Audi A6 Allroad returns with aggressive stance and off-road ability for £70k
Four years since it was last sold in the UK, the Audi A6 Allroad returns with a sportier appearance - and plug-in hybrid power...
On sale Autumn 2026 Price from £70,000 (est)
Since production began in 1894, Barbour jackets have been renowned for being rugged and practical yet unmistakably premium. You can say the same thing about the Audi A6 Allroad. Based on the more conventional Audi A6 Avant estate car, the A6 Allroad had a more robust appearance and better off-road capability.
Over the years, the A6 Allroad rivals included the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain and Volvo V90 Cross Country. However, these models have been taken off sale in recent years as manufacturers put more focus into SUVs. As a result, buyers interested in an off-road ready estate car now have to choose between the less premium Subaru Outback, the electric Toyota bZ4X Touring or the more SUV-like Volvo XC60.
Having been taken off sale in the UK in 2022, the Audi A6 Allroad is back – and at first glance has seemingly swapped the Barbour for Lacoste. Compared with previous generations, the latest A6 Allroad looks far more aggressive, featuring an RS-style body kit with large side air intakes, a rear diffuser and plenty of sporty black trim on the side skirts, door mirrors and wheel arches.
Compared with the standard A6 Avant, the A6 Allroad is a considerable 111mm wider, thanks in part to flared front wings with large side air intakes, and extended rear wheel arches. As a result, there’s a wider distance between the wheels, which helps provide the A6 Allroad better stability through fast bends.
Nevertheless, that’s not to say that the A6 Allroad has ditched its off-road capabilities for high-speed thrills on the track. In addition to Audi’s famed quattro four-wheel drive system, every version will come with adaptive air suspension, and in its normal driving mode, sits 34mm higher than the A6 Avant. However, if more ground clearance is required, drivers can select ‘offroad’ mode, which raises the car by a further 15mm, and by an additional 20mm by selecting lift mode.
Conversely, selecting ‘dynamic’ mode causes the A6 Allroad’s body to lower by 20mm, helping to improve its high-speed stability and aerodynamics. Indeed, when travelling above 75mph, the car will automatically lower itself to increase its efficiency.
In addition to featuring a stiffer steering system than previous generations for improved feedback, the new A6 Allroad will also be available with all-wheel steering. That not only boosts its agility and manoeuvrability around town, but also helps to make it more precise at higher speeds.
Two power options will be available, with cheaper A6 Allroads powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. Featuring mild hybrid technology, its 295bhp power output offers enough oomph for the A6 Allroad to sprint from 0-62mph in 5.4sec. That’s significantly faster than the Outback (10.2sec).
However, for the first time, the A6 Allroad will also be available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Called the e-Hybrid, this setup combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to make 362bhp. However, despite the extra power, the e-Hybrid’s additional weight means it’s a tenth of a second slower to 62mph than the diesel, but it’s slightly quicker than the equivalent XC60 (5.7sec).
With a 20.7kWh (usable capacity) battery, the A6 Allroad e-Hybrid can officially cover 59 miles between charges. That's not quite as far as the A6 Avant e-Hybrid can manage (63 miles), but it beats the equivalent XC60 (49 miles).
Despite the considerable changes to the bodywork and mechanicals, the A6 Allroad’s interior is a close match to the rest of the Audi A6 range. That means the A6 Allroad feels generally plush – with soft-touch materials coating most surfaces – and has a good amount of space for front and rear passengers alike.
It also inherits plenty of technology, including the company’s MMI Panoramic Display which combines the 11.9in driver’s display and 14.5in central touchscreen. There’s also the option of a 10.9in passenger touchscreen for streaming videos and playing games on the go.
Nevertheless, one unfortunate difference between the A6 Allroad and the conventional A6 Avant is boot space. With 466 litres for the diesel and 404 for the PHEV, neither version can match the Outback (561 litres) or bZ4X Touring (669 litres).
The Audi A6 Allroad will go on sale in the Autumn, and while exact UK prices have yet to be confirmed it’s estimated that it will start from about £70,000.
