Audi A6 Review

Luxury-car shoppers who love value have long cheered the Audi A6. And in true Audi fashion, the midsize A6 gives you a lot for a very competitive price.

One of the A6's primary strengths is its deluxe cabin. Materials are first-rate, and the overall design is nothing short of class-leading. Its winter-weather capability is another plus. A6s are available with the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, which distributes power to all four wheels, making slippery roads more manageable.

But the car's most compelling asset concerns value. In terms of overall quality, the Audi A6 is right up there with other midsize luxury cars, but it costs thousands less. A used A6 represents an even more affordable proposition.

There have been three generations of the Audi A6, and all are worthy selections. If there's a downside to the A6, it's that it hasn't been the most athletic choice in its segment due to engines in earlier models that were somewhat light on low-end torque. But that pales in the face of this car's undisputable merits. Offering premium refinement at a respectable price, the A6 is an excellent choice.

Current Audi A6
With its clean lines and oversized grille, the current Audi A6 is one of the most distinctive midsize luxury cars on the market. It's available as both a sedan and a wagon. The A6 wagon -- called the Avant -- is one of the few midsize luxury wagons on the market, and with a 34-cubic-foot cargo bay behind its rear seat, it makes a practical yet elegant choice for families with a large dog or double stroller in tow.

Those who purchase the A6 sedan may choose among three trims: base 3.2 Premium, midlevel 3.0T Premium Quattro and top-of-the-line 4.2 Prestige Quattro. Wagons are available only in the 3.0T Premium Quattro trim. Standard equipment is generous, with a navigation system standard across the board and upper trims coming with heated seats. As we've come to expect from Audi, the A6's interior is a case study in attractive design and quality materials. The A6's various electronic features (such as the audio system, navigation and Bluetooth) are controlled via Audi's easy-to-use Multi Media Interface (MMI) system. It sounds complicated, but with its logical menus and ergonomically designed, all-in-one control knob, MMI is relatively easy to learn.

The Audi A6 sedan is available with a choice of three engines that correspond to trim level: a 265-horsepower V6 (3.2), a 300-hp supercharged V6 (3.0T) or a 350-hp V8 (4.2) engine. The 3.2 front-wheel-drive sedan has a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with driver-selectable shift points, while all other A6s come with a six-speed automatic transmission and the Quattro AWD system. The A6 Avant is only available with the 3.0T engine, Quattro and the automatic.

In reviews, we've found the engines to be smooth and refined. The base V6's acceleration is certainly passable, but our choice would be the 3.0T, thanks to its broad range of torque and relative fuel efficiency. In fact, we've found this engine provides quicker acceleration than the V8. The A6 rides comfortably on the highway, and while it's not the most athletic car in its class, our editors like its predictable, confident feel through the corners.

Used Audi A6 Models
The current Audi A6 is representative of the third-generation model, which dates to 2005. Overall, the third-generation car represents by far the best package of attention-getting style, entertaining driving dynamics and opulent furnishings. Those considering used third-gen models should keep in mind that the base V6 made only 255 hp from 2005-'09. Also, the supercharged V6 (3.0T) wasn't available from 2005-'08, while the car's V8 produced only 335 hp prior to 2007. In terms of features, the A6 has stayed mostly unchanged, though trim packages and options were also simplified for '09, and the MMI electronics interface and navigation system were upgraded for 2010.

The second-generation A6 sedan arrived on the market in 1998 and benefited from a ground-up redesign; an all-new version of the Avant wagon debuted the following year. This was the first Audi A6 to ride on a stretched version of the highly regarded A4 platform. For the first two years, only a naturally aspirated V6 was available, but in 2000, Audi added a spirited twin-turbocharged V6 and a torque-rich V8 to the engine lineup for the sedan. Given that acceleration tended to be sluggish with the base V6, particularly on the hefty A6 Avant Quattro wagon, Audi began offering a larger, more powerful 3.0-liter six-cylinder in 2002. Transmission choices included a five-speed automatic and a CVT (which was introduced in 2002). In our editorial reviews, we praised the heavenly cabin and all-wheel-drive utility offered by the second-generation A6, and panned its somewhat nonlinear steering. Overall, it represents a solid choice for used-car shoppers.

The original Audi A6 came to market in 1995 as a lightly revised version of the old Audi 100 sedan and wagon. Although prices on used A6 models from this era are convincingly low, consumers should be aware that only one engine -- a 172-hp V6 -- is available on these cars. With the lightest A6 sedan weighing in at 3,400 pounds, acceleration is modest at best. However, much like newer Audis, this A6 was nicely appointed and offered a choice of front-wheel drive or Quattro all-wheel drive.