2023 Audi RS6 Avant Performance

Station wagons are generally built with one thing in mind: practicality. These extended versions of normal sedans combine the comfort and dynamic abilities of a normal sedan with the practicality of an SUV, making it the perfect car for almost any occasion. But some station wagons are created to go beyond mere practicality - they're built to go fast. The Audi RS6 Avant station wagon is one of the fastest and most badass performance wagons ever built, and it doesn't pretend to hide that fact. With 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque available from a raging twin-turbo V8, the 2023 Audi RS6 Avant will bolt to 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds (independent testing has shown times as low as 3.1 seconds) and on to a top speed of 190 mph in the right configuration. That puts this heavy German wagon in the same performance league as the 2005 Mercedes SLR McLaren and Ferrari F50. Mercedes no longer sells the E63 Wagon, but if you can get hold of an almost-new one, it'll blitz the 0-60 run in 3.4 seconds, just ahead of the Audi's claimed figure. The way the RS6 Avant delivers its power is astonishing and ruthlessly efficient. There are very few mainstream cars that will keep up with it on public roads.

Under the sleek hood of the Audi RS6 Avant sleeps an absolute beast of an engine. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 produces 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque and features Audi's valve lift system and variable timing for all 32 of its valves. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system, and a sport rear differential. This setup delivers breathtaking acceleration that continues into brutal midrange pull, and the power only tapers off well after 6,000 pm. How Audi has managed to make this heavyweight wagon launch so hard and deliver such potent performance is sheer brilliance. With tons of torque available everywhere in the rev range, and a slick-shifting auto on hand, the RS6 Avant is a dream to drive in the city, where it can take gaps and skip through traffic like a much smaller car. On the highway, this thing bombs like few others can. Even class-leading GT cars don't drive this well on the open road.

The RS6 Avant is a large and heavy land yacht with a big V8 engine under the hood, which is the exact opposite of what you'd look for in a fuel-efficient car, but those who buy cars like these don't even look at the fuel bill. According to the EPA, the Audi RS6 Avant will manage a not-so-great 14/21/17 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle. It's not great, but the rest of the car is. With a 19.3-gallon fuel tank, maximum range is around 328 miles to a tank of fuel.