ARGUABLY a decade will be known by its cars. The 70s saw some of the worst examples of design and build imaginable, dull models blighted by what proved to be terminal industrial unrest.

The 80s was a boom time for conspicuous Porsche consumption, the 90s were about pumping up the volume and ten post millennium years saw an erosion of badge prejudice as Skoda and then Korean makes nibbled away at the UK market.

The current decade will be marked by manufacturers attempts to wring every last mile out of a gallon of stratospherically priced fuel. And, like being locked out of the loo, there's little sign of immediate relief.

Once if you could shell out £31,340, plus luxuries, for a motor like the two-litre Audi A6 Avant TDi SE, it was assumed fuelling it was not a problem. Now everyone, business users included, has one eye on the fickle wheel of pump price fortune.

So perhaps we should start at this point. A full blooded estate car like this would once have earned its owner Christmas wishes from OPEC. This one claims an average 56mpg and swings into a very reasonable tax band thanks to its 132g/km clean air act.

The 175bhp A6 Avant is brisk but you won't be stilling any beating hearts at 9.3 seconds to 60mph. Then again that's not the point of the car.

Step inside and see what is. Starting with comfort, important in an executive car likely to spend long hours on the motorway.

Cabin design and quality is  impressive. Audi owners are on a winner as VAG pushed up the quality of its VWs, Skoda and SEAT meaning that ever more cosseting needs to be fitted to the flagship marque.

A man who tires of Audi is tired of life. Sorry Mr Johnson. Samuel not Boris.

The facia is clutter free and the wrap around high centre console and instrumentation which includes a multi-function screen and leather upholstery all adds to the classy feel. Nothing wrong with ride quality, either, and while this is not a car chosen to be thrown around there is plenty of grip. The chassis has a good everyday balance.

Obviously there is a full equipment list, including all the required passive safety features but if you want to take this to the next level by including seats with electric adjustment, digital entertainment, power boot lid, four-zone air con and information centre you will add another £10,000 to the basic car's price.

Drivers don't buy estate cars simply to be able to stretch out. So it is important the load area is both big and well thought through.

With the seats in place there is 565 litres of space and along with a double-deck cargo floor, wipe clean tray and lashings of lashings, the Audi scores well.

There are those who would argue that in the 21st  century we have come to expect the best of all worlds. On those expectations the Avant delivers.