Audi S6’s allure flies under radar
There’s something to be said for sleeper cars, ones that appear ordinary but offer performance that far exceeds their looks.
That’s what makes the 2024 Audi S6 so sublime, a handsome car that looks pretty much like an Audi A6 to the initiated. But this one has been to the gym, a sportier iteration of the Audi’s luxury midsize sedan.
Credit its 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 mated to a 48-volt hybrid system and electric supercharger that provides additional boost. Through an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. It funnels 444 horsepower and 443 foot-pounds of torque through quattro all-wheel drive to all four corners. Reaching 60 mph takes 5.1 seconds. Top track speed is 155 mph.
This might seem like a step back, considering that the Audi S6 no longer sports the twin-turbocharged V-8 it did from 2014 through 2018 nor the V-10 that powered it from 2007 until 2011. Yet it does possess the prowess buyers in this class look for.
Thanks to its adaptive air suspension and rearwheel steering, the Audi S6 has a nimbleness above and beyond that of its lesser A6 siblings. It mocks rough pavement, serenely delivering a smooth, refined ride no matter what’s going on underneath the car. And should the roads turn slick, the S6 has standard quattro all-wheel drive. Steering is quick and direct, which makes its ferocious acceleration manageable. As its speed builds, it releases an aural symphony that rewards you for choosing the Audi S6.
But what’s particularly remarkable is what it feels compared to its German rivals. It’s not a juvenile car, having a manner that rewards being an adult.
There’s a balance to its performance that rewards those who appreciate speed and refinement.
Yet as with many German vehicles, the ride can be firm at times, which some may find uncomfortable for a car that starts at $75,500. The flip side is its athletic prowess, which makes tackling your favorite twisting mountain road an exercise in pure pleasure.
Best of all was its mileage, a wallet-pleasing 25.5 mpg, although the Audi S6 does require premium fuel. But if you can afford the car, you afford to fill it.
Performance aside, the 2024 Audi S6 receives a host of updates for the new model year, including a revised front grille with standard LED headlights. There are new exterior paint choices, redesigned wheels, red brakes calipers, new instrument-panel inlay options, enhanced infotainment offerings and more standard equipment. And buyers get a six-month trial subscription to Audi Connect Plus, which comes with an Audi app store. This facilitates seamless integration of your digital life, as well as parking and charging, productivity, weather and news apps into Audi’s Multi Media Interface.
Audi has minimized the used of physical buttons, which imparts a sleek, modern ambiance to the cabin, even if it’s not always as easy to use quickly at a glance. Opting for the Premium trim brings with it a Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, ambient lighting, a head-up display and a wireless phone charger. But the whole cabin is awash in leather, metal and carbon-fiber trim that’s pleasing.
The technology proves easy to use, something that’s rare in too many luxury cars.
It’s a remarkably enjoyable way to drive, one wasted on most drivers who opt for SUVs despite rarely, if ever, using their utility.
They’d have so much more fun behind the wheel of an Audi S6, an understated statement of speed that stealthily satisfies your need for speed.
For those of us tired of the current culture’s adult child persona, where everything seems aimed at an emotionally insecure 15-year-old, such stealth speed, cultured couture and top-notch tech are a refreshing breath of fresh air.