2026 Audi RS6 Avant GT review

There's nothing cooler than a fast wagon, and the Audi RS6 Avant GT might just be the coolest of them all.

It's almost certainly the rarest – no more than 660 units of this hotted-up estate car are being produced globally, of which just 22 have been allocated to Australia.

Want one? They're all already accounted for, despite an eye-watering price tag of $399,000 before on-road costs. That's nearly $150,000 more than the 'standard' RS6 performance.

So, what do you get for the extra outlay? Not as much as you might expect, given how wild the RS6 GT looks from the outside.

Because, while the exterior gets an aggressive makeover inspired by the RS6 GTO concept, 90 quattro IMSA GTO race car, and 2003 Avus concept, you'll still find the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 under the bonnet, producing an unchanged 463kW and 850Nm. And, as before, power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

That's not to say there aren't any mechanical differences – the quattro sport differential has been retuned for more of a rear bias when driving in Dynamic mode, and buyers can opt for stiffer, GT-specific manually adjustable coilover suspension.

Inside, the RS6 Avant GT also brings more Alcantara than you can poke a stick at, plus sexy carbon-backed bucket seats and racy red accents.

Don't get me wrong, the GT is a tantalising package, but I can't shake the thought that you could buy a base RS6 and a Porsche 718 Boxster or Cayman for the same money. One for the daily grind, the other for some weekend fun.

Perhaps that's being a little too pragmatic, though. After all, it's mighty tough to put a value on exclusivity. But that won't stop me from trying in this review of RS6 Avant GT number 248.

How much does the Audi RS6 cost?

As previously mentioned, the RS6 Avant GT costs a cool $146,400 more than the standard 'performance' version it's based on.

Alternatives to the RS6 Avant GT are thin on the ground, but the standard model competes against the BMW M5 Touring, priced from $263,900 before on-road costs.

One could argue that the BMW M3 CS Touring is actually more similar in concept, despite being a size class smaller than the RS6 Avant GT. It's priced from $253,900 plus on-roads.

If you can afford a GT, you can probably also stretch to Porsche's electric flagship – the Taycan Turbo GT – or its V8 stablemate, the Panamera Turbo e-Hybrid.

To see how the Audi RS6 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

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What is the Audi RS6 like on the inside?

Recent Audi interiors have been hit and miss, but the RS6 GT benefits greatly from its older underpinnings.

The same logical layout and premium feel of the standard model remain, however key touch points and peripheral materials have all been upgraded to give the GT an exciting sense of purpose.

Upon opening the driver's door, the first change you notice is the fitment of figure-hugging bucket seats sourced from the Volkswagen Group parts bin.

They absolutely look the part, trimmed in a mix of leather and Alcantara with red honeycomb stitching and a glossy carbon backing.

However, the practical realities of such seats quickly reveal themselves. Tall side bolsters force you to lower yourself in carefully, and comfort once seated isn't a given. At six-one and around 90kg, the front pews fit me like a glove, but they prove too snug for those with a wider torso. As such, a test fit is essential.

Pass that exam and it only gets easier. You can slide, recline or adjust the height of the front seats using manual controls, while the steering column retains electric adjustment. The range of vertical adjustment is particularly impressive, allowing for a low, sporty seating position rarely afforded by vehicles in this genre.

At the same time, Audi doesn't deprive buyers of basic luxuries like seat heating, which is a nice touch given the focused nature of the GT. A little more padding would be nice though, as I had a sore bum after a few hours behind the wheel.

Speaking of nice touches, the steering wheel also nails the balance between performance and luxury. The rim is wrapped in grippy Alcantara with red and grey contrast stitching and sits more easily in the hands than those in BMW M models thanks to its thinner design. Its appearance is bolstered by a fancy leather centre pad.

A pair of tactile metal shift paddles are attached to the back of the steering wheel for maximum gearbox engagement, although they don't make the most satisfying 'click' when utilised.

Beyond the main control surfaces, there's also plenty of satisfaction to be found in surrounding finishes. The dash, headlining, door cards and centre console are all trimmed in high-grade Alcantara, and where Alcantara isn’t used, exposed carbon weave takes over — on the dash and upper door cards in particular. Red seatbelts add a splash of colour.

As a result, the GT feels expensive and truly special – certainly more so than the regular RS6.

That's not to say it's without fault. There's still too much gloss black plastic for my liking, including where Audi has chosen to denote each GT's individual model numbering – a bemusing decision given how poorly this material wears over time. It would have made much more sense to present this information on a hardy, upmarket metal plaque.

Still, I consider that a small blemish on what is a product of the utmost quality.

And, thankfully, the screens in the RS6 GT don't detract from the beauty and tactility of the interior.

The current RS6 dates back to 2019, and that can be seen in how restrained the GT's technology suite is. All three screens serve to complement the space, rather than dominate it, as I've found to be the case in some newer luxury vehicles.

Just compare the latest S5 to this and you'll see what I mean. A slab of protruding screens steal attention in the former, but here a comparatively small infotainment system sits perfectly flush with the shapely dash.

Likewise, the climate and instrument displays are neatly integrated into the overall design of the cabin.

From a functional perspective, the touchscreens offer haptic feedback, bridging the gap between traditional physical controls and their digital successors. Further, there are still proper physical shortcuts for media and ADAS settings. All the buttons feel substantial, too.

Navigating the central infotainment touchscreen is a breeze, as it features the simple app grid layout made popular by modern smartphones. You won't find some of the connectivity available in other 2026 releases, but the basics are all there, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Smartphone mirroring brings to light the visual quality of the system – the colours are vibrant, and processing speeds are high.

The same can be said of the digital instrument cluster and head-up display, the former of which is highly configurable and presents differently depending on the drive mode selected.

The lower climate control display also looks slick, although I'd prefer old-school buttons. Regardless, having a dedicated climate screen that's separate from the infotainment system makes the RS6 easier to live with than vehicles that combine the two.

However, a lack of cabin storage up front detracts from that liveability to some extent. The door bins are more like door slits, and space is at a premium in the centre console and glovebox. Even the centre cupholders are on the smaller size, fit only for a 600ml drink bottle.

Usually this would serve as a footnote when assessing a performance car, but fast wagons are unique in that they also promise unparalleled practicality. With that in mind, Audi has made the right call to not strip the GT of rear seats or boot capacity.

Rather, the GT retains the ability to transport four adults in comfort, plus plenty of luggage. It'll technically seat five, but legroom in the middle is significantly impeded by the transmission tunnel.

The rear bench is trimmed in the same premium materials found up front, and it feels suitably soft under your bum. Warm too, if you take advantage of the heating function (outboard seats only).

Indeed, rear amenities are plentiful – you get dual-zone climate control, four air vents, manual window blinds, USB-C outlets, and a centre armrest with pop-out cupholders.

Overhead you'll find two separate sections of glass roof that let welcome natural light into what is otherwise quite a dark cabin.

Moving back further, the boot will swallow up to 546 litres of cargo – more than any rival. And it's easy to lift heavy items in or out, as there's no load lip and the RS6 GT sits lower to the ground than most family haulers.

Additional practical touches inside the boot include side storage nets, further netting on the boot floor, and adjustable runners down each side to secure cargo.

There’s also a 12V power socket and convenient handles to drop the second-row seats. Doing so turns the RS6 GT into a Bunnings missile.

Just don't pop a tyre on the way, as Audi doesn't provide a spare. Instead the RS6 GT comes with a puncture repair kit, like most modern European cars.

To see how the Audi RS6 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

Somewhat surprisingly, the Avant GT hasn't been treated to any engine upgrades. As such, it packs the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 found in the RS6 performance.

To see how the Audi RS6 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Audi RS6 drive?

There's no other way of saying it, the RS6 GT is a supercar trapped in the body of a family wagon.

It's low, stiff, and blisteringly quick – great for a weekend toy, but not necessarily best suited to a daily driver.

This was apparent shortly after we picked the car up in Melbourne's south-east, as the GT couldn't help but bobble over anything other than smooth tarmac.

You see, unlike the cosseting, air-sprung RS6 performance, the GT comes with coilover suspension. And, as you can probably imagine, no air bags equals less cushioning equals less comfort. You also lose the spontaneous adjustability afforded by air suspension as coilovers require manual adjustment at the dealership, unless you're mechanically inclined.

And, as set up by Audi, our test car sat low enough that I felt the need to be particularly careful around speed bumps and steep driveways to avoid nasty scrapes – another complaint for the supercar owner support group.

With all that said, there's a huge upshot to all this discomfort and inconvenience – superior handling. More on that later.

But if you ultimately can't justify the hassle, Audi can equip the RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control or RS adaptive air suspension at no extra cost.

There's no getting around the size of the RS6 GT, though. Like many a modern supercar, the GT feels wide on the road, and that's particularly apparent in tighter urban environments. Granted, it's easier to see out of than your average Lamborghini.

And, unlike a Lamborghini, the GT doesn't make a ridiculous racket. Instead, the twin-turbo V8 bursts to life in a muted manner, and isn't particularly shouty around town.

Yet, despite its lack of volume, the RS6 GT still manages to turn heads wherever it goes. That will hold appeal for some, but will also serve as a drawback for those who prefer to fly under the radar.

But if subtlety and comfort are among your top priorities, this isn't the wagon for you. No, this one's for the drivers.

All it takes to figure that out is an open road, preferably one with a few long straights – the standard RS6 already offered supercar levels of straight-line performance, and the GT doesn't waver from that, taking just 3.3 seconds to crack 100km/h from launch. It tops out at 305km/h.

Some may bemoan the lack of a power bump, but you'd only realistically notice any difference on a racetrack given Australia's strict road rules.

And I'd be happy to forgo a few extra kilowatts with the knowledge that you don't have to be a professional racer to drive the GT fast, as it doesn't break traction when launched from a standstill. Rather, the 285mm-wide Continental tyres grip up immediately, enabling instant acceleration.

Rolling pulls are equally impressive, aided by an intuitive eight-speed automatic transmission that's always on the ball, changing both up and down in quick time. Keen drivers can also take full control of the gearbox by utilising a set of high-end metal shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

Any flex of your right foot is accompanied by V8 thunder and the whooshing of twin turbos, followed by tasteful exhaust pops when you lift off the throttle. Having said that, I wish the RS6 GT made a little more noise when not in its 'Dynamic' or customisable RS drive modes.

Exhaust volume aside, adjustments can also be made to throttle sensitivity, steering, and differential settings through the infotainment system.

As you inevitably approach a corner, the RS6 GT reveals a broader set of talents, proving its no one-trick pony.

For one, it stops as well as it goes – no surprise given the sheer size of the carbon ceramic brakes. The brake pedal is relatively sensitive too, so it doesn't take much input to haul the GT to a halt.

It doesn't require much effort to get the GT turning, either. The steering is relatively light and doesn't transmit huge amounts of texture from the road surface, but it's easy to be precise with your inputs.

Any slight movement of the steering wheel is met with an instant response from the front end of the car – mind-blowing considering the weight of the V8 under the bonnet.

Indeed, the RS6 GT tips the scales at 2075kg, but you'd never know it from the driver's seat, such is its eagerness to change direction. I simply wasn't expecting such agility from a car this big.

Beyond initial turn-in, the GT is also able to disguise its heft mid-corner. Body roll is kept to a minimum, and there's an abundance of mechanical grip available at all times.

That's not to say you can't feel the rear bias of the retuned all-wheel drive system, as the GT loves to rotate at the rear, albeit in an easily controllable manner. And any sense of imbalance is entirely temporary, as the quattro sport differential helps you slingshot the car out of corners.

All the while, the coilover suspension system justifies itself through excellent body control that other wagons just can't match. A shorter range of suspension travel ensures the GT always feels alive and on its toes, yet it never bottoms out when the road gets bumpy.

That high level of comfort during enthusiastic driving is made all the more impressive by the fact that the GT rides on huge 22-inch wheels.

And, while the standard performance is more cushy in the city, there's not a huge difference between how the two variants behave on the highway.

The GT still cruises quietly, benefiting from plentiful cabin insulation that takes the edge off any noise from the V8 engine and tyres. Audi's semi-autonomous driving tech works smoothly too, and the safety systems don't bing or bong unnecessarily.

To see how the Audi RS6 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

In addition to a bevy of exterior, interior and mechanical enhancements, the GT features the contents of the RS6 Avant performance’s optional Sensory package, valued at $11,000.

2026 Audi RS6 Avant Performance equipment highlights:

• 22-inch alloy wheels
• Metallic paint
• quattro sport differential
• All-wheel steering
• Adaptive air suspension
• RS high-performance brakes
• Red brake calipers
• RS sport exhaust, black
• Audi drive select (modes)
• Convenience key
• • Keyless entry
  • Keyless start
• Black exterior styling package
• • incl. black exterior mirrors
• HD Matrix LED headlights
• • Dynamic front, rear indicators
  • Audi laser light
• Privacy glass, rear
• Acoustic glazing, front side windows
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System
• • 16 speakers
  • 705-watt output
• Power assisted door closure
• Audi phone box light
• • Wireless smartphone charging
• RS sport front seats incl. ventilation
• Heated front seats
• Premium Valcona leather upholstery
• RS sport leather steering wheel incl. paddles
• Electric steering column adjustment
• • Auto entry, exit functions
  • Memory function
• Inlays in aluminium race anthracite
• LED colour interior ambient lighting
• Leather package – fine Nappa leather
• • Centre console
  • Dashboard
  • Door rails
  • Door armrests
  • Contrast stitching
• Head-up display
• Audi virtual cockpit (12.3in)
• Audi connect plus
• MMI navigation plus
• • 10.1-inch HD touchscreen infotainment
  • 8.6-inch HD touchscreen climate display
  • Voice control
  • 3D map display incl. POI, city models
  • MMI search (free text)
• Park assist incl. 360-degree cameras

RS6 Avant GT adds:

• Unique, colour-keyed 22-inch alloy wheels
• GT-specific decals
• Carbon-fibre bonnet, front fenders, and mirror caps
• Restyled spoiler, diffuser, and tailgate
• Carbon-ceramic brakes with red calipers
• Manually adjustable coilover suspension
• RS leather and Alcantara bucket seats with carbon rear cover
• Red and copper stitching details
• Red seat belts
• Dinamica upholstery on the armrests, centre console and dashboard
• Open-pore carbon twill inlays
• Individual numbering on centre console
• Customised floor mats, scuff plates and entrance lighting
• 19-speaker 1820W Bang & Olufsen sound system
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Dinamica headliner in black
• Rear-window sunshades
• Leather steering wheel centre cover

Just two colours are offered in Australia: Arkona White or Mythos Black, with different decals on both plus colour-keyed wheels.

To see how the Audi RS6 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Audi RS6 safe?

All versions of the Audi A6, A7, RS6 and RS7 are currently unrated by ANCAP.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• • Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
• • Junction assist
  • Reversing AEB
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver monitoring
• Exit warning system
• Lane keep assist
• Park assist plus
• Parking sensors front, rear
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Surround-view cameras
• Traffic jam assist
• Tyre pressure monitoring

To see how the Audi RS6 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Audi RS6 cost to run?

Like other members of the RS6 lineup, the GT is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of complimentary roadside assistance.

And, while Porsche doesn't offer any form of capped-price servicing, all RS6 variants can be had with a pre-paid five-year service plan valued at $4360. That's around 10 per cent less than what you'll pay to service a BMW M5 over the same period.

The RS6 is also eligible for Audi Advantage, which allows you to purchase additional two-year servicing packages to extend the factory warranty to up to nine years.

To see how the Audi RS6 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Audi RS6 Avant GT

I'm not really sure why the RS6 Avant GT exists, but boy am I glad it does.

Uniqueness is becoming increasingly hard to come by in such a homogenised market, and the GT is about as bonkers as new vehicles come, let alone sensible passenger cars. That deserves to be celebrated.

However, due to its niche nature, the audience for the GT is much narrower than that of the base car. The colourful stickers won't be to everyone's taste, and functional changes to the suspension and seating compromise daily drivability.

As a result, the GT suits collectors and hardcore enthusiasts rather than those in the market for fast, fun family transport.

That said, prospective buyers in the latter category should still make the trip to their local Audi dealership, as a well-specced RS6 performance captures 90 per cent of the GT's allure at a significant discount. It's also a car you can actually drive guilt-, stress-, and discomfort-free.

Beyond that, the RS6 is just about the best all-rounder you can buy at any price point, with competition coming primarily from the BMW M5, Porsche Taycan, and Porsche Panamera.

If you simply must have the GT, it's still worth cosying up to said dealer, as a local Audi representative has confirmed that quite a few remain unsold overseas. Ask nicely enough and they may just be able to get one shipped over for you.

If not, keep your eyes on the used market and have cash at the ready... lots of it.

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