2023 Audi RS6 Avant

While there may not be many station wagons left in the USA, the few that still linger are in hot demand among fans of the body style. And it's not just because of their superior practicality - wagons are fiercer than ever before. The Audi RS6 Avant takes things a step further by offering some of the best driving and performance you're likely to find, thanks to its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, which develops a potent 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. However, it's not the only high-luxury go-fast wagon out there, as it competes with the equally ferocious Mercedes-AMG E63 and Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo. Still, with bold styling, energetic performance, and eye-catching design, it's one of the most appealing options in the segment, but with such impressive competitors, is the Audi RS6 Avant the wagon people will choose?

You're going to have to dish out some serious cash to get behind the wheel of the RS6 Avant. The Audi RS6 Avant has a price tag of $121,900 MSRP excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,095. Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz don't have direct rivals to the RS6 in the USA, but if it's a high-performance wagon you're after, Porsche will sell you the similarly quick Panamera GTS Sport Turismo for $141,400.

A fully loaded RS6 Avant equipped with all the driver assists and available luxuries can surpass $140k quite quickly, which is nearing R8 Coupe pricing.

If you didn't know any better, you would think a large wagon like this would be unwieldy, but Audi truly cooked up something special with the RS6. The 2023 Avant doesn't just have oodles of power; it also has all the necessary underpinnings to capitalize on it. The adaptive air suspension lets the wagon ride on a comfortable cloud or hunker down to stay grounded when cornering. The standard quattro all-wheel drivetrain definitely helps, empowering the driver with a great deal of confidence. Easy and accurate electric steering, as well as all-wheel steering, ensures optimal control.

Despite all these performance-oriented characteristics, the RS6 Avant is, first and foremost, a high-comfort family hauler. This is especially true if you stick to Comfort mode, which has the added benefit of keeping the otherwise poor fuel economy down to acceptable levels. In review, the Audi RS6 Avant is an excellent balancing act - equal parts cozy cruiser and high-speed demon.

The 2023 RS6 Avant does a great job in a variety of areas, but this spread of focus means that it may not excel in areas that some consumers care more about. It has sufficient cargo capacity though it's far from class-leading. Comfort is great, but Mercedes' wagon is more luxurious. It also guzzles gasoline like your uninvited uncle helps himself to the eggnog at Christmas dinner. However, the Audi is a great-looking vehicle that can deliver thrills on demand, and the interior is attractive and classy. It may cost an absolute mint, but loads of features are included as standard, and its dynamic and versatile nature appeals to a very broad audience. Despite fierce competition, it is easily one of the coolest cars money can buy, and the rarity of wagons only makes it more desirable to those who know what many Gen Z-ers are missing.

Audi makes choosing an RS6 Avant simple by offering only one model. It is up to the buyer to make their example special, and thankfully Audi provides a ton of cool optional extras - albeit with hefty price tags. We'd get one in Nardo Gray and fit the $6,350 Carbon Optic package if we were buying. We'd also splurge on the RS Design package and the $1,000 sport exhaust for the Audi RS6 Avant, and the $2,250 Driver Assistance package. The total cost of this build comes to $134,095, including destination fees.