2021 Audi A6 Reviews

They all reflect a relentless drive to challenge Mercedes and BMW for prestige-class honours, and they do it with style and driving enjoyment.The most obvious change is the new grille on the latest models, and nothing reflects it better than the all-new mid-sized A6.Carmakers often talk about the need to pass the "100m test", so people know their car when they see it coming down the road.The Mazda MX-5, which is set for a makeover in less than a week, is an example of keeping the overall impact but changing the details.Audi went all the way with the A6, installing a confronting grille that means the car could easily pass a 500m test.And it is going to be on everything it produces, starting with the new A4 being previewed in Australia this week and including that crucial all-wheel-drive.The nose means you always know when a new A6 is around.It makes the car easy to find in a car park.But the body change is more than just a grille. The smooth lines and sweeping curves provide an instant contrast to the chunky look of the latest BMWs.Audi says the latest A6 was developed as an executive express. Its key word for the car could have been smooth. It has a smooth body, a smooth cabin and smooth engines.The price is a little lumpy. The starting sticker tops $80,000 and a V8-powered top-end model is more than $150,000, but the cars are great value in their class.The new A6 is larger than the previous car, which means plenty of cabin space and a giant boot, even without folding the back seats flat.But Audi has emphasised the car's luxury position by shaping the rear seat for two comfortable adults, not three kids.The mechanical package is an up-to-date reflection of the latest work at Audi. Engine choices are from a 2.4-litre V6 with 130kW to a 4.2-litre V8 with 246kW and a breakthrough V6 diesel (pictured top right) that Audi believes will boom in coming years.Customers can get an A6 with front-wheel-drive, but its signature quattro all-wheel-drive will be the popular choice.The car has electronic systems for traction control, stability and anti-skid braking, as well as a continuously variable automatic gearbox and six-speed auto with tiptronic control.Safety gear matches the best in the business. It has a five-star safety cell, airbags for both front passengers, a giant side airbag for head protection and separate bags for rear passengers.The luxury gear is just what you'd expect in the size and price class, from leather-and-wood trim to CD sound, satellite navigation, a television tuner and phone kit, electric seats and all the usual electric assistance gear.Audi also has the latest version of its computer command centre, the MMI. It is, as always, much easier to use and much more useful than the iDrive controller in a BMW.

It really is a gem and makes the car an absolute pleasure to drive, with plenty of torque on tap whenever you want.It's the same V8 that sits in Audi's luxurious A8 limo. In terms of price, it¿s a big hop up to the V8 which is at least $50,000 more than any other model in the A6 lineup.The good news, however, is that if you are in the market for a Audi V8, it's still $50,000 less than the 4.2-litre A8.This means, with the pocket change you can afford to buy an A3 or an A4 as a runaround.Mind you, after driving the superb V8 Quattro model, you're simply not going to want to drive anything else. You may not want to drive any other car ever again. The 4.2-litre V8 produces a thumping 246kW of power and 420Nm of torque.It can catapult the notinsubstantial A6 from rest to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.That's pretty quick but it is the snappy and unfussed, almost effortless, way in which the car does it that is most impressive.The V8 is mated to a six-speed tiptronic transmission with DSP (dynamic shift program) and sport program.You can change gears manually (minus the clutch) but trust me when I say that the transmission will spend most of its time in the Sport position where it is at its most responsive.With six cogs to play with, the A6 is never found wanting for power.It seems to anticipate the wishes of the driver an instant before he or she reaches for the lever.As well as the shifter, change paddles have been added to the steering wheel so the driver has many options. The driver also has the ability to slip seamlessly from fully automatic mode to manual simply by clicking the paddle.Transmitting power to the ground is Audi's Quattro allwheel-drive system, backed up by an electronic stabilisation program (ESP), ASR traction control and electronic differential lock (EDL).The brakes are spectacularly good and need to be with a car of this calibre.This car competes against BMW's 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but for our money is better than both.The finish is first rate, there's plenty of cabin space and the boot is enormous.What more could you want?Our only quibbles concern the touchy feel the car has when parking.It is difficult to nudge up close to cars in front and the brakes grab with a jerk.The Audi A6 is priced from $83,900, but if you want the V8 it is going to set you back $151,950.Optional on other models but standard on the V8 are Audi's advanced key access and driving authorisation (you don't have to take the key out of your pocket), adaptive xenon headlights with cornering lights and a fabulous BOSE surround sound system, including DVD navigation with a TV tuner.

Not any more.New-technology diesel engines have been developed which offer masses of torque, really good performance and economy which far outstrips petrol engines.Australian car buyers have been slow to embrace diesel power – in contrast to European car makers who sell them in international telephone numbers.Even Jaguar is rushing diesel engines into its range in a bid to catch up with other luxury brands which have offered oil burners for years.Audi has had diesel engines in its Euro line-up for some considerable time. The brand introduced a diesel engine in Australia as an alternative to petrol with the all-road crossover vehicle.Now Audi has added a new-age, turbocharged diesel to its new A6 range.The three-litre TDI offers significantly better fuel economy than the 2.4-litre and three-litre V6 petrol-engined A6.The diesel model out-drags both petrol models up to 100km/h. And it generates 450Nm of torque – 30Nm more than the 420Nm from the 4.2-litre V8 in the range-topping Quattro.Audi says statutory testing of the diesel A6 indicates overall fuel consumption of 8.3 litres/100km. Unofficial local testing shows the TDI will travel more than 1000km on a single tank of 80 litres of diesel.The take-up rate of diesel engines has not been helped in the past by a hefty cost premium of vehicles. Many motorists who have considered diesel engines have calculated it would take up to seven years to recoup the additional purchase price. Audi has addressed that inhibiting factor by pricing the A6 TDI Quattro at $95,700 – just $1900 more than the A6 Quattro with a three-litre petrol engine. Even though diesel fuel is costing up to 10c a litre more than petrol, the payback would be less than two years – depending on mileage, of course.Little wonder Audi is aiming the TDI at young enthusiast drivers who want genuine performance plus tonnes of torque to tow boats or trailer-loads of leisure equipment.The TDI is certainly a remarkable addition to the A6 line-up and Audi has every right to expect it will account for 30 per cent of total sales.The heart of the model is, of course, the direct-injection common-rail diesel. It features four valves per cylinder, advanced electronic mapping, seven-hole injectors and turbocharger. Exhaust gases are cooled and recirculated to ensure maximum power is extracted from every litre and pollution meets the strict European standards.The diesel motor comes coupled with six-speed Tiptronic transmission which can be controlled by steering-wheel paddles, the usual push-pull feature on a sequential box or in fully automatic mode.The driveline includes permanent all-wheel drive, electronic stability program and traction control.The TDI has a 0-100km/h sprint in just 7.3 seconds and when kick-down is used in the mid-ranges, the car has a power surge which is truly exceptional. Yet there is nothing harsh or aggressive about the manner the A6 goes through its act.It remains poised, powerful and precise, beautifully balanced and super responsive.Even when maximum throttle is used, up-changes are difficult to detect and there is a failsafe feature which stops the driver from engaging a lower gear manually when engine speeds are too high. Every facet of the car, in fact, is contrary to diesels of old.Mercedes-Benz and BMW would not offer diesels if they did not match the sophistication and soul of their petrol range.Neither would Jaguar – and neither does Audi.The V8 A6 is a wonderful machine, the TDI will be considered the pick for many.The 2.4 front-drive entry model is attractive at $83,900, while the TDI at $95,700 is high value indeed. If one accepts that diesel engines will grow dramatically in popularity over the coming years, the retained value could add to the long-term appeal.Whichever engine is specified, the A6 looks destined to do big things for Audi's reputation and standing in relation to the Big Two German competitors. The new single-frame radiator grille gives the new model an identity boost which the four-circle badge has not quite managed to achieve.Audi never sets out to bend metal this way or that just to get its new models noticed, electing instead to opt for smooth, elegant, minimal lines.There is the implication of standing and sophistication rather than any bold statement.And so the A6 may not be readily recognisable as a new shape. But when lined up with the former model, changes are quite striking. The car is 12cm longer, 4.5cm wider and the wheelbase has been stretched by 8.3cm, numbers which give designers the scope to add dramatically to the head, leg and shoulder room.The height remains the same, allowing stylists to achieve a broad footprint and athletic look.The cabin has been totally revised, with a high and wide centre console accommodating all the controls and instruments for ease of reach and reference. Audi's suspension know-how is reflected in the smooth ride while the chassis setup is firm enough to ensure there is very little body movement, resulting in impeccable handling.Those who want even greater dynamics can opt for extra-cost sports suspension.The A6 comes with an electro-mechanical braking system. One touch activates the system at traffic lights, then any pressure on the fly-by-wire throttle releases the brakes.It is just one of the many smart features which makes the A6 such a threat to the Mercedes E-Class and BMW's 5 Series.The list of standard items model-by-model is long and impressive – the farther buyers go up the range, the more kit comes as standard.But most finery available on higher-priced A6s can be optioned on the entry model – at a price.In sum, a genuine upmarket range which is well worth a place in the executive class.The A6 is larger than a medium-sized car. And Audi has done such a superb job upgrading the range, one wonders how the brand is going to get customers to pay the extra for a high-luxury A8.

Europeans have transcended this bias fully grasping the diesel to the extent where Euro carmakers spend most of their engine development budgets on diesels.They use less fuel, last longer and pollute less.Audi is at the forefront of passenger car diesel technology and has a brace of turbo oil burners that would make other manufacturers green with envy. The 2.5 V6 in Allroad is impressive, the 2.0 four in A3 is extraordinary but the 165kW/450Nm 3.0 V6 in A6 is sensational.Here is an engine that will deliver around 1000km on a tankful, has more torque than the 4.2-litre petrol V8 and runs sweetly and smoothly while propelling the big A6 like a sports saloon. There really is no down side apart from getting that repulsive smell on your hands at the bowser. Wear gloves and besides, you won't have to make many visits.The A6 diesel ain't cheap at just on 100 grand but it feels like the sort of car you could buy now and keep for 20 years.Average that out.This is the new big grille A6, something I was initially not keen on.I have changed my mind and now think it's a positive feature – imposing, majestic even and still with a distinctive Audi look.The rest of the vehicle is new too, again with those classy Audi lines now with a more "technical" edge.It commands plenty of attention on the road.Inside is typically sleek and extremely well executed featuring a sweeping dash with smooth lines and integrated console, beautiful use of colour and texture, function – among the best in the business.Pretty well nothing is left out of the car in terms of features but there would certainly be options available. Plenty of high tech electronic goodies populate the interior.It rolls on 17in wheels with low profile rubber and has a firm, sporty ride. Some may not like this aspect of the car. The steering is similarly sporty, firm and direct.Drive is by all wheel drive quattro through a six speed automatic offing tiptronic selection through various devices.Numerous electronic dynamic controls aid handling and safety. ESP is included in the package. It selectively brakes each wheel to avoid skidding.Engine performance is strong with heaps of torque instantly available and strong acceleration across the range.The auto is smooth and willing and apart from some rumbling at idle, you could be driving the 3.0-litre petrol V6.The hand brake is electrically operated and the lights and wipers have auto on function.I couldn't figure out how to turn off the aircon. Technology challenged I suppose.

There I was, driving at 100km/h in cruise control travelling north along the M1 listening to Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here at ridiculously loud but clear decibels on the 10-speaker Bose sound system in an Audi A6.I had been sucked into the aural landscapes being painted by Pink Floyd and did not notice the 70km/h sign as the road peeled off to become the Gateway.Here the road narrows and sweeps through a concrete canyon that tips most cars on their springs and provokes tyre howl unless you slow down.No such dramas with the all-paw A6. I had passed through and out the other side and back into the 100km/h zone before I had noticed what I had done.There are other A6s in the line-up. But why bother when you can have a thumping big V8 under your bonnet?This 4.2-litre unit has 246 kilowatts on hand as you hit 6600rpm and the blue lights are closing in. But the more usable 420Nm of torque comes in at a much handier and community conscious 3500rpm.Some people just love the howl of a fully wound-up V8 and I would have to put my hand up and say I'm one of them.For a sedate-looking saloon, it really has a naughty side – a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing.The new A6 line is longer, wider, roomier than its predecessor. It looks like a long, fat car belonging to a long, fat diplomat.But plant your foot and it yields all that proud Audi racing heritage.On the road, the A6 is quiet and smooth, but with a suspension on the sportier side for a big saloon. Together with Audi's famous all-paw quattro, the limits of adhesion can only be found under high G forces on a racetrack.The A6 range features refined dynamic suspension, speed-related servotronic steering, a host of airbags and active head restraints, an electromechanical parking brake that automatically disables when you drive off, fog lights, adaptive cornering headlights, a light and rain sensor in the rear-view mirror and Bose 10-speaker surround-sound system.It also sports that opinion-dividing open-mouth grille resembling the GT Bentley or Maybach. It only looks right with a long, thin Euro plate available through Personalised Plates Queensland.If the V8's gentle purr at idle and menacing growl at full revs becomes tiring, you can always turn up that Bose system for one of the best sounds you will hear outside your living room.

If the company cannot break into the luxury car segment in Australia with a vehicle of the calibre of the new A6, then it has no right calling itself a premium brand, says caretaker manager Wayne Griffiths.Mr Griffiths was speaking on the eve of the car's launch in Sydney, an occasion marked by the resignation of Audi Australia boss Graham Hardy who is leaving to pursue a career with parent company Volkswagen.The announcement follows close on the heels of the resignation of Volkswagen Australia boss Peter Nochar.Sales of both company's cars have been below the expectations of their parent company.The luxury car market is unusual in Australia because it is dominated by just two brands – Benz and BMW.The rest of the pie is divided between a sprinkling of other makes, Audi among them.It must be a bitter pill for the German company to swallow, especially as it manages to outsell BMW in its hometown.That said Audi might just be on to a winner with the new A6, although it must be said that it is up against some stiff competition in the form of BMW's new 5 Series and the Benz E Class.Until now the nondescript A6 has puttered along, barely distinguishable from the the smaller A4 and chalking up modest sales of about 200 cars a year.In stark contrast to the old A6 the new model has broad muscular lines, with a deep, dominant Jaguar style front grille.The large, trapezoidal shaped grille signals a distinct change in direction for the future design of all the company's models.At the rear of the car twin tailpipes flank a black cut out section not unlike the rear apron of the new Holden Monaro.On diesel models the tailpipes turn towards the ground, no doubt to keep soot from soiling the paintwork.From the side the profile is poised and sporty, with a short, pert upraised rump.Large alloys and plenty of rubber fill the guards which are perhaps not as pronounced as previous models.The new A6 comes with a choice of 2.4 or 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines, a 4.2-litre V8 or a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel.The V6 is unfortunately not the new hi-tech 184kW 3.2-litre FSi engine that Audi had been hoping for (our low grade fuel has seen to that).But, regardless, the diesel is clearly the pick of the bunch, with 165kW of power and 450Nm of torque from a low 1400rpm.With the ability to zip from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds, you can have your cake and eat it too with this one.Yet again Audi has demonstrated that diesel is just as good as petrol, even better really with its superior torque.We like the stronger lines of the new A6 and continue to wonder why Audi has not been more successful here?The build quality of the cars is certainly on par with anything from Benz and BMW.We have been able to sample all three engines at the launch and can report all perform well.The 130kW 2.4-litre engine is adequate in most circumstances and cruises just easily as either of the others.The larger 3.0-litre V6 offers better performance but is really just warming the seat for the 3.2-litre FSi.The V8 is of course the consummate performer with its unmistakable burble, but commands a steep premium.Prices for the A6 start from $83,900, topping out at $151,950 for the V8 Quattro model.