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Overview

High-performance station wagons are a rare breed in the U.S., having been killed off to near extinction over the years.

But Audi aims to help repopulate the species, bringing the 2021 RS6 Avant.

Derived from the already excellent Audi A6 sedan, the souped-up station wagon adds RS-specific bodywork and exclusive go-fast goodies.

While alternatives such as the Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon and the mighty Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo currently rule the long-roof roost, the forthcoming 2021 RS6 Avant could give them a run for their money.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

With only one version of the RS6 Avant available, that makes it a very easy—albeit pricey—decision. If you can, try to snag one of the limited-edition 25th Anniversary Nogaro models.

It comes with special 22-inch wheels, red brake calipers, a sport exhaust system, and RS 25th Anniversary badging on the front seats. Audi will make only 25 of them, turning this already rare and desirable wagon into a true collectible.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Audi endows the RS6 Avant with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, which generates 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.

The power-plant combines with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that's found on other Audi products, such as the A8 luxury sedan and the Q8 crossover.

The RS6 Avant feeds its standard Quattro all-wheel drive through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi claims this super-wagon will rocket to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and top out at 189 mph (with the optional Dynamic package).

The Avant comes with an adjustable air suspension, though a coil-spring suspension with adaptive dampers is optional. Likewise, rear-wheel steering and a set of 22-inch wheels (21s are standard) can be added to the equipment list for extra coin.

Fuel Economy

The EPA hasn't released estimates for the RS6 Avant's fuel economy at the time of writing this post, but given the wagon's 591-hp twin-turbo V-8, I don't expect stellar numbers.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The RS6 Avant will showcase the company's sophisticated interior design and cutting-edge technology.

The dashboard boasts multiple digital displays and promotes a luxury aesthetic with premium materials such as leather and faux suede as well as upscale features such as ventilated front seats and a head-up display.

Audi says the Avant has 20 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats and 59 cubes with the back seats folded. A power rear lift-gate is standard while a motion-activated one is optional.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The RS6 Avant's dashboard has screens on screens on screens. All models come with a 12.3-inch reconfigurable digital gauge display and a central 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Below the latter sits an 8.6-inch touchscreen that handles vehicle settings and climate control. Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot are all standard features.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't tested the 2021 Audi RS6 Avant at the time of writing this post and neither has the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but the A6 sedan received IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ honor.

The RS6 Avant's list of driver-assistance technology includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and more.

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Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking
Standard lane-departure warning
Available adaptive cruise control
2021 Audi RS6 Avant
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

When it comes to warranty, both the RS6 Avant and the Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon offer a four-year/50,000-mile policy, but the Audi comes with a year of complimentary scheduled maintenance. Otherwise, its coverage is rather basic.

Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Power-train warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles.
2021 Audi RS6 Avant

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Wednesday, September 16, 2020

2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 Review

Overview

The performance-tuning geniuses at Mercedes-AMG have finally been let loose on the new GLS-class SUV, and from those solid bones they've created the 2021 GLS63.

Powered by a fire-breathing 603-hp twin-turbo V-8, luxuriously appointed, and spacious it offers commodious accommodations for the family that wants to travel rapidly—really, really rapidly.

Mercedes-AMG has thrown all the tech features it has at the GLS63, including dual 12.3-inch infotainment displays, an available semi-autonomous driving mode, and a 48-volt hybrid system to help the big SUV's performance.

What brand of performance is that? The kind that enables it to accelerate like a rocket, V-8 engine.

What's New for 2021?

The GLS63 is all new for 2021, arriving after a brief pause when the previous generation ended production after the 2019 model year.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Although the GLS63's starting price is deep into the six-figure realm, I'd still suggest a few options sure to please the whole family.

For one thing, the Warmth and Comfort package is a nice bundle for those in northern climates, as it adds heated door panels, heated armrests, and a heated center console.

I'd also suggest the Energizing package which includes the in-cabin fragrance diffuser and the Acoustic Comfort package, and also adds increased cabin insulation for a quieter interior.

Mercedes-AMG also offers a host of standalone features that may catch your eye, including the bonkers 23-inch multi-spoke forged wheels that look just perfect when framed within the GLS63's muscular wheel wells.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Under the hood of the GLS63 is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine that makes a whopping 603 horsepower with the help of a 48-volt hybrid system.

All-wheel drive is standard, as is a nine-speed automatic transmission and air suspension. it out-accelerates several hot sports cars, which does a blistering 3.6-second zero-to-60-mph.

For comparison, the old GLS63—which made a mere 577 horsepower—manages a none-too-shabby 4.3-second zero-to-60-mph. The ride is firm, especially on the optional 23-inch wheels, but that firmness doesn't translate to a feeling of precision when cornering.

The GLS's body bobs across road undulations more than expected, though it still offers plenty of grip to have some fun with on a twisty road.

Fuel Economy

The EPA hasn't released any fuel-economy estimates for the 2021 GLS63 at the time of making this post, but with an engine that powerful, I am not holding out hope for economy-car efficiency ratings.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Three rows of seating and interior styling that's slightly sportier versus the Benz-branded GLS-class sets the GLS63 apart from two-row SUV powerhouses such as the BMW X5 M and the Audi RS Q8.

Like those competitors, the GLS63 is gorgeously appointed inside. Soft leather covers nearly every square inch of the cabin, and those areas that aren't leather-wrapped are treated to genuine wood trim and tastefully applied chrome; buttons and knobs are rendered in a rich-looking metallic finish.

Front-seat occupants can enjoy a massage while blasting down the Interstate, and passenger space is generous in the second row, which can also be equipped with heated seats and power sunshades. The third row of seats is tight for adults but perfectly suitable for children.

Cargo space is the same as the standard GLS-class, which can fit four carry-on suitcases behind its third row and 30 in total behind the front seats.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The GLS63 comes standard with the same dual-screen infotainment setup found in the non-AMG variant. Two 12.3-inch screens, nestled next to each other in a shared bezel, form the digital gauge display and center infotainment display.

Mercedes-Benz's new MBUX interface can be controlled via voice, touchscreen, or with the touch-pad mounted on the center console. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard, as is a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

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Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have not released crash-test results for the 2021 GLS-class at the time of making this post.

Mercedes-AMG offers several driver-assistance features as standard, with more advanced features including a semi-autonomous driving mode.

Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS63
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mercedes-AMG's standard warranty policies aren't anything special. Furthermore, they offer zero complimentary scheduled maintenance, unlike BMW and Audi, which both offer such a perk.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
Power-train warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
No complimentary scheduled maintenance
2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS63

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Tuesday, September 15, 2020

2021 Infiniti QX80 Review

Overview

Infiniti's big, handsome, and upscale QX80 SUV offers room for the whole family but isn't quite as luxurious or as well rounded as its more premium rivals.

A V-8 engine is standard, which sets the QX80 apart from competitors such as the 2020 BMW X7 and the 2020 Mercedes-Benz G-class, and buyers can choose from rear- or all-wheel drive.

The QX80's roomy cabin can be outfitted with seven or eight seats, all of which offer a good amount of cushioning and genuine leather upholstery.

Plus, Infiniti provides many driver-assistance features for no additional charge. But the value proposition suffers a bit when you consider that the Nissan Armada, from which the QX80 derives, can be spec'd with nearly as many luxuries as the Infiniti.

The QX80 boasts attractive styling and luxury-brand cachet, but there are more compelling offerings out there.

What's New for 2021?

Infiniti has reconfigured the QX80 lineup to include a new mid-range Premium Select trim and a high-end Sensory model for 2021. It also added standard driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.

The QX80 Premium Select wears unique styling elements, including dark-chrome exterior trim, 22-inch wheels, and matte-brown interior embellishments with either a Sahara Stone or Truffle Brown color scheme.

The Sensory model is the most luxurious and comes with chrome bits on the outside, quilted semi-aniline leather upholstery and burl-wood trim on the inside, a hydraulically controlled suspension, and a large rear-view mirror that doubles as a digital display for a rear-facing camera.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Luxe: $70,445
Premium Select: $74,745
Sensory: $81,595

Given the Sensory model's price brushes elbows with that of the new GLS-class and a well-optioned X7, I'd stick with the Luxe model.

It offers plenty of luxury features to keep occupants happy, such as genuine leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel with heat, second-row captain's chairs, a 13-speaker Bose stereo system, in-dash navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and adaptive cruise control.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 400-hp 5.6-liter V-8 and seven-speed automatic transmission launches the three-ton Infiniti to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

While that's speedy given this SUV's size, every other competitor are even quicker. Still, around town, this Infiniti gallops with grace, its exhaust note growling after heavy-footed accelerator applications.

A comfortable ride couldn't make up for the fact that the QX80 felt less athletic than the GLS450. So if you're looking for a mega-luxury SUV with sharp driving dynamics, you should look elsewhere; the Infiniti's serene character will satisfy buyers who want to be coddled.

Towing and Payload Capacity

The QX80 can tow 8500 pounds in either the rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configuration, which beats the Mercedes's rating by 1000 pounds.

Fuel Economy

Simply put, the QX80 has awful fuel economy. Its rivals have substantially better ratings. What's more, the highway EPA-estimated rating is 19 mpg.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

While the Infiniti's interior is comfortable and quiet, the design has barely changed since the ute debuted in 2011 as the QX56.

Likewise, features that I've come to expect on luxury vehicles (such as a panoramic sunroof, massaging seats, and a head-up display) aren't available.

Still, the spacious cabin is well built and includes a standard third row. While the QX80 can accommodate adults back there, several competitors offer roomier setups.

The Infiniti has standard second-row captain's chairs that can be swapped for a three-seat bench.

Those who can't find enough space to store their property inside the QX80 should appear on an episode of Hoarders.

The Infiniti has ample interior cubby space, and it carries the most luggage behind the third row among similar-size rivals.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The QX80's touchscreen infotainment system—called In-Touch—is easy to use but unremarkable.

While the screens are responsive and a mobile hotspot is available without spending a fortune, every luxury competitor has a better interface and features. The QX80 comes with 12-volt outlets and four USB ports.

The optional Theater package adds another USB port and a 120-volt outlet. It also includes the rear-seat entertainment system, consisting of two 8.0-inch screens fitted to the back of the front-seat headrests.