Audi A6 All you need to know about buying Audi’s well-rounded luxury car
BUYING GUIDE When you consider what makes a good luxury car,audi’s contender ticks most of the right boxes. As a used buy, it’s even more tempting In production 2018-present Price from £24,000 Our favourite version 40 TDI Sport
STEADY EVOLUTION HAS always been the Audi A6 way. It replaced the Audi 100 a quarter of a century ago, and gentle yet tireless progress has made the current iteration well rounded and extremely refined.
When this generation first appeared in 2018, it featured technology (such as mild hybrid electrical assistance for its engines) from the bigger, more expensive A8 in an effort to make it more comfortable, efficient and desirable than ever before.
Available in saloon and Avant estate forms, the A6 offers a range of petrol and diesel engines, some with quattro four-wheel drive. Petrol options include 204bhp and 265bhp 2.0-litre units (known as the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI respectively) and a 340bhp 3.0-litre V6 (55 TFSI quattro). There’s also a 204bhp 2.0-litre diesel (badged 40 TDI) and a 286bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel in the 50 TDI quattro. In addition, a 296bhp plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 55 TFSIE model was introduced last year.
Entry-level Sport trim gives you 18in alloy wheels, leather seats, dual-zone climate control, ambient LED interior lighting and keyless go. S line brings bigger (19in) wheels, firmer sports suspension and adaptive LED headlights, as well as styling add-ons. The Black Edition offers 20in wheels, Matrix LED headlights (which can block off sections of their main beams to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers) and a black styling pack, while Vorsprung cars come with 21in wheels, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, adaptive suspension (air sprung on the most powerful versions) and four-wheel steering (though not with the entry-level engines).
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
On the move, all of the engines offer plenty of performance, with the six-cylinder diesel in particular having heaps of low-rev grunt and the 55 TFSI petrol being the quickest overall. The only impediment to brisk progress is that their automatic gearboxes can be hesitant when pulling away from a standstill or when asked to change down on the move. The engines are all impressively quiet, too, while wind and road noise are very well isolated. Although the A6 doesn’t ride quite as well as the best of its rivals, it’s still a very refined and comfortable cruiser, especially on the smaller wheels of Sport trim.
In corners, the A6 feels lighter and more agile than its size would suggest. Versions with four-wheel steering are sharper still. There’s plenty of grip and the overall balance instills confidence, although the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XE do more to entertain drivers.
Inside, it’s easy to find an ideal driving position, thanks to an electrically adjustable seat (with lumbar support adjustment) and
steering wheel. The dashboard is logically arranged and high-quality materials abound.
The A6’s standard analogue instrument dials are clear, but these will have been replaced by a full digital display if the optional Technology Pack was specified from new. This is well worth having; it’s highly configurable and shows a wealth of useful information.
The Technology Pack also upgraded the infotainment touchscreen to 10.1in from the standard 8.8in. Below it, a second touchscreen deals with functions such as climate control and seat heating. In all cases, the screens are sharp and offer haptic feedback (so you can tell by feel that your input has been registered), making them easier to use than some touchscreen systems, although they’re still more distracting to operate while driving than the physical switches and dial controller you get in BMWS. Up front, neither occupant is short-changed on space, while rear passengers enjoy more leg and head room than most rival cars can offer. The boot is one of the best in the class, being not only massive but also well shaped and easy to access.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Around £24,000 should get you a 2018 A6 40 TDI in Sport or S line trim with an average mileage for its age. Spend between £25,000 and £30,000 on 2019 and 2020 models, and nearer £35,000 for a 2021 car. A 2.0-litre petrol A6 from 2019 will set you back around £29,000, while 3.0-litre petrol and diesel models tend to be more sparse (and expensive), coming in at around £30,000, with PHEV models starting at around £34,500.
Due to its mild hybrid technology, the A6’s CO2 emissions are sensible and its fuel consumption is respectable. The 40 TDI officially emits just 117g/km and returned 46.8mpg in our economy test. Both of these figures are better than its main rivals, the BMW 520d and Mercedes-benz E220d, can manage. The six-cylinder diesel is reasonably economical, too, considering its performance.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
The A6 is a very large car, so check the front and back for scuffs and dents and the alloy wheels for any kerb damage. Check that all the electrical equipment works as it should, including the infotainment, climate control and electric seat motors.
The A6 doesn’t have a great reliability record. In our 2021 survey, the current iteration came sixth out of seven models in the luxury car category, while the previous one (2011-2018) was last. Meanwhile, Audi as a brand ranked 18th out of 30 manufacturers in the same survey.
WHICH ONE SHOULD I BUY?
The 2.0-litre diesel engine will be more than sufficient for most buyers’ needs, granting the A6 excellent refinement while being the cheapest to buy and the most economical.
What’s more, we’d stick with Sport trim; it offers all the goodies you could reasonably want or need. S line cars often aren’t much more expensive, though, and are worth checking out if you want extra sportiness.