I used to be just lately in Stuttgart, and I let you know, the great citizenry of southern Germany is doing its half to ensure wagons do not go extinct. They’re all over the place, which just about explains why German automobile firms are mainly the one ones making wagons as of late (and Volvo … and in addition the Subaru Outback). Now, we do not get a lot of them, together with the Audi A6 Avant. We do, nonetheless, get the 2 most fascinating variations of the A6 Avant: the A6 Allroad and the RS6 Avant.
In accordance with the specs, each the Allroad and RS6 Avant have 30 cubic-feet of cargo area behind its again seat. That may be greater than the V90 Cross Nation, which has a listed spec of 25.5 cubic-feet (it is lower than the Mercedes E63 at 35 cubic-feet, however I have never examined that).
I am going to let you know proper now, although, there will be much more to this take a look at than simply tossing the baggage in and calling it a day. The Avant has tips up its sleeve.
As you’ll be able to see right here, this can be a very looooong area. I used to personal a first-generation A4 Allroad, and whereas the overall form, top and have content material (extra on that in a second) was comparable, the size is the massive distinction right here.
You may see how my Allroad did when in comparison with the Volvo V60 Cross Nation.
Above left is what you discover whenever you elevate up the ground. I assume you would retailer one thing down right here.
Above proper is what you discover whenever you take away that large plastic bin-ish factor beneath the ground. An enormous subwoofer and undoubtedly not a full-size 22-inch wheel and a few rubber spackled upon it.
In different phrases, no baggage assist right here.
The Avant has a roll-out cargo cowl in a cartridge like oh-so-many automobiles, however this one plugs right into a power-operated monitor that robotically raises and lowers the duvet whenever you open and shut the hatch.
As the duvet exists and there is actually no place to place it within the automobile, I can be testing with and with out the duvet.
As with each Baggage Check, I exploit two midsize curler suitcases that might should be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 large, 11 deep), two black roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller inexperienced roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embrace my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
First, a phrase about loading. That is one thing I found with my A4 Allroad (which additionally exhibits their heights are nearly an identical). Though my greatest bag suits beneath the cargo cowl, the 2 cartridges (extra on the second quickly) prevents it from going all the best way to the seatback and creates a sizeable hole. I used to stuff random stuff again there if I ended up loading like this, however for this A6 Allroad/RS6 Avant take a look at, I put the massive bag on its stomach for the varied Tetrises you are about to see.
Check 1: Cargo cowl overlaying the baggage
All the baggage did NOT match beneath the cargo cowl, because the inexperienced bag was left behind. The flowery bag can be clearly not within the biggest form.
It is arduous to inform due to glare, however the cowl nonetheless managed to shut over the baggage regardless of them sticking up above the duvet’s top.
Check 2: Cargo cowl in automobile, however retracted
All the baggage now match, as you’ll be able to see above left.
There may be additionally room left over. With that additional area, I might match a small Below Armour duffel bag and a second medium-sized black roll-aboard. I eliminated it from above the inexperienced bag (above left) and moved it atop the opposite medium black bag (above proper), subsequently displaying two of them might theoretically match.
This can be a superb end result. There are a TON of SUVs that can’t match the six customary luggage with the cargo cowl nonetheless within the automobile.
I’ve eliminated the cargo cowl, however now we come to the second cartridge hiding behind it. It is the Avant’s customary roll-up cargo web. I had one in every of these in my A4 Allroad and I used it on a regular basis.
Mainly, this characteristic permits me to avoid one of many major Baggage Check guidelines: Don’t load to roof. Doing so hampers or eliminates visibility, and most significantly, poses a security threat by permitting luggage to fly into the passenger cabin. The cargo web prevents issues from flying into the cabin.
Check 3: Cargo cowl eliminated, cargo web in place, visibility maintained
Because the above header says, right here I loaded up the RS6 Avant nearly to the roof, however because the horrible photograph above proper exhibits, you’ll be able to nonetheless see out the again. After I’d use the cargo web in my A4 Allroad, that is just about what I did.
When it comes to stuff, this swaps out the imaginary second black bag from Check 2 for a 38-quart Coleman cooler. We’re now in large compact SUV territory like a Honda CR-V or Hyundai Tucson.
Check 4: Fill’er up
That is probably the most stuff I might match behind the RS6 Avant. To the Check 3 quantity I’ve added a small briefcase (beneath fancy bag) and closed off the visibility gap with a normal duffel bag and a tiny cooler bag.
Now, Baggage Check guidelines imply this does not actually matter since rear visibility is eradicated and there is not any digital rearview mirror as a workaround. The cargo web does fulfill the protection requirement, nonetheless.
So yeah, that is a helluva lot of stuff in a wagon. Simply another reason why I deeply love the RS6 Avant, and would in all probability be awfully keen on the A6 Allroad if that ought to ever discover itself method into my driveway.