2009 Audi A6 Avant

Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays says the new, supercharged Audi A6 engine delivers better low-end power than Infiniti or Cadillac engines, or even a Jaguar V-8. But Mays is one of several reviewers who noticed a split-second lag between the gas pedal and acceleration on the Audi A6, which some critics decide is a deal-breaker.

"Audi has a contender in the A4, but the A6 still needs some work," Mays concludes. Testers say the A6's steering responds nicely to a light touch. Most say the interior design is clean and elegant, although Weaver at Edmunds Inside Line calls it "somewhat stark and uninviting." The Audi A6 wagon's ride is firm -- too firm for some critics, although others say it's not a problem. Mays says he noticed too much wind noise for a $50,000-plus car.

Like the Audi A4 Avant, the A6 Avant wagon seats five and includes upscale features that match its price, reviewers note. The lowest Premium trim (*est. $53,310) offers standard all-wheel drive, heated leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Step up to the Premium Plus trim (*est. $54,630) and you'll get more luxury touches, including heated mirrors and xenon headlights, plus options like a voice-command radio, phone and navigation system.

The top-level Prestige trim (*est. $58,160) adds even more advanced standard features, such as a rearview camera and headlights that pivot automatically to help you see around corners. An optional side-assist feature alerts you if a car moves into your blind spot.

The Audi A6 Avant is named a Top Safety Pick at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but it's no safer than the less expensive A4 Avant wagon, which gets perfect government safety ratings. The A6 lineup (which includes a sedan) gets only average reliability scores -- not as good as some much cheaper wagons, including the full-size, all-wheel-drive Subaru Outback (*est. $22,295 to $32,095).

The A6 Avant wagon delivers 21 mpg combined fuel economy (18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway), which is slightly better than the BMW 5 Series' 19 mpg combined.

We found no test drives for the new 2009 Audi A6 Avant wagon when we checked. Because the new wagon comes with a different engine and suspension than the 2008 model did, outdated reviews must be studied carefully. However, older ratings of the A6 Avant's comfort, cargo space and the like are still valid, as in AskMen.com's direct comparison test between the 2008 A6 Avant and the BMW 535xi wagon. ConsumerReports.org and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety base their ratings of the A6 Avant on tests of the sedan model. Edmunds.com and MSN Autos include helpful information about the 2009 A6 Avant's specs. Other reviews test the sedan version of the Audi A6, but many of their comments --including their impressions of the A6's supercharged 3.0T engine -- apply to the wagon, too.