First drive: 2015 Audi RS4 Avant and RS6 Avant in the UAE

First drive: 2015 Audi RS4 Avant and RS6 Avant in the UAE

2015-audi-rs4-rs6-dubai-uae

Audi is generally known as a carmaker that doesn’t take risks. Their design language, their cabin layouts and even their base engines have simply been mildly tweaked versions from generation to generation. But sometimes, they pull a fast one out of the hat. There was the TT. Then there was the R8. And next came the RS 7. And now there are the station-wagon twins — the RS 4 Avant and the RS 6 Avant.

To be fair, Audi’s fast wagons are not a new idea. These cars have been around in Europe for the past two decades, but it’s only recently that they’ve made their regional debut in the GCC.

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Both are fairly handsome wagons — that is if you find wagons handsome — with very few clues as to what’s under their respective bonnets other than mild fender flares, vent-filled bumpers, large wheels and meaty exhaust notes.

No matter how many mild bulges and bumper intakes they’ve added to the compact RS4, it’s still beset with a wagon body, so it’s never going to turn heads among non-enthusiasts unless you get one in lurid green paint.

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The midsize RS6 takes things even further and doesn’t even have those bulges, so expect to get tailgated and cut-off on a regular basis by taxis, vans and buses whose drivers think you’re one of their ilk from the fleet trade, even in bright red.

But let’s say you don’t care about losing that prime valet spot at your local 5-star hangout, having dropped hefty amounts to purchase these — Dhs 300,000 for the small one and Dhs 450,000 for the larger one. What you’re getting in return are some of the fastest, most practical cars in the world.

2015 Audi RS4 in the UAE 9

The RS 6 doesn’t have a huge space advantage over the RS 4’s interior, except maybe in boot space. Both come with enough space for a family and their luggage. The front seats are heavily bolstered, with further sports-car touches such as a chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel and…that’s it. The rest is standard Audi, with leather upholstery, decent multimedia tech, firm soft-touch surfaces and metallic trim. Oh, and red seatbelts in the RS 6.

2015 Audi RS4 in the UAE 4

The RS 4 gets a 4.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8, good for 444 hp and 430 Nm of torque. That’s a lot of juice, and it comes in smoothly rather than abruptly, all efficiently delivered to all four tyres via the “Quattro” all-wheel-drive system and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Expectedly, the RS 4 handles flatly and beautifully as long as you’re under its limits. But push it too hard and it understeers, especially on smaller-radius corners. However, it’s easier to place than the larger RS 6, as you can slightly rotate the tail tighter by just getting off the throttle mid-corner. The brakes are strong while the steering is sharp, but the latter doesn’t provide anything more than mild feedback.

On a regular commute, the dual-clutch setup causes a slight hesitation to throttle inputs at low speeds, but overall, it’s easy enough to drive. It’s not super-smooth, but the firm ride is manageable on most road surfaces. And it’s quiet for the most part, only belting out a V8 grumble when the throttle is pressed.

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The heavier RS 6 benefits from a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8, making 560 hp and a massive 700 Nm of torque, fed to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic. It puts down the boost instantly in a torrent of direct-injected fury, and therefore feels a lot quicker than its little brother.

The RS6 lets you drive crazy-fast, but not crazy. The Quattro all-wheel-drive setup means you’ll make rapid progress all day, but you’ll never be able to pull off a burnout or a powerslide with your turbo monster of an engine.

It’s fast around corners too, flat and grippy, but its weight becomes apparent in the tighter turns as the front tyres start squealing earlier than in the RS 4. The brakes are great though. And the steering is much the same as in the RS 4, its heft increasing with the speed, and responsive yet somewhat uncommunicative.

The RS 6 also rides firmly, but is a bit more compliant than the RS 4, while being reasonably quiet aside from the entertaining engine rumble.

Both these wagons are cut from the same cloth, and executed in slightly different ways, the green one boasting more agility and the red one offering more speed. Ignore the stigma attached to driving wagons in our part of the world. Then ignore the idiot bloggers who put fast wagons up on a pedestal while not putting their money where their mouth is. The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. The RS 4 and the RS 6 aren’t setting the world on fire, but they really are what the world needs — a bit of variety for those who want to break the status quo.

For UAE prices and GCC specs, visit the Audi buyer guide.

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Comments

  1. Good read this. Initially it took me a while to figure out which one was which as they appear so similar.

  2. Am I the only one who would pay for either of these after they upgrade the center console to look like those of the new a6 or a8? that stacked in screen doesn’t look like it belongs on a DHS. 300k+ car. (Personal Opinion)

  3. So when does the RS 6 Avant come to the US

  4. I have the S8, the same 4.0T engine in the RS6 and it’s freaky fassst
    @mash, R u gonna review the S8

  5. Yeah right! What shall I get for 450K dhs!? A GT-R or an Audi RS6 Avant?

  6. Can you please review the S6 ? it is the same as the A6 but with V8
    And engine bay photos in your reviews please !
    Thanks

  7. looks awesome any idea when the 2015 audi tt s will be released in the UAE ? … I like the new interior and im thinking of getting it!

  8. Can anybody explain the difference between a German spec RS 6 and a GCC one? I am thinking to buy a RS6 C6 with German specs.

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