The Audi RS 6 avant keys arrived in my hands at a surprise birthday lunch for my birthday at Waimauku’s Hunting Lodge so to test it properly over the weekend – and the chance to step away from my global businesses – was the ultimate treat.

I have always admired the Audi RS 6 and have been eager to get into the latest edition. It didn’t disappoint, although I have to say it also depends on what you are looking for.

I have always enjoyed the stately, well-proportioned dimensions of wagons but in the era where most people buy SUVs, the RS 6 in its wagon form feels slightly out of date before it even starts. Or is that our mindset being distorted ?

Having recently had the Audi RS Q8 in full fat SUV form, my mind was in the right state to make a proper comparison between the two models. And perhaps this is the question I was trying to answer. Not whether the RS6 avant would be an unbelievable car but rather would this sports wagon or instead the RS Q8 make the ultimate performance family Audi?

The RS 6 avant is priced from $218,900 while the RS Q8 is $243,900.

With the twin turbo 4-litre V8 engine putting out 441kW and 800Nm of torque, the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds, around 0.2 seconds quicker than the slightly heavier RS Q8 with the same engine.

The RS 6, in its Daytona Grey as rested, is a conservative-looking car. That’s really it’s role; to fit in and not stand out, although I would opt for a louder red or lighter blue.

The refinement and composure of the RS 6 makes it an extremely easy car to live with. It is simply unflappable and it’s poise makes you forget this is the ultimate performance wagon. Switching into one of two of the discretely labelled RS modes on the steering wheel nicely hots things up. Once I started using these I wanted to leave the RS 6 in its sportier settings to remind myself what I was in.

The RS Q8 is a remarkable car, but the RS 6 still has a place. And it’s not out of date like I questioned earlier, in fact it’s very relevant. For most of our tasks we don’t need an SUV and driving around the RS 6 made me realise this. It’s also an easier car to park, it’s more agile at rapid speeds and perhaps better looking. 

The RS 6 is a remarkable car though I would like to see it angrier and more overt with its credentials. But that would make it not what it is trying to be: the ultimate executive wagon with liveable supercar performance.