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Once on the critically endangered list, station wagons are making a big comeback in China, and the Avatr 06T was just one of many on show in Beijing.
Electric Cars
You may not be familiar with Chinese brand, Avatr (pronounced like avatar), but the design-led luxury brand is working hard to make a name for itself.
At the 2026 Beijing motor show, the Avatr 06T made its public debut, with a sporty wagon shape to catch attention, and a choice of electric or range-extender powertrains to capture sales in the new energy market.
While relatively unknown in Australia, Avatr is co-owned by Changan, the same company that owns Deepal and builds the Mazda 6e. Battery manufacturer CATL also owns a smaller stake.
The Avatr 06T wagon joins the existing 06 sedan, 07, 11, and 011 SUVs, and the four-door coupe Avatr 12 and 012.
Based on the 06 sedan, the 06T has similar front-end styling, with slim daytime running lights giving an F-shaped lighting signature, a simple, grill-less front bumper, and a smooth body with deeply sculpted sills, and subtle body creases tied in with a muscular fastback shape.
It’s one of a slew of new wagons from Chinese brands, joining the likes of the Aistaland GT7, Denza Z9 GT, Fulwin A9L GT, Nio ET5, and Zeekr 7GT, which blur the line between traditional wagons and long-roof hatchbacks.
Measuring 4940mm long, the Avatr 06T is 38mm longer than a Skoda Superb wagon, but at 1455mm tall, sits around 28mm lower, with a generous 2940mm wheelbase, some 99mm longer than the Superb.
The sporty-styled wagon has an angled rear window and long rear spoiler extending its roofline in profile, with a full-width light bar spanning the tailgate.
In line with new Chinese regulations, the door handles on the 06T are a flush design with an open lower section, unlike the fully flat pop-out handles fitted to the 06 sedan.
A choice of three fully electric models and one range-extender EV will be available from launch.
The dual-motor has dual rear-mounted motors, with 502kW combined and an 87.3kWh battery allowing 741km of range, based on Chinese testing. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is claimed to take 3.74 seconds.
Although not yet live on Avatr’s website, Chinese media report that a less powerful 450kW dual-motor version with a smaller 72.9kWh battery and 652km range is also coming.
The flagship tri-motor version adds an additional front-motor boosting power to 712kW and allowing a 0-100km/h sprint of 2.78 seconds. Range drops to 680km, using the 87.3kWh battery.
The extended-range (EREV) model claims up to 330km of electric-only range, with a 46.7kWh battery. A 1.5-litre petrol engine then works as a generator to maintain charge, allowing up to 1250km of combined range.
The interior of the Avatr 06T features a 35.4-inch ultra-wide ‘star ring’ display at the base of the windscreen, filling in for a traditional instrument display.
A 15.6-inch infotainment display, and a pair of 6.7-inch rear view screens fed by door-mounted cameras are also fitted as standard.
The front seats offer zero-gravity 120-degree reclining, heating, ventilation, and massage, along with 14-way electric adjustment. A Meridian 14-speaker sound system with seven-channel surround sound is available.
Interior trim in two-tone purple and white, or single-tone tinted charcoal or Kalypso red is also available.
A full suite of Huawei driver-assist technologies is fitted, with LiDAR sensing, ultra-high-definition 3D cameras, and linked adaptive suspension to read the road ahead and adjust the suspension in real time, including the ability to raise the car by up to 60mm for use on rough roads.
Door-to-door navigation pilot assist means the Avatr 06T can be autonomously driven on marked roads in a variety of conditions with a navigation destination set, including roundabouts, toll gates, and more.
The dual-motor rear axle also allows pendulum parking, which can brake a front wheel, while rotating the rear tyres in opposite directions to swing the car in or out of a tight parallel space without the need to drive forward or backward.
Although Avatr vehicles are not yet sold in Australia, the brand confirmed last year that it had plans to establish a presence here.
No Australian distributor has been officially appointed, but the upscale brand is likely to position itself as a rival to the likes of BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz.
Electric Cars Guide
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
