1999 Audi A6 Review

Many people like the roominess and all-wheel drive of a sport/utility vehicle but don't want a vehicle larger than a reasonably sized station wagon.

Meet the 1999 Audi A6 Avant all-wheel-drive wagon, which is about 8 inches shorter than the mid-size Ford Taurus wagon. It offers the utility of mid-size sport/utility vehicles, while providing the low step-in height and maneuverability of a wagon. Not to mention better fuel economy.

The A6 Avant can't be driven off-road, but few sport/ute owners leave pavement.

The $36,600 equipment-loaded A6 Avant is costly because it is based on the rakish A6 luxury sedan. But mid-size sport/utes loaded with equipment aren't cheap, either.

Audi calls the A6 Avant a ``luxury touring wagon.'' In fact, a driver of this wagon easily can feel that he or she is at the wheel of a European luxury vehicle.

The beautifully built wagon has an elegant interior with a wealth of power accessories, including dual front power seats and side windows that can be fully lowered or raised with the touch of a button. There also is a dual-zone automatic climate control system.

Neat exterior items that contribute to driving ease and safety are headlight washers, heated outside mirrors and even heatable windshield washer nozzles.

Wood inlays are found in the instrument panel, console and door panels. But, while perforated leatherette upholstery is standard, genuine leather upholstery is a $1,550 option.

Other major options include a $1,000 Warm Weather Package with a solar sunroof that powers interior fans when the wagon is parked in the sun and sunshades for rear side windows that are in addition to a ront seats that provide good long-distance support. There is plenty of room for four tall adults to be comfortable, but a fifth passenger will find the center of the rear seat is too hard for anything but short trips. That's too bad, because the back seat is unusually roomy.

For added seating capacity, a $700 rear-facing bench seat for two children weighing up to 80 pounds is offered. It can be swiveled to one side, folded upward or removed and stored in a carrying case.

The four doors have ``puddle'' lights so occupants need not wonder what is below when they step out.

Front-seat-mounted side air bags are standard, along with the usual dash-mounted air bags. Side air bag protection for rear outboard seats is optional and part of a $950 package that includes high-intensity-discharge Xenon headlights.

A large rear hatch and low cargo floor facilitate loading. The hatch opens wide to reveal a big cargo area. The 108.6-inch-wheelbase A6 Avant has the same handy length as the A6 sedan, but offers 36.4 cubic feet of luggage capacity with the rear seat in place and a cavernous 73.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded forward. That beats a Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery and Jeep Cherokee.

Space is only meaningful if it can be used well, and the width of the A6 Avant's cargo area narrows less than 4 inches at the wheel arches to 41.6 inches. Combine that with an overall length of 74.2 inches with the rear seats folded and you have a sport/ute-style cargo area that should suit the needs of many.

A slightly raised loading sill made of stainless steel prevents bumper damage and acts as a stopper when heavy goods are being hauled.

And a pull-down handle is integrated into the rear hatch panel to let it be closed without getting a hand dirty. After all, this is an upscale wagon.