Buyers of executive cars demand a huge range of qualities: they need them to be quiet, luxurious, well equipped and good to drive, but also tax-efficient and affordable to run.
If that wasn’t hard enough, the Audi A6 has some superb rivals, including the BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Class.
Engines go from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel to an enormous turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol, and the A6 is accessible in two-or four-wheel drive frame.
The majority of the engines are punchy and refined, and the Audi A6’s inside looks and feels phenomenal, even in section level SE shape. There’s likewise a lot of hardware included as standard, and the 2.0 TDI form is especially modest to keep running as an organisation auto.
The main drawbacks are the A6’s fiddly dashboard format and the way that a few opponents are more amusing to drive. Look past that, however, and the A6 is a sound decision, and unquestionably one of the best officials available.
There isn’t a engine in the A6 territory that gets a handle on of its profundity. Indeed, even the passage level 2.0 TDI diesel has all that could possibly be needed low-rev push to pull along a completely stacked A6, in addition to you can surpass at high speeds with certainty. Indeed, it never feels remotely underpowered, and is our most loved engine. As you venture up the engine range, you’re struck by how easy the execution gets to be.
The 3.0 TDI is accessible in two power yields; the 215bhp rendition pulls unequivocally from low revs, while the 268bhp one scarcely should be revved to stay aware of movement. The twin-turbo 3.0 BiTDI is incredibly snappy. In the event that you should have six cylinders in your diesel A6, the 215bhp adaptation has all the power you’ll ever require.
The main petrol is the V8-controlled S6. This has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre engine with momentous mid-go punch.
All A6s bar the 2.0 TDI come with an automatic gearbox as standard. The 2.0 gets a six-speed manual ’box with a set of well-spaced ratios, although the optional seven-speed auto suits the car better. The auto can dither a little from a standstill, but otherwise it shifts gear quickly.
The fact that the Audi A6 is lighter than most of its direct rivals helps it feel pretty agile for such a big car. Every version also grips well and feels composed when cornering, especially the S line and Black Edition models with their lower, stiffer suspension. In fact, given how good the standard suspension set-ups are, we wouldn’t pay for the expensive optional air suspension.
Four-wheel-drive A6s are also wonderfully stable in all weathers, although the front-wheel-drive ones are hardly wayward. The S6 gets a more sophisticated four-wheel-drive system than other A6s, which helps it turn in to corners more keenly.
The only real criticism is the A6’s steering. Although it is precise and light enough around town, it doesn’t weight up sufficiently on faster roads or provide much information about how hard the front tyres are gripping.
Much like when it comes to ride comfort, a BMW 5 Series equipped with the optional variable shock absorber control rules the roost as far as handling is concerned. It handles more sharply than the A6 and its steering is more reassuring on twisty roads.
