2009 Audi A6 Reviews

Audi A6 is a medium-large car much loved by those who like a solid touch of sportiness in their transport.

For many years Audi lagged behind arch rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW models in the prestige car stakes in Australia.That was despite it holding equal ranking in most European countries. However, Audi is now seen as one of the ‘big three’ in the eyes of upmarket Australian buyers.The so-called single-frame grille, with its huge radiator grille has been a stroke of genius in automotive design and is arguably the main reason for the big increase in sales in recent years. In Australia, aggressive marketing and a willingness to throw serious money at marketing the brand has also played a major part. The subject of this week’s used-car review, the A6, is the mid-size vehicle in the Audi range.It replaced the Audi 100 in November 1994, but struggled in the sales race in its early days. A virtually all-new A6 reached Australia in November 1997 improved things somewhat so we will start looking in detail at the A6 from that model onwards.The aforementioned single-frame grille reached the A6 range in Australia in August 2005 and things really started to hike along. Interior design has been a strong point with Audis for many years and the cabin is close to immaculate in the way it’s themed and then constructed.The Audi A6 has high levels of noise, vibration and harshness suppression that make it a very capable high-speed cruiser. Interior space is OK for five adults, though lack of support in the centre-rear position makes it a noticeably less comfortable position than the other seats.Boot space is very good in the sedan. Audi A6 has a reasonably strong presence in the prestige station wagon market in Australia, though not to the huge extent it does on its home market. Handling is better than average for a front-wheel-drive car, though the powertrain layout, with the engine being mostly in front of the axle, means the nose-heavy machine tends to push slightly wide on corners.This has been toned down with each successive model, but is still a weak point compared with other vehicles in this upmarket German class. Owners who are more interested in the aforementioned waft-along cruising are unlikely to ever experience the understeering.There is the option of Audi’s famous quattro all-wheel-drive system for added traction on slippery roads. It too can suffer from front-end push but does so at higher cornering efforts. Quattro isn't on offer in all models, but is well worth the extra money if you’re a keen driver.Engines are many and varied, with petrol and diesel units on offer. In the petrol lineup there's everything from turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder units to a sweet little V6 with a capacity of just 2.4 litres and larger V6s displacing 2.8, 3.0 and 3.2 litres.These are complex cars and it's best that you have all work, other than the vary basics of servicing, done professionally. Audi dealers are generally restricted to major metropolitan areas but you will find some in major country centres as well. Contact Audi's head office in Sydney for further information.Insurance costs are relatively high, but no more than you would expect from quality cars built from top-end materials. Premiums don’t usually vary a lot between major players, but it's always worth shopping around for the best deal. Make sure you are comparing like with like before making your decision. As well as the standard A6 models, Audi also imports high-performance variants. Called, in ascending order of performance, Audi A6 S Line, Audi S6 and Audi RS6, the latter are sold in pretty limited numbers and are aimed at a very specialised market, so won’t be examined in detail here.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust is rare as Audi was a pioneer in using all-galvanised panels in its bodies. Poor crash repairs which didn’t see the metal being properly protected can still lead to troubles.Interiors are finished to a very high standard and last well. Nevertheless, careless owners can still cause damage so check the complete interior. Sun damage, even on cars that have been kept outside continuously, is rare, but check the upper surfaces of the dashboard as well as the condition of the rear parcel shelf.Look for oil leaks from early V6 engines and if the engine. Be sure the cam drive belt has been replaced on schedule. Look for oil leaks from the power-steering rack and the hoses connected to it.Check that the automatic transmission works smoothly and does not change gears when it shouldn’t. If a tiptronic is fitted run it up and down through the gears to make sure it selects them quickly.CAR BUYING TIPBeware the social-climbers who have bought cars they can’t afford to maintain correctly. If you can’t examine the service books be very suspicious. 

The mid-sized prestige market has been a very lucrative one in the past 20 years or so, particularly for European carmakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and more latterly Audi with its A6. Audi has been aggressively, and successfully, chasing market share and the A6 has been an important weapon in its campaign to overthrow its rivals.The most obvious change to the A6 introduced in 2006 was the bold new grille, but that change alone said plenty about the model and the brand's intent. In one fell swoop the A6, and the brand, took on a more aggressive, in your face look. It emerged from the pack and said 'look at me'. If the grille was the centrepiece of the overhaul, there were other changes to the body as well. Again, given BMW's move to more sharply defined, chiselled lines, the smooth, sweeping lines of the Audi were appealing to the many buyers who found the BMW looks challenging.The new A6 was larger than the previous model, with more cabin space and a larger boot, made even more useful thanks to a folding rear seat. The interior was nicely designed and finished, with comfortable and supportive seats, and everything else you could wish for in the segment. When first launched the A6 had a selection of engines ranging from a 2.4-litre V6 through to a 4.2-litre V8, along with a new 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6.But in no time at all more engines were introduced, including a new fuel-efficient 2.0-litre TFSi unit. The transmission choices were a six-speed automatic with tiptronic shift control and a smooth CVT continuously variable automatic gearbox, and there was a choice of front-wheel drive or Audi's popular Quattro all-wheel drive system.Not surprisingly given its price the A6 came with plenty of luxury features, like leather and wood trim, CD sound, power seats, sat-nav and a raft of others. On the road the A6 was a smooth operator aimed more at giving the executive a smooth ride than a driving thrill. It wasn't as sporty as a BMW 5-Series, but that was Audi's claimed point of difference. Even though it didn't pretend to be as sporty as its main rival it still displayed a fine handling balance with a reassuring neutral poise that dealt corners with a minimum of fuss. The ride, too, was blissfully smooth and supple on all surfaces, and bumps and broken pavement was soaked up with consummate ease.IN THE SHOPIt's European, which means it comes with technology that can  sometimes be temperamental, and parts and repairs can be expensive. Before buying a second hand Audi it's a good idea to have it checked  by someone with experience in the brand, someone who can pick the faults and advise on what could go wrong. It's also well worthwhile to be on good terms with an independent Audi specialist who can not only expertly service your car, but also source more affordable parts if and when needed. Look for oil leaks around the engine and coolant leaks around the cooling system, check the service record, and inspect for poor crash repairs.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $80,600 to $145,900Engines: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol; 125 kW/280 Nm 2.4-litre V6 petrol; 130 kW/230 Nm 2.8-litre V6 petrol; 154 kW/280 Nm 3.2-litre V6 petrol; 188 kW/330 Nm 4.2-litre V8 petrol; 246 kW/420 Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel; 165 kW/450 NmTransmissions: 6-speed auto, CVT, FWD, AWDEconomy: 8.5 L/100 km (2.0T), 9.8 L/100 km (2.4), 9.7 L/100 km (2.8),  9.9 L/100 km (3.2), 13.2 L/100 km (4.2), 8.3 L/100 km (3.0 TDi).Body: sedan, wagonVariants: Base, Avant, and Quattro Safety: 5-star ANCAPVERDICTSmooth driving, smooth riding, well-equipped alternative to the BMW with a smooth new look.

It's a calorie-free fact that Audi has more models and engine choices than that Baskin Robbins has ice cream colours and flavours. There's also the fact that one-quarter of Audi's range is diesel and even here there's a choice of five engines ranging from a 1.9-litre sipper to a 4.2-litre stonker. So it's odd that Audi introduces a 2.7-litre engine to separate its 2-litre and 3-litre diesels. Why bother? Because it's not just about the size.Drivetrain and economy The 2.7 is Audi's latest turbo-diesel. Like the 3-litre, it's a V6 but adds low-friction engine components and low-drag steering and oil pumps. Audi claims fuel savings of up to 15 per cent and rates the 2.7-litre turbo-diesel in the A6 at 6.4 litres/100km — pretty good for a big saloon even though this city-bound test recorded a more modest 8.2 l/100km.PricingIf you're happy with that — and can afford the $84,500 entry fee — you'd be even more delighted knowing you have saved a fair amount of sales tax. Thanks to the A6 2.7's low fuel thirst of less than 7 l/100km, the 33 per cent Luxury Car Tax kicks in at $75,000, not the $57,180 of thirstier rivals. Effectively, the A6 2.7 buyer pays the tax on $9500, not $17,320. Personally, it's a tax on a tax and shouldn't even exist but it's now written and unlikely ever to be erased. But it will be the last thing on your mind after getting the A6 on the road.DrivingThis is a big car that thinks it's a small car and in comparison to the BMW 5-Series 530d, is arguably more comfortable, better built, easier to operate and cheaper. In the BMW's favour, the 5-Series handles better and has a more sporty nature.The Audi is more a saloon. The 2.7 comes only in the front-wheel drive version with a continuously-variable (automatic) transmission. It's suited more to the person who wants a luxury car with outstanding build quality, exceptional range (this will go up to 1250km in the country) and plenty of room and features. If you want a sports car, look elsewhere.The A6 will lope along in the country yet is benign as a small car in the city. The handling is very good. Not excellent like the 530d mainly because the Audi has its diesel engine forward of the front axle and therefore — despite lots of work including an alloy bonnet and fenders — is a tad nose-heavy into tight corners.This quirk won't concern any but the most discerning driver. For the rest, take it from me that this is an accurate, comfortable and always confident five-seater. A lot of its appeal is its ease of use and simple controls. The park brake is electronic and consists merely of a postage stamp-size console button.The central controller allows access to a host of vehicle operations to fine tune it to the driver. But it has preset buttons so finding everything is quick. The rear seats are split and fold down so long objects can be stored, so adding an element of versatility to the car. And while we're in the big boot, there's a full-size spare wheel.The cabin also gets woodgrain and leather and the front seats have electric adjustment. It's a top car and shows that the diesel really is suited to the luxury car sector.Verdict: 86/100Audi A6 2.7 TDI Price: $84,500Engine: 2.7-litre, V6, turbocharger, intercoolerPower: 140kW @ 3500-4400rpmTorque: 400Nm @ 1400-3500rpmTransmission: CVT automatic, 7-speed preset; front-drivePerformance: 0-100km/h 7.9 seconds, top speed 277km/hEconomy: (official): 6.4 litres/100km, tested): 7.2 litres/100kmEmissions: 169g/km (Corolla: 175g/km)Rivals BMW 530d ($116,250) — 83/100Jaguar XF diesel ($116,250) — 85/100Mercedes E220CD ($80,900) — 83/100Volvo S80 D5 ($73,950) — 84/100

Audi is continuing to populate the Luxury Car Tax exemption parking area with prestige models that escape or partially avoid the slug. This brings their LCT-avoidance crew to 21, a number they are pretty happy to tell you is far above BMW’s nine and Mercedes-Benz’s eight.The latest to join the four-ringed circuit are turbodiesel versions of the Audi A6 – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder and a 2.7-litre V6, both mated to a continuously-variable multitronic’ transmission driving the front wheels. They join the A6’s current three petrol variants – 2.0, 2.8 and 3.0-litre – and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel. Both the new engines make sense in this car for those who want the economy of diesel. But the smaller of the two – which now becomes the entry level for the A6 range — is best restricted to subdued pootling around town and relaxed cruising on the highway.It’s a very poised performer in normal driving, but this is a modest engine for a large car, and it can get a bit flummoxed if you try to push it hard too quickly – preferring plenty of warning when you need it to stir up a little. However the larger newcomer offers strong effort across the rev range, and you’d be hard-pressed to think of reasons to shell out more for the 3.0-litre.The steering in both is light and accurate, but there’s little in the way of feedback – and possibly none demanded by most of the buying demographic.The A6 has a strong focus on space and comfort, and with an interior full of quality surfaces you’re encouraged to waft along in prestige calm, with noise-damping good enough to prevent much intrusion from the diesel engines … or anything else from outside the cabin save some wind rush and tyre noise on poor surfaces.Engines and pricing The 2.0-litre turbodiesel is slightly noisier than its larger sibling, but this is really only evident when you push it hard up the rev range. But it’s happy to tackle most jobs with its 350Nm of torque coming in at a handy 1750-2500rpm, and the 125kW of power at 4200rpm. Acceleration to 100km/h is hardly blistering at 8.9 seconds, and the top speed sits well below the rest of the A6 range at 218km/h.The 2.7-litre benefits from its 400Nm of torque coming in at 1400rpm – a level getting closer to those usually seen driving 18 wheels than four – and digging in there until 3500rpm, while the 140kW of power arrives in a fairly narrow band between 3500-4400rpm. It takes a full second less than the 2.0-litre to hit 100km/h and manages a top speed of 277km/h.At $74,500 and 5.8l/100km, the smaller diesel gets the full LCT–free tick — and an approving nod for emissions at 153gm/km — while the 6.4l/100km larger-engined one pays the whack only on the difference between the dollar bar of $75,000 and its $84,500 price tag, and still does well with emissions at 169gm/km.Audi has done well with its TDI engines, increasing sales across all models by more than 500 per year over the past three years, and they’re on track to do the same for 2009. The new A6 arrivals will lend a hand with that job, with Audi expecting each to take up 10 per cent of sales.Audi A6 2.0 TDI Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder dieselPower: 125kW @ 4200rpmTorque: 350Nm @ 1750-2500Transmission: continuously-variable ‘multitronic’ automaticPerformance: 0-100km/h 8.9 secs, top speed 218km/hEmissions: 153gm/kmAudi A6 2.7 TDI Engine: 2.7-litre turbocharged V6 dieselPower: 140kW @ 3500-4400rpmTorque: 400Nm @ 1400-3500Transmission: continuously-variable ‘multitronic’ automaticPerformance: 0-100km/h 7.9 secs, top speed 277km/hEmissions: 169gm/km

When it comes to playing the numbers, six has become a powerful figure for Audi.The alternative German brand has been one of the real stars in the sales race this year, helped by offering an almost royal flush of interesting and refreshed models, from the baby A3 to the mid-sized A4 and A5, and the prestige entries, the A6 and A8.While the A8 is simply superb, the more affordable A6 is the one that has, with this latest version at least, given Audi added firepower to finally turn buyers away from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus.Nowadays the luxury market presents a nightmare of choice for those with $120,000 burning in their pocket — yes there are still plenty of them out there. It's especially tough for those not greatly swayed by brand loyalty — those who shop between showrooms.Is the new A6 a quantum leap above say a BMW 5 Series or Benz ageing E-Class? Probably not, but the A6 puts Audi on more of a level playing field; enough for its rivals to be wary.The A6's classic styling, with its distinctive ‘bulls horn’ daytime running lights, is not as hard edged and sporty as the 5 Series but not as soft as the E-Class, so it comfortably sits in middle ground.DrivetrainAn Audi badge may not have the same pull as its German rivals, but the A6 does have an important marketing edge — the existing all-wheel drive traction is now paired with a new and excellent direct petrol injected 3.0-litre supercharged V6, developing 213kW at 4840rpm and 420Nm torque from 2500rpm, with that getting to the wheels via a six-speed sequential automatic.The A6 already had the key building blocks to be a winner: a stylish design, wrapped around a plush and comfortable cabin which can seat four in a high level of comfort. It now steps up a level, with power and performance thanks to the marriage of the supercharged motor and reassuring grip from Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system with a 60:40 bias towards the rear.Equipment While the options list is long and extensive, it nevertheless can depending on your bank balance be kitted out with enough bling to allow an owner to brag for weeks to his or her envious neighbours or golf buddies.But a word of warning if you are shopping for an Audi, BMW or Benz: you need to study carefully at what is or isn't fitted as standard equipment.Audi's test car, naturally, came fully loaded and some of the stuff (although not unique to Audi) I really liked: you don't need to use the key to unlock the doors or fire up the engine — providing you keep the transponder in your pocket. Touch the door handles and the doors unlock almost magically; push the button marked start (obviously) and the V6 fires into life.Even the park brake is electronic, a rear view camera (optional) makes backing a breeze and the central console mounted command system is reasonably logical in the way you can flip from following a street map on the navigation screen to changing stations the audio system.There are some expected items missing from the standard equipment list however. Leather seats are plush and comfortable but on a bitterly cold winter's morning you long for seat warmers. OK, so I'm getting old and soft.And there's no TV, trick rear view camera, adaptive lights, adaptive cruise control, or sunroof.The test car came with Audi's ‘comfort package’ ($4000) which adds electric sunroof, parking system, music interface and smart locking. It also had the S line sports package which lowered the suspension.What you do get for your money is 18-inch alloys, electrics for doors, windows and mirrors, a full-sized spare, full raft of safety equipment, cruise control and basic park assist.Driving It's been about 60 years since Audi fitted a supercharger instead of a turbocharger to its engine.The supercharger has been neatly slotted between the two banks of cylinders and has transformed the A6. Plant your foot and there's a little bit of annoying hesitation but then the saloon really delivers.It's not explosive, but the delivery of power and torque comes on strong and long and the six-speed sequential gearbox is well matched to this engine.All-wheel drive means the Audi has tenacious grip although it feels a little unsteady under high-speed cornering loads. Claimed acceleration is 5.9 seconds for the zero to 100km/h dash — that's the sort of performance from a big banger V8s not that many years ago.Audi says it has made big gains in improving fuel economy; in the quattro's case we returned an average 14.4l/100km for a week of mainly city running which considering the size of the car and that it is running all-wheel drive, is reasonable.Audi A6 TFSI Price: $112,500 plus on-road costsEngine: Supercharged V6; 213kW @4840rpm; 420Nm torque from 2500rpmFuel economy: 14.4l/100km (9.5l/100km claimed)