Every day Driving an RS 6 Avant: Quicker Than a Corvette, Extra Environment friendly Than a Toyota Hybrid
2025 RS 6 Avant Efficiency: You CAN have one automotive that does all the things you want and all the things you need.
When the 2025 RS 6 Avant Efficiency pulled into my driveway, its twin-turbo V8 burbling away at idle, it was a bittersweet second. On the time, given the next-gen A6 European debut, I believed, “That is it. The final mannequin 12 months of the C8 technology Audi RS 6 Avant.” Strolling across the 621 all-wheel-drive horsepower Ascari Blue longroof, one of many most interesting cars Audi has ever imported into the North American automotive market, it was time to say goodbye.
However then one thing superb occurred.
Audi gave the current-gen RS 6 Avant, A6 All Road, and RS 7 a keep of execution right here within the U.S by means of 2026. Which is very wild since they’re going to be offered concurrently with these next-gen (C9) A6 fashions. And so we’ll save our goodbyes for subsequent 12 months and, within the meantime, attempt our greatest to speak about what it’s wish to day by day drive a 2025 RS 6 Avant.
A luxurious household station wagon that’s quicker than a Corvette and but extra environment friendly than the final Toyota hybrid that I examined.
Pricing
The bottom pricing for the 2025 RS 6 Avant Efficiency begins out at $126,600 earlier than vacation spot and supply. (Pricing jumps to 130,600 for 2026.) However press vehicles usually come totally loaded, and our loaner was no exception.
- $126,600 – Base worth
- $1,295 – Vacation spot
- $1,300 – Gasoline Guzzler
- $595 – Ascari Blue Paint
- $8,500 – Ceramic Brakes with Grey Calipers
- $7,650 – Matte Carbon Bundle
- $4,900 – B&O 3D Encompass System
- $3,500 – Design Bundle
- $3,050 – Government Bundle
- $3,000 – Black Dynamica Headliner
- $2,500 – Night time Imaginative and prescient Help
- $2,000 – Driver Help Bundle
- $1,250 – RS sport suspension with Dynamic Experience Management
- $1,000 – RS sport exhaust
- $167,140 – AS TESTED
Personally, I’d skip the matte carbon and evening imaginative and prescient (and probably the dynamic dealing with bundle; extra on this in a second) and save a couple of bucks. However I extremely advocate the $1,850 Particular person Contour Seat bundle, which provides adjustable facet bolster and massaging performance to heating and air flow.
Specs
No matter what your MSRP seems to be like, listed below are the essential specs for each 2025 RS 6 Avant Efficiency.
- 4.0L biturbo TFSI V8
- 621 horsepower
- 627 lb-ft of torque
- 8-speed automated
- Prime Pace: 155 (normal); 190 mph (non-compulsory)
- Wheelbase: 115.3″
- General size: 196.7″
- Width with mirrors: 83.5″
- Curb Weight: 4,982 lbs
- Cargo room: 30.0 sq. toes
- EPA Gasoline Financial system: 14 (metropolis) / 21 (freeway) / 17 mpg (mixed)
Every day Consolation
As outfitted, the 2025 RS 6 Avant press loaner options adjustable dampers — with each softer and harsher firmness settings — in addition to Audi’s Dynamic Experience Management (DRC) rather than the usual RS-tuned sport air journey suspension. DRC is successfully a hydraulic system that connects reverse corners of the automobile’s shock absorbers. It does a greater job of leveling the RS 6 than the air journey system, making it a pleasure on well-maintained roadways and all kinds of corners and twisties.
The draw back is that, for those who dwell wherever with potholes, the journey generally is a little jarring at occasions. Not harsh. Not uncomfortable. Just a bit much less insulation from the highway than you would possibly count on from an Audi. For people who primarily drive on imperfect roads, I’d personally advocate sticking with the usual RS-tuned air journey suspension. The trade-off there, after all, is that the RS 6 received’t be fairly as secure throughout aggressive maneuvering. So choose which compromise fits you finest.
General, the RS 6 Avant was a pleasure to drive. Snug. Nice music. Invisible in day by day drive visitors. All the facility on this planet while you need it. Talking of which…
Sports activities Automobile Acceleration
For the 2025 RS 6 Avant Efficiency, Audi claims it might run to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. Nevertheless, in our testing, utilizing a first-generation Dragy GPS system, the RS 6 ran back-to-back 3.25-second sprints to 60 mph on a crisp 66-degree (F) morning. Not solely is the RS 6 Avant fast, nevertheless it’s additionally extraordinarily constant and simple to launch.
(Launch Management = Dynamic or RS Mode + faucet the traction management button + maintain the brake + flooring the accelerator.)
For somewhat context, I spent per week earlier this 12 months within the mid-engine C8 Corvette Stingray with the Z51 efficiency bundle. The Stingray is technically able to hitting 60 mph in below 2 seconds, however throughout my testing, the perfect I may handle was 3.29 seconds with a slight downward slope.
Now, evaluating a 500 hp, 3,700-lb mid-engine, RWD sports activities automotive to a 621 hp, 5,000-lb, front-engine, AWD station wagon on two completely different days isn’t precisely an apples-to-apples comparability. However my level is that this: the actual fact {that a} station wagon can hang around with a lighter, mid-engine sports activities automotive simply speaks to the occasions through which we’re dwelling. And the kind of efficiency you’re getting while you convey an RS 6 Avant residence from the dealership.
Shockingly Environment friendly (Additionally, I used to be Being Cheeky)
Apologies for a little bit of clickbait, however I lately hung out with two Toyota hybrid fashions. And I used to be SHOCKED when the RS 6 — a twin-turbo V8-powered monster — managed to be extra gas environment friendly at occasions than a 4-cylinder hybrid.
However right here’s the catch: the hybrids in query are the brand new Toyota 4 Runners. Nonetheless, right here’s what I skilled.
My first few days within the RS 6 concerned a brief highway journey up the California shoreline to test out the new A6 and S6 sedans. On my means up — in some heavy visitors — the RS 6 managed 20.9 mpg. By the point I rotated and got here residence, the automobile’s common climbed to 22 mpg after 185.1 miles as a result of it managed 24 mpg over these final 85.9 freeway miles with largely gentle visitors (and some areas of bumper-to-bumper slowness).
I suppose we will thank Audi’s cylinder deactivation system, which turns the V8 right into a V4 when cruising.
As for the Toyotas, Hybrid 4Runners pair a turbocharged 2.4L 4-cylinder motor with an electrical motor within the transmission bell housing, producing 326 horsepower and 465 ft.-lbs. of peak torque. However there’s an issue. 4Runners are tall and the oppsoite of aerodynamic. So for those who push one as much as or over 70 mph, gas economic system plummets. Living proof, after driving 70 largely freeway miles, the Toyota hybrid topped out at a woeful 15.9 mpg. (That’s worse than the earlier technology Land Cruiser V8s.)
And, yeah, clearly, tall heavy SUVs aren’t environment friendly, however the RS 6 proves you could have your enjoyable, quick cake, and have the funds for leftover on the fuel station to purchase extra cake. Or one thing.
Round city, after all, the tales are completely different.
The 4Runners managed between 13.8 and 14.6 mpg round city, relying on visitors situations. However the RS 6 was within the 9.3 mpg to 10.8 mpg vary. Gasoline guzzler tax certainly. For context, the C8 Corvette managed 13.2 mpg within the metropolis over 108.5 miles. And I presently have a V8-powered 2025 Lexus IS 500 in for evaluate that managed 15.1 mpg yesterday over its first 15 miles (it’s somewhat decrease right this moment, within the higher 14 vary, and my testing will not be concluded).
Has the C8 Inside Aged Properly?
On the within, the C8 technology RS 6 Avant is a luxurious place that’s not fairly pretty much as good because the S8, nevertheless it’s fairly darn shut. Our loaner was up to date with all of the carbon fiber, leather-based, and Alcantara you can ever need; the contact surfaces are smooth and tactile, and all the things was quiet and tight. And the bolstered RS seats are snug.
And the inside has all the things you want, together with normal wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an non-compulsory B&O 3D stereo that delivers clear, highly effective sound. The screens themselves are exhibiting their age somewhat — the decision and black ranges aren’t pretty much as good as Audi’s new screens, and so they require extra eye time trying away from the highway to function.
However actually, if Audi may by some means improve the LCD panels within the C8 technology, it might be completely fashionable. In different phrases, the C8 doesn’t really feel ultra-modern by way of tech, nevertheless it definitely doesn’t really feel previous.
Remaining Ideas
Each automotive is a compromise. Worth. Weight. Facilities. Little annoyances. You title it. However day by day driving a 2025 RS 6 Avant is the closest I’ve ever personally come to perfection.*** It’s snug and opulent and sensible for day-to-day actions. And though it doesn’t precisely sip gas round city, on the freeway, it’s shockingly environment friendly. To not point out that the entire twin-turbo V8 / Audi quattro greatness is all the time prepared for a stretch of open freeway or a winding mountain highway. The RS 6 is a instrument that lets you handle grownup duties whereas leaning into the liberty usually offered by a two-seater sports activities automotive.
Purchase one earlier than it’s too late.
*My compromise is that I can’t afford one.
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