Audi A6 2012 review

The A6 was akin to being Audi's middle child, lost between the A4 and the A8 and not quite fitting in with the other kiddies. That should change with this car, which is a solid step in the right direction and should go a long way to turning its lack-lustre resale performance around. 

VALUE

It's not cheap at a $93,900 list price (or $101,940 as tested) and those user-choosers looking to lease are going to double-take at the retained value figures - Glass's says its 36 per cent and Audi says it's in the mid-40s - but for a vehicle aimed at the exec fleet it's food for thought. 

That said, the new A6 has no shortage of gear, but you'd expect a fair bit when the price hovers around six figures. 

The entry-level quattro model gets an electric parking brake, cruise control, 18in alloys, anti-dazzle mirrors, a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, xenon headlights with dusk and rain sensing function, keyless entry and start, sports steering wheel with myriad buttons for the trip computer, dual-zone climate control, sound system, satnav (all of which is displayed on the slide `n' pop screen in the centre of the dash), leather-trimmed electrically-adjustable front pews and a Bluetooth link for the phone. 

The Bluetooth also sometimes even connects up to the excellent sound system - if you're using an iPhone for sound as well, don't always expect an easy time connecting it - download your entire iPod into the hard drive, it'll be easier. 

Sound buffs have the option of going for Bose surround sound with 14 speakers (for $1950) or the Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker surround sound system for $12,340. 

There's no shortage of other options on offer - the test car had the adaptive headlight system (which costs $1400), rear parking sensors and a camera adds $960 and the grey-pearl paint (through some quirk in the way the options are configured) adds $5680 - stick with the standard colours.

TECHNOLOGY 

The A6 is powered by a 2.8-litre alloy naturally-aspirated V6 that has direct injection and a variable valve timing and lift system to make the most of the premium 95RON unleaded. The result is 150kW (a 12kW loss over the old 2.8) and 280Nm, which doesn't sound like much for a 1680kg sedan. 

But it's enough and thanks to a start-stop fuel saving system it claims 8 litres of fuel per 100km - a litre better than the (lighter-weight) old model; our stint resulted in 10.2. 

The A6 drives via a seven-speed twin-clutch automated manual and all-wheel drive, which can vary the torque-split but normally sends 60 per cent to the rear and 40 per cent forward. 

The A6 also gets Audi's drive select dynamic handling system - which tweaks steering, throttle and automatic transmission's behaviour to suit different desires, or there are the options of adaptive air suspension and dynamic steering.

DESIGN

This is a big German sedan but it's lighting package and sharp lines make it a handsome machine that is close in looks to the A8. Audi says its got aluminium a-plenty within the new sedan's construction, which 4915mm in length (a little shorter than the outgoing car), with a 2912mm wheelbase (69mm longer), 1874mm wide and 1455mm tall - a few millimetres shorter and lower. 

The cabin is functional and comfortable, with the broad, sweeping dashboard a busy but decipherable for the driver. The luggage space is 530 litres, which also has the benefit of folding rear seat back rests to boost space to 995 litres.

SAFETY

Five stars is fast becoming the norm for many brands and Audi is up there - dual front, front and rear side airbags and a full-length curtain airbag come into play if the anti-lock brakes (with electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist), stability and traction control fail to help you avoid the impact in the first place.

DRIVING

Reading through the specs, there's not much that's jumps out and bodes well for the A6, but the car is better than the final equation suggests. The 2.8 is flexible - if no fireball - and while it sounds like it's working hard when demands are made, overall the V6 is a quiet and frugal powerplant, particularly given the size of car it is conveying. 

Enough room front and back for four normal-sized adults, a good-sized boot and most of the de riguer mod-cons, mean this is no bare-bones econobox. 

The ride is, as with most Audis, firm but not harsh, although the target audience might find day-to-day commuting a bit of a chore on what can only be described as third-rate Aussie roads - tick the option for the $4160 adaptive air suspension if you require something closer to a boulevarde ride. 

Point to point running through the hills can be swift, quiet and unfussed, with the back-up of all-wheel drive if conditions deteriorate, but the small V6 is not going to give the quattro system any cause for concern in terms of breaking traction under power. 

The electromechanical steering is light and accurate but dead for feel, something that probably doesn't bother those shelling out for the 2.8. The twin-clutch gearbox is smooth and quick most of the time, although it had moments of indecision and responded with a big thump when a quick departure from standstill was asked for (even without the start-stop delay, which at the time was disabled).

That fuel-saver system is , which was quick in its speed of re-ignition - the brake pedal pressure didn't need full release and it was running again. The multi-media system has good quality sound is for the most part easy to navigate using Audi's knob-twirl controller, but the touch-pad is only worth using if you're left-handed and the arguments between the Bluetooth, the sound system and the iPhone 4's iPod function were annoying.

VERDICT 

A quiet cruiser for the execu-set looking for Germanically frugal, regal motoring in something other than a Beemer or a Merc. Time will tell if the new model makes resale retention inroads but the A6 deserves to be seriously considered.

Audi A6 2.8 FSI

Price:from $93,900
Warranty: 3 years, unlimited km
Resale: 36% Source: Glass's Guide
Service Interval: 25,000km or 12-months
Economy: 8 l/100km, on test 10.2, tank 75 litres; 187g/km CO2
Safety: Equipment 8 airbags, ABS, EBD, stability and traction control. Crash rating 5 star
Engine: 150kW/280Nm 2.8-litre direct-injection petrol V6 with variable valve system
Transmission: seven-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Body: 4-door, 5 seats
Dimensions: 4927mm (L); 1874mm (W); 1465mm (H); 2921mm (WB)
Weight: 1680kg
Tyre: Size 245/45 R18. Space saver