Audi says, "there is but one word for beautiful wagon: Avant." We find it hard to disagree. If you want some grace with your space the A6 wagon has few rivals. The sole engine is a robust if not especially smooth 3.2-litre, 255-hp V6. With quattro all-wheel drive, cars simply don't come much more sure-footed than this. Typically of Audi, the interior is beautifully furnished. That includes the cargo hold, so you might not want to use it for hauling home compost from the garden centre. What the Avant can do better than most wagons is keep cargo securely in place, thanks to a cargo management system with sliding tie-downs, an adjustable "fence," and a retractable strap.

Beauty in a beast of burden

Where's the V8?