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  1. Five of the best Le Mans round-trippers
  2. Porsche Cayenne Diesel, Perfect Porsche
  3. Peugeot 407 Coupé Sport HDI 136, Suave Gallic
  4. Audi A6 2.0 TDI Avant S-Line, Load-lugging loveliness
  5. Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 Diesel, Smooth sophisti-cat
  6. Mercedes-Benz E 250 CDI Coupé, Fuel-sipping Class

Audi A6 2.0 TDI Avant S-Line, Load-lugging loveliness

It's no RS6, but then just try getting the mad V10-engined relative of this more sensible 2.0-litre TDI A6 Avant to Le Mans and back on one tank. Opt for the 2.0 TDI A6 in S-Line trim and it's a sporty looking thing, and with radar gun totting Gendarmes lining the route to Le Mans you'll not need more than the 170bhp it packs under its bonnet. That's significantly less than Audi's R15 TDI racer, but there's no room for camping gear, beer and your friends in the prototype racer, nor can you sleep in it if your tent blows away.

The A6 Avant is pretty much the prefect estate car. Spacious, comfortable, quiet and beautifully built, it'll haul loads of kit with utter impunity. The 2.0-litre TDI engine isn't the fastest or most punchy in the turbodiesel line-up, but it's quick enough and among the most frugal. With a range of 749 miles from a full tank it'll easily get you to Le Mans and back without having to stop for fuel. You won't be alone either with Audis making up a significant proportion of the metal in the car parks given the German firm's dominance at the Le Mans 24-hour race.

Kyle Fortune