Audi RS6 Avant Takes on its Performance Wagon Rivals

We love the Audi RS6 Avant and, even more than that, are incredibly grateful to Audi for finally bringing it to the ‘States. However, there’s no denying some of its shortcomings, especially when you compare it to some of its rivals. The RS6 is a great car but it’s not perfect. Is it good enough, though, to take down the Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon and Porsche Panamera Turbo E S Hybrid? Autocar recently found out.

In this new video, we get to see a three-way high-performance wagon shootout. To say that we’re jealous of Autocar’s ability to do that would be an understatement. Shockingly, all three cars are available in the ‘States, we’ve just never been able to get them together.

Two of the cars are quite similar, while one is a bit of a standout. The Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63 S are both very similar machines. They both have 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8s, both have automatic gearboxes, and both have all-wheel drive. The AMG is more powerful, packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, compared to the Audi’s 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.

The oddball out is the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E Hybrid, as it’s… a hybrid. It also gets a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, just with the assistance of an electric motor to help it make a total of 690 horsepower and 642 lb-ft. It’s obviously the most powerful car in the bunch by far but it’s also the heaviest.

Which one is the best to drive? Well, they all seem to have their merits. The Audi RS6 Avant is the most comfortable of the bunch, the Porsche is the most precise, and the AMG seems to be a nice blend of both. It’s difficult to pick a winner because they’re all great cars and all have impressive engineering but there can only be one winner. Watch the video to find out which it is.