Audi A6 Avant - Interior, design and technology

​The Audi A6 Avant’s interior might not offer the wow factor of the cabin design found in the newer Mercedes E-Class, but the fit, finish and general ambience are all top-notch. The design is borrowed from the luxurious Audi A8 saloon, and uses a clean and uncluttered dashboard housing a set of large, modern touchscreens.

It’s genuinely hard to find fault with the interior design. Everything feels nice to the touch, the buttons and switchgear feel reassuringly solid, while the leather and plastics used in the fabric are first-rate. If we told you that our single gripe would be the quality of the headlining fabric, you’d appreciate that we had to search hard for faults.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The A6 Avant has three screens, one of which is Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster display.

In standard form, the driver is greeted with a 10.1-inch central touchscreen display and a supplementary 8.6-inch touchscreen located below. It takes a while to get used to, but you’ll soon become accustomed to the layout.

The top screen controls infotainment and navigation functions, while the lower screen is used for comfort and convenience features, such as climate control and ventilation.

The top screen will be familiar to anyone who has used a tablet device, because it features smartphone-style tile apps, which can be dragged and dropped to create a customised display. The haptic and acoustic feedback isn’t too dissimilar to that of the latest iPhones.

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It’s a good system, but it loses points because it requires you to take your eyes off the road. At least the voice recognition is one of the best in the business, enabling you to carry out most tasks without removing your hands from the wheel.

Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is a fantastic piece of kit, replacing the traditional instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch full-colour digital display. The 3D navigation map is worth the price alone, while the enlarged upper screen and wireless phone charging make the Technology Pack a must-have upgrade.