from €77,250 when it goes on sale later this week.