Audi A6 Avant - Reliability and Safety

​​The Audi A6 Avant is loaded to the rafters with active and passive safety systems, so it was no surprise to see safety experts Euro NCAP award it a maximum five-star safety rating. When the A6 saloon was tested in 2018 — the rating for this model also applies to the A6 Avant — it received a 93 per cent rating for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child protection, 81 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 76 per cent for safety assist technology.

Autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning are standard across the range, as are multiple airbags, cruise control, and a rear-view camera. Safety upgrades are available in options packs. Additional features include pre-tense seatbelts, front cross-traffic assist, and lane-keeping assist.

Neither the Audi A6 Avant or saloon appeared in our latest Driver Power survey, but Audi itself finished in a very poor 30th place out of 32 brands in our best car manufacturers list. 

Warranty

Audi offers a standard three-year, 60,000-mile warranty on the A6 Avant, which is beginning to look a tad miserly. Rivals Mercedes and BMW don’t limit the mileage, while some non-premium manufacturers offer five- or even seven-year packages.

On the plus side, it’s possible to upgrade to a four- or five-year new car warranty, while extended warranties are also available.

The battery pack used in the 50 TFSI e plug-in hybrid is covered by a separate warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Servicing

The A6 Avant is eligible for either a fixed or flexible service plan. Which one is best will depend on your intended mileage. The fixed plan involves a service every 18,600 miles or two years, while the flexible plan involves an oil change every 9,300 miles or one year, and a full service every 18,600 miles or two years.