It takes quite an effort to find anything significant to criticise about the Audi A6 Allroad. It does everything you could ask of it, and does it well.

If we’re being picky, it’s a shame the boot didn’t accommodate our full load of holiday luggage with the rear seats upright. Fold them down, however, and there’s a healthy 1660 litres – not quite as much as in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but still an impressive space.

The Audi scores over the Merc with even stronger performance, shaving more than two seconds from its 30-60mph time. The button-operated parking brake proved easier to operate than the Merc’s footbrake, and held the Audi first time, every time on the 1-in-6 slope. With four-wheel drive to call upon, we dismissed the hill start with ease, and got the feeling the Audi could tow up a cliff if it really had to.

The Audi A6 Allroad is more rewarding to drive than the Mercedes, too, which is saying something. Driven solo, the Audi is very firmly planted to the road, although the E-Class was slightly more comfortable tackling the lane-change manoeuvre. In the brake test, however, the Allroad was significantly better than anything else in this class, and the fitment of a special towing mode in the stability control system is reassuring.

Air suspension is fitted as standard. It blends control with comfort superbly, and allows the driver to fine-tune the set-up.

Fuel consumption of 32.5mpg won’t win any green awards, but it’s reasonable for a heavy car packing such a punch.