Test drive station wagons Audi, BMW and Mercedes: Elite, large, diesel
Audi A6 in front, BMW 5 Tourism and Mercedes T-model E-class measure strength in a comparative test
Although customers buy them in understated gray tones, the large and powerful diesel vans from Audi, BMW and Mercedes are prime examples of power, comfort and versatility.
You have certainly experienced this pleasure, accompanied by restless joyful anticipation from the moment when the three-liter diesel has already fallen into an evenly dense bubble, the indicator promises 1000 or more kilometers until the next gas station, the thin leather of the seats caresses your body and you for a long time. for a very distant place that has nothing to do with the building materials store in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Each of the three top-of-the-range station wagons – the Audi A6, the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes E-Class – cost over 80 euros with their extravagant equipment, evokes just that feeling. From now on, we can admit that all three test participants are powerful, extremely quiet, high-quality station wagons, respectively, and the difference in points will be small, and ultimately the purchase decision will probably depend on who liked who better.
Audi: noble and heavy
Let's start with the youngest in the group - A6 Avant. It looks solid, even almost aggressive, with its beefy grille, rear-facing lines with sharply defined edges and bulging fenders, and big 20-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires that you'll have to pay extra for. 2800 euros. And today's generation looks like a beautiful design work with slight limitations in terms of useful qualities - after all, with a length of 4,94 meters, you can take a minimum of luggage. Capacity from 565 to 1680 liters more or less corresponds to the level of the VW Golf Variant, and the fact that the “five” Touring does not fit much more does not improve the situation. In addition, the well-equipped test car has a payload of just 474kg, so if five adults use the superior seats, they can only take carry-on luggage with them.
But it hardly matters how far they go. The Avant 50 TDI variant is available as standard with a dual drivetrain, and in tests it also participates with additional trump cards in the form of a sports differential (€ 1500) and swivel rear wheels (€ 1900). This brings points in thrust, but also the many pounds that contribute to the 48 volt onboard electrical system of the diesel V6 with starter-generator and lithium-ion battery. The test car weighs 2086 kg, which is 213 kg more than the BMW model. Serious business.
Naturally, this weight is noticeable when driving. Thanks to its air suspension, Audi stays confidently on the road and follows in the given direction, skillfully “smooths out” large and small irregularities and transfers less traction to the body than BMW. However, despite the four swivel wheels, the A6 lacks the last dose of cornering spontaneity and is not nearly as precise as its lighter, more agile competitors.
Another weak point is a three-liter diesel engine. 286 l. And as a result: the Audi station wagon either does not work at all, or literally jumps forward. Such a drive can only be satisfied by a person who gently drives the car and controls the gears manually. To be honest, for a car of this format, this is an unconvincing decision.
BMW: powerful and economical
And the BMW model proves that things can be much better. The slightly lower power output of the 530d is offset by a significantly lower weight (104 kg lighter than the E 350 d), a superbly tuned six-speed automatic transmission (Steptronic Sport, € 250), and an impressive even power distribution compared to a conventional six-cylinder engine. Thus, the 530d overtakes its two competitors in the sprint and does not allow them to overtake it in the intermediate acceleration. And the fact that the bright, quiet self-igniting unit with a test flow of 7,7 l / 100 km consumes the least fuel from its 66-liter tank is even more eloquent proof of the brilliant qualities of this powertrain.
Of course, the BMW model handles corners well as well. Although rear-wheel-drive like Audi, it is armed with adaptive dampers and swiveling rear wheels (only 2440 euros), which does not reflect on the elastic suspension comfort, but contributes to impressive handling. Instant, precise yet carefree cornering and confident driving when driving fast are a real joy. With multi-settable comfortable seats inside (from € 1640) offering equal comfort and lateral support, the 530d is a pleasure to get off the track.
Naturally, for all its dynamics, the Touring must have other qualities inherent in a large station wagon. Although the cargo volume itself, ranging from 570 to 1700 liters, is not very large, the details are well thought out, such as the self-opening rear window, the floor cover with gas shock absorber and the roll-away trunk lid, as well as the separation net (at an additional cost), help in load placement.
Also commendable is the familiar iDrive function control with rotary and push-button controller, which is now even better combined with a highly visible touchscreen and voice control. As extensive as the integrated functions for navigation, driving modes and connectivity are, they are much easier to operate here than in an Audi with two touchscreens, which are highly distracting for the driver. In addition, the E-Class, which, like BMW, relies on turning and pressing a controller, falls short of the "five" in this regard. In addition, the sensitive touch fields on the Mercedes steering wheel require quite sensitive fingers.
Mercedes: big and stylish
Many may find the T-model pretty conservative, but if you drive it for longer, you won't want to part with it. What for? At the same outer length, the station wagon has the largest cargo volume compared to competitors (640-1820 liters), the highest payload (628 kg), and with the rear section folded down, it offers a flat cargo area of two lengths. meters. And for passengers, the model provides a place familiar to the class, only a slightly thinner lower part of the rear seat slightly worsens the feeling of comfort.
With such a balance, the behavior on the road is similar. It has long been known that with the optional four-wheel air suspension (€1785), Mercedes models in this class absorb any bumps indifferently and offer first-class comfort on long journeys. However, the ease with which this large rear-wheel drive car glides between pylons and floats around corners - without any rear wheel turn - was surprising to us. No matter how calm in everyday life, the talented steering system behaves, even when cornering vigorously, it supports the driver with a very precise work.
The E 350 d has no shortage of well-controlled traction. While the new three-liter six-cylinder in-line engine doesn't sound quite as pretty as the diesel BMW, it develops its 600 Nm at 1200 rpm. With the corresponding frantic force, the heavy Benz rushes forward from low revs and shows no fatigue at top speed. At the same time, the nine-speed automatic switches up and down purposefully, quickly and smoothly.
Here, Mercedes surprised us even more with its lowest base price, as BMW is broadly on par with it in terms of costs and thus maintains its fragile points lead until the final. For its part, Audi loses more points to its expensive add-ons without gaining a noticeable advantage in road behavior. So that leaves third place for him – and room for some improvement.
Text: Michael von Meidel
Photo: Ahim Hartmann
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