Allroad is to Audi what Cross Country is to Volvo: Jacked-up station wagons with plastic body cladding designed to lure buyers away from SUVs. Audi has been making its Allroad models for 20 years now, and the latest in the line is the redesigned 2020 A6 Allroad. The wagon gets some new tech, including features normally found on dedicated off-roaders. While many wagons bypass the United States, the Allroad will return to these shores for the new model year.
The A6 Allroad sits taller than the A6 Avant it’s based on (that model isn’t sold in the U.S., but we do get the A6 sedan), and comes standard with adaptive air suspension, which can raise or lower the ride height based on speed and the selected driving mode. The standard ride height offers 5.5 inches of ground clearance, according to Audi. The Allroad can also jack itself up, increasing ground clearance to 7.3 inches and making it easier to negotiate uneven terrain. The ride height also lowers automatically at higher speeds.
Most A6 Allroad owners will likely never take their vehicles off-road, but Audi included some tech to help if they do. The Allroad gets hill descent control, which holds the car at a set speed between 1.2 mph and 18.6 mph, and can brake any of the four wheels individually to ensure a smooth descent. A tilt-angle sensor warns the driver if it detects that the vehicle is at risk of tipping over.
The U.S.-spec A6 Allroad uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 and mild-hybrid system, which produce a combined 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive are standard.
Like numerous Audi models sold in the U.S., the Allroad gets the latest version of the automaker’s MMI infotainment system, which covers the dashboard in screens. Range-topping models get a 10.1-inch central screen, which is paired with an 8.6-inch lower screen that replaces most analog buttons and knobs. The Allroad also gets Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which replaces the conventional gauge cluster with a 12.3-inch reconfigurable digital display.
The 2020 Audi A6 Allroad is coming next year, with pricing to be announced closer to launch. The A6 will join the smaller A4 Allroad in Audi’s U.S. lineup, as well as another wagon long sought by U.S. enthusiasts. The 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant uses the same body shell as the Allroad, but instead of an off-roader, it’s a hot rod with a 600-hp twin-turbo V8.
