2025 Audi RS 6

The next time someone tells you Father Christmas doesn’t exist, just point to the RS 6 Avant Performance and ask them to explain this car’s existence, if they possibly can. This Audi wagon (the company uses the term “Avant” in place of the “wagon” word) is an absolute gift to the automotive world. It’s so nice — and so tempting to be naughty.

We know many people buy SUVs for the ability to carry stuff as well as people, and they often like a luxury version with substantial power. This car is similar from the standpoint of extra versatility. It’s also comfortable and luxurious. And we would add handsome to its list of qualities. But then it goes big on the kind of driver appeal that SUVs usually can’t provide. The RS 6 Avant Performance covers many bases and masters them all.

The RS 6 is based on the (now outgoing) A6 midsize luxury sedan and has the highest performance of the overall A6 lineup.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize luxury cars, including the Audi RS 6 Avant Performance.

The HomeLink remote garage door button is now integrated into the rearview mirror, and road sign recognition becomes standard.

For this special combination of power and practicality, also check out the BMW M5 Touring and the Porsche Panamera GTS. The BMW is in the same kind of price bracket as this Audi. The Porsche is more expensive.

Before buying a new RS 6 Avant Performance luxury midsize high-performance car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. We expect resale values to be about average for the class, or perhaps a touch below. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2025 RS 6 Avant Performance lives up to the last part of its name. Developing an awesome 621 horsepower, it will accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in only 3.3 seconds.

For comparison, the BMW M5 Touring is another high-performance wagon, but differs in crucial ways. Despite its awesome 717 hp, it’s a plug-in hybrid. That entails extra weight, so the car is a couple of tenths slower to 60 mph than the RS 6 Avant Performance.

Not a wagon, but a practical hatchback nonetheless, the Porsche Panamera GTS churns with 493 hp and burns to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. We don’t really care about a tenth or three. It’s not as if you’re going to find time to yawn in those fleeting fractions of a second. All these cars are wonderfully quick.

In the real world, we had to do a sensory double-take. How can a wagon be so exciting while retaining such practicality? If we had to describe the acceleration in one word, it would be “ferocious.” And the exhaust sound is glorious, a real V8 growl. We would also say the standard sport-tuned air suspension rides on the taut side, but that’s how it should be in a car like this. We still found it comfortable enough. And the cabin is sufficiently quiet when we weren’t revving the wonderful engine.

As well as all-wheel drive as standard, the RS 6 Avant Performance comes with rear-wheel steering, This enhances low-speed maneuverability (we were extremely grateful when doing a tight 3-point turn) and contributes to overall agility at higher speeds.

Fuel Economy

Anyone choosing a fast car with a powerful V8 isn’t likely to fret about the fuel bills. The RS 6 Avant Performance achieves 17 mpg in combined city/highway driving, but that’s not so bad in context. The Panamera GTS, for example, is rated at 18 mpg combined. The M5 Touring plug-in hybrid can travel for 25 miles on battery power, returning the equivalent of 54 mpg combined (MPGe). But when that battery is used up, the car only manages 13 mpg combined.

“Audi-posh” is how one member of our test team put it, meaning that the cabin of the RS 6 Avant Performance is full of fine materials and tech, all put together in that elegant yet understated Audi way. We also love the shape and support of the sporty RS front seats, and the seating surfaces of perforated leather.

We think the central display is a good size at 10.1 inches on the diagonal. It’s big and clear enough to show information, yet not distracting like some larger screens can be. We also appreciated the quad-zone climate control. Rear legroom of 37.4 inches is acceptable among midsize cars and enough for adults of up to average size.

Because Avant is Audi-speak for wagon, the RS 6 Avant Performance has plenty of versatility when carrying people and things. Behind the split/folding rear seats is a cargo area measuring a generous 30 cubic feet, expanding to 59.3 cubic feet when those seats are down.

It’s the subtly flared fenders that do it for us. Not over the top, but wide enough to accommodate the bigger rubber necessary for a performance car. The RS 6 Avant Performance also sits lower on its sport-tuned suspension than a regular A6 sedan. Factor in the usual elegant Audi lines and proportions, and there’s a lot to admire.

We also admire Audi for bringing such a remarkable wagon into the United States. It doesn’t matter if the American public seems mostly oblivious to the practical advantages of a wagon — like a lower center of gravity compared with an SUV (creating greater stability) and better aerodynamic performance — because the RS 6 Avant Performance is a niche car that resonates with a select few. We think it looks terrific in black, but Ascari Blue Metallic is also gorgeous.

Virtual Cockpit Plus
No longer new technology, but Audi’s standard Virtual Cockpit Plus still impresses us with its clarity and ease of use. This digital instrument cluster has sharp graphics and, despite a wealth of information available, doesn’t require much time to master. The regular arrangement features white characters on a black background, but one RS-specific twist reverses that (if desired).

Powered tailgate
Apologies for not going fully performance-minded, but we like how the RS 6 Avant Performance is also a luxury car in addition to being supremely fast. Convenience features like this really add to the day-to-day joys of ownership.

Head-up display
In common with the Virtual Cockpit, this is no longer cutting-edge tech, but we like to see crucial information projected onto the windshield so we can retain our focus on the road ahead. This is part of the optional Executive package that also includes power-closing doors and remote parking assistance.

Driver Assistance package
We wouldn’t be surprised if most RS 6 Avant Performance drivers will prefer to be completely engaged rather than use this optional package’s adaptive cruise control. We still recommend this $2,000 option, though, because it also includes blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, as well as intersection assistance. If it prevents just one collision, it would probably have paid for itself.

Bang & Olufsen Advanced system with 3D sound
We think this 19-speaker/1,820-watt array sounds fantastic. The standard system in the RS 6 Avant Performance is also a B&O and only slightly less earth-shaking.

Ceramic brakes
Sure, the standard brakes are great. However, this optional setup provides extra confidence and reassurance, especially for any RS 6 Avant Performance owners considering taking their car to the track.

The RS 6 Avant is propelled by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making a mighty 621 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. This goes to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. A mild hybrid system also smoothes out the fuel-saving stop/restart function and maximizes efficiency in general.

The regular A6 sedan and the 444-horsepower S6 sedan each have their own reviews.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is common among European luxury car makers. Audi also includes four years of roadside assistance.

Safety Ratings

The RS 6 Avant hasn’t been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States, but the A6 (on which the RS 6 Avant is based) has. Earlier A6 model years have been named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Last year’s version took top scores of Good in the three updated crash tests carried out by the institute. The A6 also received a maximum five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).