The torque is as high as the price of admission

Despite the name, majority of buyers won’t be taking their expensive Audi A6 Allroad on any off-road trails. But it is a classy way of having a few extra inches off the ground without having to choose a crossover.

The 3-liter turbo diesel six-cylinder offers three outputs (218hp, 272hp, 315hp). The entry-level output seems to offer decent enough flexibility but we reckon that it’s worth paying the premium for the mid-range which offers extra pull at low revs and is more rewarding to drive. The most powerful output has effortless turn of pace but you’ll have to want that engine to justify the higher asking price. Our tester car was the top of the range and in our opinion the sweet spot of the range. The torque is massive and it doesn’t feel sluggish like you’d expect of a diesel engine. It’s smooth and also very quick on its feet. It never feels overly powerful around town and it does feel refined too, but you’re constantly that it is a diesel engine.

The A6 Allroad is a gem to drive on the highway. The ride comfort is smooth and doesn’t feel overly firm; however the driving experience is nowhere near as rewarding as the Volvo V90 CC. Also, the turning circle radius is way too large; making it quite difficult to squeeze around tight narrow roundabouts. We know that this isn’t a city car but it shouldn’t be this difficult to navigate an estate around town. The biggest gripe we have with the A6 Allroad is that it’s not offered here in the US. Instead we are left with just the A4 Allroad and well for the premium you’ll have to pay for one, you’re better off with the Volvo anyway. Which brings us on to another problem with the A6 Allroad, the pedals are offset which makes the driving position way to awkward for our comfort.

The interior is what you’d expect from Audi. The infotainment screen glides out of the dashboard with elegance and class. The controls and dials used for the infotainment system do require a learning curve, but once you’ve mastered them (or at least gotten used to them) it is quite easy to use. The front seats offer superb comfort, while the second row is roomy as well. Some may find a slight shortage of legroom if taller passengers sit in the front seats. The boot space is quite massive, but we’ve seen the boot space in estates such as the Ford Mondeo and Mercedes E-class and both seem to have larger boots.

Our rental car came fitted with nearly $18k worth of optional kit which pushed the price from $73k to a whopping $95k. We know that in Europe these vehicles are generally taxed higher than what we would have to pay here in the U.S. so it’s no surprise that this vehicle costs as much as it does. A Volvo V90 CC however is only $84k with similar options ticked and a slightly more powerful four-cylinder engine, although to be fair this engine would be considered way pricey in terms of running costs as petrol fuel is way more expensive than diesel.

1200 watt 15-speaker sound system was optionally fitted as well as 21-inch alloy wheels, perforated leather seats and a hands-free boot operation. The most expensive was the premium sound system powered by B&O and the advanced matrix LED headlights made driving at night a breeze. We certainly would love to see this technology become available in the near future, however the fact still remains that these bulbs won’t be cheap to replace and the sheer fact that the overly complex design means you’ll have to take it to an Audi Dealership to get them fix if something were to go wrong with them.

We loved our time spent with the A6 Allroad. It’s classy, comfortable to drive and has torque-tastic diesel engines that we truly do wish were still offered here. However, the high price of admission means that this isn’t cheap to buy and it certainly won’t be cheap to own either. But for those few that can pocket the premium in both aspects, you are truly in for a treat. This isn’t the crème de la crème like the Volvo V90 CC but it certainly has charm and appeal that only an Audi has.

Likes: The diesel engines are all flexible and offer a decent turn of pace. The headlights are stunning in design. The interior is opulent in luxury and refinement.

Dislikes: The pedals are a little off-set. The push button ignition is oddly placed. The price of admission isn’t cheap and it’s not as rewarding to drive as the Volvo V90 CC.

Our pick: Stick with the mid-range or the entry-level engine. It does the job well and isn’t overly priced like the top of the range diesel engine we had as a rental, plus let’s face it not everyone will use it to drive off-road anyway.

A bite of the forbidden fruit.

Volkswagen Bluemotion
What is it? An ultra fuel efficient line of vehicles. With emissions ratings lower than a hybrid. With improved aerodynamics to lower drag coefficiency and other fuel efficient technologies used in sports cars to improve fuel economy.
Why is it illegal? U.S. has strict emissions standards on diesel engines. This makes it harder for European Automakers to design diesel engines for the U.S.



Fiat Panda 4X4

What is it? Based upon a small car called the Panda that's sold everywhere but the U.S.

Why it should be sold here? It's a cheap alternate to a Jeep. With better gas mileage. The small size with short overhangs means its great off-road. This car can climb a 35-degree incline. With a few extra horsepower, it can tackle a Land Rover off-road.



Audi A1
What is it? Audi's Mini Cooper fighter.

Why should it be sold here? It's a Mini Cooper with a splash of style inside out. The interior is upscale Audi and the price is very low. It's perfect for congested urban areas.



BMW 1-series
What is it? A hatchback version of the 1 Series coupe.

Why should it be sold here? Other than the affordable base price, the 1-series hatch is rear wheel drive. Making it drive just as good as the other BMWs but with more praticality. A perfect rival to the Volkwagen GTI and Subaru Impreza.



Mercedes A-class
What is it? A hatchback that's as small as a Honda Fit. But has more versatility than a small MPV.

Why should it be sold here? The A-class should've been sold here under the Smart brand. Sold as the Forfour, Smart would've done way better with this hatchback than the Fortwo.



Alfa Romeo MiTo
What is it? Alfa Romeo's smallest hatchback.

Why should it be sold here? Alfa Romeo has some of the most stylish Italian cars sold. This Mini Cooper fighter will prove to be popular with buyers that are considering the Mini Cooper. Its tasteful and dashed with performance.



Citroen C1
What is it? A car shared with the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 107.

Why should it be sold here? It's designed to be cheap. All this cost cutting features are unnoticed by the consumer. Its still fun to drive and offers more equipment than a Kia Rio. Plus its stylish a easy to park in the city. High mileage cars should be welcomed in the U.S.

A taste of the Forbidden Fruit

Volkswagen Bluemotion
What is it? An ultra fuel efficient line of vehicles. With emissions ratings lower than a hybrid. With improved aerodynamics to lower drag coefficiency and other fuel efficient technologies used in sports cars to improve fuel economy.
Why is it illegal? U.S. has strict emissions standards on diesel engines. This makes it harder for European Automakers to design diesel engines for the U.S.



Fiat Panda 4X4
What is it? Based upon a small car called the Panda that's sold everywhere but the U.S.
Why it should be sold here? It's a cheap alternate to a Jeep. With better gas mileage. The small size with short overhangs means its great off-road. This car can climb a 35-degree incline. With a few extra horsepower, it can tackle a Land Rover off-road.



Audi A1
What is it? Audi's Mini Cooper fighter.
Why should it be sold here? It's a Mini Cooper with a splash of style inside out. The interior is upscale Audi and the price is very low. It's perfect for congested urban areas.







BMW 1-series
What is it? A hatchback version of the 1 Series coupe.
Why should it be sold here? Other than the affordable base price, the 1-series hatch is rear wheel drive. Making it drive just as good as the other BMWs but with more praticality. A perfect rival to the Volkwagen GTI and Subaru Impreza.




Mercedes A-class
What is it? A hatchback that's as small as a Honda Fit. But has more versatility than a small MPV.
Why should it be sold here? The A-class should've been sold here under the Smart brand. Sold as the Forfour, Smart would've done way better with this hatchback than the Fortwo.







Alfa Romeo MiTo
What is it? Alfa Romeo's smallest hatchback.

Why should it be sold here? Alfa Romeo has some of the most stylish Italian cars sold. This Mini Cooper fighter will prove to be popular with buyers that are considering the Mini Cooper. Its tasteful and dashed with performance.



Citroen C1
What is it? A car shared with the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 107.
Why should it be sold here? It's designed to be cheap. All this cost cutting features are unnoticed by the consumer. Its still fun to drive and offers more equipment than a Kia Rio. Plus its stylish a easy to park in the city. High mileage cars should be welcomed in the U.S.

We test drive a Volkswagen T-Roc

The Volkswagen T-Roc certainly sounds youthful and has the looks to match, but does it have the sensibility that Volkswagen is known for?

The T-Roc comes with three petrol engines and only one diesel engine to choose from as of now. Volkswagen has stated that there will be an two diesels and one more petrol engine available later. We only had the opportunity to test drive the 1.5 TSI and 2-liter TDI diesel engines. Both seem to offer distinct personalities. You’d choose the TSI as it has plenty of torque at low revs but is more fun loving in character than the diesel. While we love the diesel engine for it’s flexibility on the highway, you’ll have to do tons of driving to make up for the higher purchase price.

The T-Roc is fairly comfortable to drive around town with light steering and good road holding manners. There’s plenty of feedback from the steering and handling is more on the secure side, but it doesn’t leave anything to be desired.

The interior feels well put together and well sorted for a Volkswagen. What we found a little shocking is that the build quality in certain areas is on the iffy side. Some of the plastics don’t feel all that charming to the touch but it’s far from a deal breaker. The boot space is pretty average for this class of crossover.

Likes: It’s comfortable to live with and decently roomy for a small family. It’s one of the more stylish of the compact crossovers.

Dislikes: The interior is a bit bland in style. We won’t be getting one state-side.

Overall: Volkswagen told us that the T-Roc is designed for European ‘Tastes’. Considering what’s popular here we can honestly see why Volkswagen isn’t bringing it.

Side note: Considering BMW has just launched the completely pointless X2 which is similar in dimensions to the T-Roc, we honestly think Volkswagen should have a change of heart with this one.