2021 Audi RS 6 Avant Review: Path Vader
Derryn Wong
12/03/2021
Go back to Page 1: Intro and design
2. Driving Experience
A press on the ‘RS’ button delivers one of two presets – we used the first as ‘sporty cruising’ and the second as ‘this is when the fun begins’. Thanks to all the tech onboard, you can adjust the behaviour of the steering, suspension, quattro all-wheel drive, sport differential behaviour, engine sound.
Like other similarly-sized performance models, such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, RS Q8, or even the Lamborghini Urus, the RS 6 has lots of tech tricks to make it dance, including quattro (all wheel drive), sport diff (torque vectoring for quicker cornering), all-wheel steering (more agility), and adaptive air suspension.
In comparison to the tall SUVs, the RS 6 is more jumping Jedi than lumbering Sith lord – they don’t have the high ground here, even if they’re less afraid of sand.
The Audi’s all-wheel drive and sport differential, matched with its wide, grippy tyres deliver prodigious acceleration with what seems like the maximum accuracy and point-ability possible for a five-metre long, two-tonne car. Ripping through the gears is also viscerally pleasing, as only a V8 can be, though with the amount of performance here you’ll probably only get to second or third before running out of room.
Like the previous car, there’s a colossal amount of forward traction thanks to the all-wheel drive system, but it doesn’t impinge on agility or accuracy, especially in comparison to super-SUVs.
While the all-wheel steering makes for a very ‘turnable’ car, there’s no getting around the fact that this is a long, wide car – at 2,110mm wide it’s wider than a Lamborghini Aventador’s 2,030mm span.
While ‘only’ 600hp is eclipsed by its rivals the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E 63 S, on the road – especially Singapore’s roads – the power differences are merely academic since you quickly come up the fact that the horizons here are simply too small to unleash its full potential.
On track it’ll not be as fast as a supercar of course, but it’s clear that in real-world driving on wide highways and decently-sized B-roads, the RS 6’s combination of power, traction, and agility will allow it to keep up with pretty much anything.
On to page 3: Interior, practicality, conclusion
1. Introduction and design
2. Driving experience
3. Interior, practicality, conclusion
About the Author
Derryn Wong
CarBuyer's former chief editor was previously the editor for Top Gear Singapore and a presenter for CNA's Cruise Control motoring segment.
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