Audi A6 2005 Review

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.