Audi A6 Avant 45 TFSI quattro Sport

Our new posh estate has to deal with a mega-miles commute and an older sibling. How will it get on?

- Chris Haining

YOU COULD SAY that I've been inching towards running an Audi A6 Avant for about 16 years. Back in 2008 I snapped up a 10-year-old Audi A4 saloon as a stop-gap car to tide me over, never thinking for a minute that I'd still own it in 2024.

I've hung on to it for so long because it's been unerringly reliable, has remained a pleasure to drive and, frankly I really like the way it looks; I always give it an admiring glance after locking it up at journey's end. It's long had me wondering, though, what a brand new Audi might be like to live with, and now I'm finally finding out.

Ruefully, I'd have to say I've grown more sensible in the years since I bought the A4. So, because I now face all the mundane chores that go with being a homeowner, I've gone for not only the bigger A6 but also the more practical Avant estate rather than the saloon.

This should have me covered for all the tip runs and Ikea shopping sprees that domestic life throws my way, as well as being handy for lugging a bike or kayak around. I'll be able to indulge in the kind of fashionable pursuits that are supposed to be the preserve of family SUVs.