{"id":26911,"date":"2021-02-23T10:46:12","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T14:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=26911"},"modified":"2021-02-23T10:46:12","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T14:46:12","slug":"payne-wagon-or-suv-audi-a6-allroad-vs-volvo-xc90","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/payne-wagon-or-suv-audi-a6-allroad-vs-volvo-xc90","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Wagon or SUV? Audi A6 Allroad vs. Volvo XC90"},"content":{"rendered":"

Station wagon or SUV?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s\u00a0almost\u00a0a moot choice today\u00a0since\u00a0so few\u00a0wagons\u00a0remain\u00a0after the\u00a0SUV tsunami. But in the luxury\u00a0class, European\u00a0automakers continue\u00a0to bring\u00a0sleek, powerful\u00a0wagons\u00a0popular\u00a0across the\u00a0pond. They\u00a0are a reminder that\u00a0such\u00a0four-wheeled\u00a0dinosaurs\u00a0once\u00a0ruled\u00a0North\u00a0America\u00a0before a\u00a0regulatory\u00a0meteor\u00a0from\u00a0Washington\u00a0in the 1970s\u00a0rendered them\u00a0virtually\u00a0extinct, ushering in the SUV Age.<\/p>\n

I took two of the finest examples of the modern\u00a0European\u00a0SUV and station wagon \u2014 the Volvo XC90 an Audi A6 Allroad, respectively \u2014 on\u00a0the\u00a0road\u00a0to ponder the existential question.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0A4\u00a0Allroad\u00a0has been the only Audi\u00a0wagon to grace U.S. shores in\u00a0recent\u00a0years as\u00a0the German brand\u00a0swarmed\u00a0the SUV market with its\u00a0popular Q5 and A7\u00a0utes. But\u00a0outdoorsy\u00a0Allroad\u00a0fans\u00a0(like Subaru\u00a0Outback\u00a0and Jeep\u00a0Wrangler\u00a0cultists)\u00a0are rabidly loyal.\u00a0So\u00a0Audi\u00a0is offering to\u00a0slake their thirst with the\u00a0mid-size, 2020\u00a0A6\u00a0Allroad.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

I grew up in wagons and\u00a0generally prefer\u00a0them\u00a0to\u00a0utes\u00a0for their lower\u00a0center\u00a0of\u00a0gravity\u00a0and\u00a0sleeker\u00a0looks. But, honestly, the A6\u00a0Allroad\u00a0is not a head-turner.\u00a0Cruising\u00a0up north on I-75\u00a0to Charlevoix, a Cadillac CTS wagon and a Buick Regal\u00a0Tour X filled my\u00a0windscreen. I trailed\u00a0them both for a few\u00a0miles, admiring the Caddy\u2019s\u00a0bold angles\u00a0\u2014 ogling the Buick\u2019s\u00a0lovely flanks.<\/p>\n

Utilitarian\u00a0and gorgeous. What SUV gives you that?<\/p>\n

Yet the Audi\u00a0left\u00a0me cold.\u00a0On road-side\u00a0stops\u00a0the\u00a0A6 didn\u2019t\u00a0turn\u00a0heads.\u00a0Perhaps it\u2019s the big,\u00a0busy face\u00a0\u2014 its\u00a0criss-crossed\u00a0grille bars\u00a0resemble\u00a0lattice work on\u00a0an apple pie.\u00a0Audi\u00a0innovated\u00a0the big front grille (even BMW is\u00a0belatedly\u00a0following the trend with\u00a0grotesque\u00a0M4 kidneys), but it now swallows the face\u00a0like a medical mask.<\/p>\n

Volvo makes\u00a0a\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0fascia\u00a0on its\u00a0V90 wagon. The Audi?\u00a0Meh.<\/p>\n

But you\u2019d be hard-pressed to find a\u00a0Volvo\u00a0wagon, so popular is the XC90.\u00a0It\u00a0kick-started Volvo sales in the States\u00a0in 2016, and for good reason. It\u2019s\u00a0an\u00a0elegant\u00a0piece of work. Eschewing grille-zilla, the XC90\u2019s face\u00a0is a modest, horizontal sculpture.\u00a0The\u00a0A6\u00a0grille juts outward, like a\u00a0bulldog\u2019s jaw\u00a0\u2014 XC90 is scalloped\u00a0like a Maserati\u00a0and punctuated by that\u00a0classic Volvo\u00a0logo.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Volvo continues to separate itself from its German peers with\u00a0signature,\u00a0Thor\u2019s hammer headlights\u00a0in front\u00a0\u2014 big, boomerang-shaped\u00a0taillights\u00a0out\u00a0back.\u00a0Its one of my\u00a0favorite\u00a0SUV designs right there with a\u00a0Mazda\u00a0CX-9 which, ahem, is\u00a0$20,000\u00a0cheaper while offering the same\u00a0amenities\u00a0and BMW-like handling (a\u00a0comparo\u00a0for another day).<\/p>\n

I took a\u00a0family trip\u00a0last fall\u00a0in the XC90\u00a0across the Upper\u00a0Peninsula\u00a0to\u00a0Wisconsin\u2019s Road\u00a0American\u00a0race track, and the SUV lived up to its\u00a0utilitarian reputation.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no denying\u00a0the\u00a0creature comforts\u00a0of the\u00a0XC90.\u00a0Loading the big\u00a0ute\u00a0is\u00a0easy. Its hatchback rises\u00a0to expose\u00a0a cargo bay at waist level\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the\u00a0load floor is about 2.5 feet off the ground.<\/p>\n

The XC90 has a cramped,\u00a0third-row\u00a0option, but we used the full space behind the\u00a0second row\u00a0seats\u00a0to fit baggage for three:\u00a0oversized\u00a0suitcase, two carry-ons,\u00a0briefcase,\u00a0cooler, tennis bag,\u00a0iRacing\u00a0game\u00a0pedals and steering wheel,\u00a0groceries\u00a0and a\u00a0kitchen\u00a0sink (kidding about that last one).<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

My 6\u20193\u201d son and I (6\u20195\u201d) took shifts at the wheel\u00a0\u2014\u00a0slipping laterally in and out of the Volvo\u2019s raised seats\u00a0as we cruised Route 2 along Lake Michigan\u2019s north shore.\u00a0Both race\u00a0car drivers, we\u2019re used to bending\u00a0down to get into low-slung\u00a0sports\u00a0racers. But\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0also become\u00a0used to the exclaims of\u00a0SUV-pampered\u00a0friends when they encounter a\u00a0wagon\u00a0these days:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so low! It\u2019s hard to get into!\u201d<\/p>\n

But not hard to drive. The\u00a0Audi chassis makes for superb handling.<\/p>\n

After a\u00a0monotonous\u00a0Friday\u00a0cruise\u00a0up I-75 to\u00a0Gaylord\u00a0in the Audi,\u00a0the spaghetti-shaped\u00a0curves\u00a0of M-32 were\u00a0a welcome\u00a0diversion.\u00a0At 4,486\u00a0pounds\u00a0the\u00a0Allroad\u00a0is a big car, but\u00a0its\u00a0stiff bones and Quattro AWD system\u00a0are eager to hustle\u00a0\u2014\u00a0pushed by the\u00a048-volt-battery-assisted, 335-horse turbo V-6 under the hood.<\/p>\n

Despite a load of luggage in the\u00a0boot,\u00a0I\u00a0put the A6 in\u00a0DYNAMIC\u00a0\u00a0mode\u00a0and\u00a0danced\u00a0across miles of\u00a0country roads\u00a0\u2014\u00a0occasionally tugging on the\u00a0paddle shifters to wind the\u00a0engine\u00a0out of corner apexes.<\/p>\n

In my\u00a0366-mile journey\u00a0through the U.P. to\u00a0Wisconsin, I\u00a0never felt a similar\u00a0temptation\u00a0in\u00a0the Volvo.<\/p>\n

\"With<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The big, 5,105-pound ute is a comfortable ride, its high center of gravity built for lakeshore views. With an 87-horsepower motor (plug it in and the ute will go 18 miles on electricity alone) mated to a supercharged, turbocharged 4-banger, the Volvo puts out an impressive 400 horsepower and launches to 60 mph 0.3 seconds quicker than the Audi. But it\u2019s a drivetrain built for fuel efficiency, not performance. The 27 mpg Volvo will travel 520 miles on a tank of gas, the Audi 505 miles averaging 22 mpg.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Volvo\u00a0is\u00a011 inches\u00a0taller than the\u00a04\u20198\u201d\u00a0high\u00a0Allroad, but otherwise\u00a0our testers have\u00a0similar\u00a0dimensions, a reminder that SUVs are just raised wagons.\u00a0Similar\u00a0length,\u00a0headroom,\u00a0legroom.<\/p>\n

The Volvo may be the SUV, but it\u2019s the Audi that carves out more cargo room:\u00a030\u00a0cubic\u00a0feet behind the second\u00a0row\u00a0compared\u00a0to\u00a0XC90\u2019s 24. The\u00a0Volvo\u2019s\u00a0space\u00a0advantage\u00a0is with\u00a0third-row seats.<\/p>\n

Up front, the\u00a0XC90\u2019s interior exhibits\u00a0typical Volvo charm with its\u00a0crystal\u00a0shifter,\u00a0rotary starter button\u00a0and\u00a0simple,\u00a0Scandinavian\u00a0design. But its\u00a0infotainment\u00a0tech pales compared to Audi, which has\u00a0long been a leader in digital tech.<\/p>\n

\"Pack<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

While I\u00a0generally\u00a0recommend\u00a0ditching\u00a0in-car nav systems for superior\u00a0Apple CarPlay\/Android\u00a0Auto\u00a0navigation,\u00a0Audi is an\u00a0exception.<\/p>\n

Displaying\u00a0my\u00a0route via Google Earth in both the center and instrument\u00a0displays,\u00a0Allroad\u00a0enhanced\u00a0my\u00a0scenic\u00a0trip with its own,\u00a0beautiful\u00a0satellite views of the Lake\u00a0Michigan\u00a0coastline. The\u00a0Volvo\u00a0system\u00a0is\u00a0pedestrian\u00a0by comparison, and I used Apple\u00a0CarPlay\u00a0for reliable\u00a0navigation.<\/p>\n

Both\u00a0Audi and Volvo\u00a0use\u00a0touchscreen controls\u00a0\u2014 a new twist for the Audi faithful who\u00a0have used remote dials in\u00a0previous\u00a0generation\u00a0cars.\u00a0With its\u00a0crisp, haptic touch response, the Audi is easy to use and a generation ahead\u00a0of\u00a0the Swede.<\/p>\n

Crowned 2016\u00a0North\u00a0American\u00a0Utility\u00a0of the Year, the\u00a0lovely\u00a0XC90\u00a0continues to impress as\u00a0a\u00a0worthy\u00a0option\u00a0in a German-dominated\u00a0segment. But for those who want the added dimension of performance in their\u00a0utility\u00a0vehicle,\u00a0Audi\u2019s good\u00a0ol\u2019\u00a0station wagon is\u00a0my\u00a0preferred\u00a0long-distance tool.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\n

2020\u202fAudi A6\u00a0Allroad<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Vehicle type: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, five-passenger\u00a0wagon<\/p>\n

Price: $66,895, including $995\u00a0destination fee\u00a0($71,990 as tested)<\/p>\n

Powerplant:\u00a03.0-liter\u00a0turbocharged V-6 with 48-volt battery assist<\/p>\n

Power:\u202f335\u00a0horsepower,\u00a0369\u00a0pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n

Transmission:\u00a07-speed, dual-clutch\u00a0automatic<\/p>\n

Performance: 0-60 mph,\u00a05.2 seconds (Car and Driver); towing,\u00a05,500 pounds<\/p>\n

Weight:\u00a04,486\u202fpounds<\/p>\n

Fuel economy: EPA,\u00a020\u00a0mpg city\/26\u00a0highway\/22\u00a0combined<\/p>\n

Report card<\/p>\n

Highs:\u00a0Mesmerizing maps;\u00a0utility with handling<\/p>\n

Lows:\u00a0Oh, that face;\u00a0lacks console storage<\/p>\n

Overall:\u00a03\u202fstars<\/p>\n

\"Now<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

2020\u202fVolvo XC90\u00a0e-AWD plug-in\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Vehicle type: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive,\u00a0six-passenger\u00a0wagon<\/p>\n

Price: $68,495, including $995\u00a0destination fee\u00a0($86,790\u00a0as tested)<\/p>\n

Powerplant:\u00a02.0-liter\u00a0supercharged,\u00a0turbocharged\u00a0inline-4 cylinder with\u00a087-horsepower electric motor\u00a0assist<\/p>\n

Power:\u202f400 combined system\u00a0horsepower,\u00a0472\u00a0pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n

Transmission:\u00a08-speed\u00a0automatic<\/p>\n

Performance: 0-60 mph,\u00a04.9\u00a0seconds (Car and Driver); towing,\u00a05,000 pounds<\/p>\n

Weight:\u00a05,142\u202fpounds<\/p>\n

Fuel economy: EPA,\u00a027\u00a0mpg\u00a0gas\/55\u00a0MPGe\u00a0when fully\u00a0charged<\/p>\n

Report card<\/p>\n

Highs:\u00a0Unique styling;\u00a0Scandinavian interior<\/p>\n

Lows:\u00a0Infotainment tech lags;\u00a0plug-in gets pricey<\/p>\n

Overall:\u00a03\u202fstars<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Station wagon or SUV? It\u2019s\u00a0almost\u00a0a moot choice today\u00a0since\u00a0so few\u00a0wagons\u00a0remain\u00a0after the\u00a0SUV tsunami. But in the luxury\u00a0class, European\u00a0automakers continue\u00a0to bring\u00a0sleek, powerful\u00a0wagons\u00a0popular\u00a0across the\u00a0pond. They\u00a0are a reminder that\u00a0such\u00a0four-wheeled\u00a0dinosaurs\u00a0once\u00a0ruled\u00a0North\u00a0America\u00a0before a\u00a0regulatory\u00a0meteor\u00a0from\u00a0Washington\u00a0in the 1970s\u00a0rendered them\u00a0virtually\u00a0extinct, ushering in the SUV Age. I took two of the finest examples of the modern\u00a0European\u00a0SUV and station wagon \u2014 the Volvo XC90 an Audi A6 Allroad, respectively […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26911"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26911"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26916,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26911\/revisions\/26916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}