Audi A6 Avant e-tron

FIRST DRIVE Electric estate has a stylish cabin and is good to drive, but is neither as efficient nor as practical as you'd hope

- Paul Barker

ESSENTIALS Audi A6 Avant e-tron Performance Edition 1

Price: £80,200
On sale: Now
Powertrain: 100Wh battery, 1x e-motor
Power/torque: 375bhp/565Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
0-62/top speed: 5.4 seconds/130mph
Range: 437 miles
Max charging: 270kW (20-80% in 21min)
Size (L/W/H): 4,928/2,137/1,493mm

AUDI has finally followed arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes with a flagship executive model to take on the respective i5 and EQE, the latter of which isn't available as a estate.

The new A6 Avant is tested here in Performance specification - the 375bhp middle option of three A6 power choices, which span from 322bhp to 456bhp (plus the sporty 543bhp S6). It comes with a hefty 100kWh battery, plus an impressive official range figure of up to 437 miles, which compares strongly with 361 miles for the 83kWh battery in the entry-level model, and 417 miles for the quattro.

But although the long and low Avant bodystyle looks classier and better proportioned than the more coupé-shaped Sportback, anyone thinking with their head rather than their heart will struggle to justify the wagon. It costs £1,800 more, yet the boot is no bigger, and there's a notable efficiency gap.