The RS6 Avant Performance is the most convincing single-car answer to the question "what if you only had one". It's a station wagon with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, 621 hp, quattro all-wheel drive, a boot that will take a family's luggage, and the ability to embarrass supercars on a wet road.

Audi's Performance version raises boost from 2.4 to 2.6 bar and revises the software for an extra 30 hp and 37 lb-ft over the standard RS6. More interesting is the mechanical change: the centre differential becomes a self-locking mechanical unit with a rear bias of up to 85 per cent, and the optional sport differential vectors torque across the rear axle. The result is a car that will genuinely rotate rather than just understeer away from you.

Air suspension is standard, with a Dynamic Ride Control option that uses hydraulically cross-linked dampers instead of active anti-roll bars — simpler and, on a road, more communicative. The V8 runs cylinder-on-demand for cruising, which is how something this quick manages tolerable motorway consumption.

Its rivals are the AMG E63 estate and BMW M5 Touring, and the RS6's edge has always been discretion combined with all-weather traction. It looks like a fast Audi rather than a statement, which for a lot of buyers is exactly the appeal — and it remains one of the last big-capacity petrol V8 estates on sale.

03 / How to use

Owner's walkthrough

Practical guide for everything a new owner asks on day one — starting the car, finding the gear selector, drive modes, infotainment, driver aids, and easy-to-miss features.

How to start it

Press the brake, then press START/STOP on the console (right of the gear lever). On RS / R / S models, a red ignition button is recessed into the steering wheel as a shortcut.

Where the gear selector is (and how to use it)

Console-mounted shifter — pull back through N to D, push forward through N to R, press the P button on the top to park. PHEV Bentleys add a steering-wheel paddle override.

Drive modes

Drive modes are accessed via the Audi drive select button on the console. Available modes typically include Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, Efficiency, Individual, Off-road. Each mode reshuffles throttle mapping, steering weight, adaptive dampers (if equipped), exhaust valves, and stability-control thresholds. On performance trims, an 'Individual' or 'Custom' slot lets you save your favorite combination so you can recall it with one click instead of nesting through menus.

Cluster & head-up display

The driver display is a Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus. Use the steering-wheel left thumb-pad to cycle layouts (Classic, Sport, Navigation, Minimal). When in Sport / Track mode the cluster automatically swaps to a wide tach with gear indicator and tire-temperature readout. The head-up display brightness, height, and content are configured from Settings → Displays → HUD.

Infotainment & voice control

Infotainment runs on MMI touch with haptic feedback. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard; pair from Settings → Connections the first time, then it auto-connects whenever your phone is in range. "Hey Audi" wakes the in-car assistant for nav, climate, calls, and messaging without touching the screen. The main display also hosts vehicle-specific apps: tire pressures, performance data recorder (where fitted), drive-mode customizer, and the camera views.

Driver assistance

Standard driver aids include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Toggle each system individually from the driver-assist menu (steering-wheel left-pad → Assistance). Highway-driving assist (hands-off in marked lanes on supported roads), automatic lane-change on indicator tap, traffic-jam assist for stop-and-go, and a 360° surround camera with transparent-hood mode are all available and worth enabling for the first time before driving in heavy traffic.

Fueling

Premium unleaded (91 or 93 octane) is required on Audi performance models — the engine timing is set for it and lower octane causes audible knock and reduced power. Fuel-cap release is a button on the driver door panel; the cap is capless (just push the nozzle in).

Keys & phone-as-key

Beyond the physical key, this car supports Audi connect key (NFC card + phone). Set up phone-as-key from the myAudi app: it provisions a secure credential to your phone's wallet so a tap on the door handle unlocks the car and placing the phone on the wireless charging pad authorizes ignition. You can also share temporary keys to family members (with optional speed and area limits on performance trims) directly from the app.

First-week tips & easy-to-miss features

A few things every new owner tells us they wish they'd known on day one:

Set up the head-up display brightness and content (speed + nav arrows + assist status) the first day — once it's tuned to you it's the most useful screen in the car.
Download the brand app (myAudi) and pair it with your VIN before your first long trip — remote climate, charging/fuel-level checks, and remote lock-status save you walking back to the garage in winter.

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