2007 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 was one of the better ideas to come out of the rush to cash in on the crossover boom, which hit the automotive industry almost a decade ago.At a time when the common option for a family wanting a weekend 'get away,' or annual holidays was a substantial four-wheel-drive, Audi came to the party with something practical and clever.The Allroad held enormous promise and represented the upper end of a segment dominated by Subaru. A practical family wagon with enough off-road and soft-road ability to take the average city slicker into country, they could describe as adventurous to workmates on Monday morning.With about 1000 sales in Australia between 2000 and 2005 the original Allroad was not a huge success, but it did pay its way and offered good value for anyone shopping the top end of the market for the Aussie dream of escaping to the bush.It is therefore, more than a little ironic that the 'improved' second generation of the Allroad fails the Federal Government's test of what constitutes a four-wheel-drive under the tariff regime. The head office designers have done Audi no favours in Australia with the lower-riding, longer wheel-based new Allroad, unable to meet enough of the 4WD criteria to qualify for the lower 5 per cent import duty.The upshot is the Allroad's price has shot up by $21,000 to $106,000, and that's the basic package. Options such as satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone, reversing camera, sunroof, upgraded leather, iPod compatability and a voice activation system can lift the price beyond $110,000.All of that in no way stops the Allroad from being a good idea.Stylistically the Allroad is a more adventurous A6 Avant. There are some extra bulges in the exterior cladding, neat aluminium roof rails, an Allroad badge and not a lot else to set it apart to the casual observer.Watch closely and you may catch it rising and falling on the adjustable air-suspension, something that set the original Allroad apart.Step into the cabin and you could be in almost any of Audi's large passenger cars. The cabin is roomy and light, the leather seats comfortable and well bolstered.In keeping with the A6 in general the instruments are well placed and easy to read. Audi's command centre control system, a simpler and more intuitive version of BMW's ground-breaking i-Drive, bringing most of the main control functions easily to hand. Sound system, navigation, suspension settings and phone are all just a click or a twist away.Twin dual-stage front airbags, side bags for front and rear passengers and Audi's sideguard curtain airbag offer a strong passive safety comfort. A full complement of electronic safety systems includes stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes and the Quattro all-wheel-drive complete the active safety story.Four 17-inch alloys are standard fit but the spare is just a space-saver. Space for the rear passengers is generous if travelling four-up, less so with a third across the rear.Load space is generous without being excessive. With the rear seats in place there is ample room for luggage for four, the clever rails system in the floor of the luggage compartment offers a variety of options for fixing or steadying any load. Fold the rear seats down and load capacity is out to 1660 litres. Rear access is aided by electronic opening and closing of the tailgate.The air-suspension offers five settings ranging from 125mm to 185mm clearance. They can be set manually but will adjust automatically when speed and road conditions exceed factory settings. The damper settings adjust automatically in concert with the ride heights.Around town and on the open road the settings and adjustments are both subtle and supple. Ride varies from plush to a little floaty at higher speeds but is never unacceptable.Stability and grip from the Quattro system is superb, let down only slightly by steering that is a little remote and light when pushing on. However, in city traffic and carparks that same lightness is a blessing when manoeuvring this large car.So far so good, but it is where the Allroad could have fallen down that it really excels. Too often a good package is spoilt by an inadequate or inappropriate engine. Happily, that is not the case with this Audi.The 3.0-litre TDI is a gem and as good as it is in the hulking Q7, it stands apart in the lighter (1800kg) Allroad. The engine's 171kW gives enough power for top speed and cruising capability, but it is the V6's 450Nm of torque that is the key to the pleasure you get from this oil-burner.At anything over 1400rpm the urge through the all-wheel-drive is little short of manic and doesn't start to go away until you cross 3250rpm. Controlling that torque is Audi's six-speed tiptronic transmission, which without fuss keeps the meat of the torque curve engaged. It is good enough that after a couple of experiments with the manual shifters, most owners will not bother with anything but full automatic.It is nothing unusual but you will not see fuel economy approaching the 8.8 litres per 100km claimed by Audi. Mostly driven in the city and with a good lashing of enthusiasm, the test car returned an average of 10.2 litres per 100km, still acceptable for such a substantial vehicle. The Bottom LineStylish, practical and expensive. It is a shame many potential buyers will turn away from the Allroad to other, less city-friendly options to pocket a substantial saving.Snapshot Price: $106,000Engine: 3.0L V6 turbo diesel; 171kW, 450NmTransmission: 6-speed tiptronicEconomy: 10.2L/100km (as tested), 8.8L/100km (claimed) The RivalsSubaru TribecaPrice: $60,990 (3.0R Premium 7-seat)Engine: 3.0L/6-cylinder; 180kW, 297NmTransmission: 5-speed autoEconomy: 12.4L/100km BMW X5 3.0d autoPrice: $86,800Engine: 3.0L/6 cyl turbo diesel; 150kW, 480NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 9.4L/100km VOLVO XC90 D5Price: $72,950Engine: 2.4L/5 cyl turbo diesel; 136kW, 400NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 9.0L/100km 

It was one of the better ideas to come out of the rush to cash in on the crossover boom which hit the automotive industry almost a decade ago. At a time when the common option for a family wanting to “get away” at weekends or for the annual holidays was a substantial four-wheel-drive — substantial in the manner of a Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol or Mitsubishi Pajero — Audi came to the party with something practical and clever.The Allroad held enormous promise and represented the upper end of a segment dominated by Subaru, a practical family wagon with enough off-road and soft-road ability to take the average city slicker into country they could describe as adventurous to workmates on Monday morning.With about 1000 sales in Australia between 2000 and 2005 the original Allroad was not a huge success but it did pay its way and offered good value for anyone shopping the top end of the market for the Aussie dream of escaping to the bush.It is therefore more than a little ironic that the “improved” second generation of the Allroad fails the Australian Government's test of what constitutes a four-wheel-drive under the tariff regime. The head-office designers have done Audi no favours in Australia with the lower-riding, longer wheel-based new Allroad unable to meet enough of the 4WD criteria — approach angle, breakover angle and running clearance — to qualify for the lower 5 per cent import duty.The upshot is that the Allroad's price has shot up by $21,000 — not all of it duty-related — to $106,000, and that is for the basic package. Options such as satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone, reversing camera, sunroof, upgraded leather, iPod compatability and a voice activation system can easily lift the price beyond $110,000.All of that in no way stops the Allroad from being a good idea — and a well-executed one at that.Stylistically the Allroad is a more adventurous A6 Avant. There are some extra bulges in the exterior cladding, a set of neat aluminium roof rails, an Allroad badge and not a lot else to set it apart to the casual observer.Watch closely and you may catch it rising and falling on the adjustable air-suspension — something that set the original Allroad apart.Step into the cabin and you could be in almost any of Audi's large passenger cars — a point decidedly in favour of the Allroad. The cabin is roomy and light, the leather seats comfortable and well bolstered.In keeping with the A6 in general the instruments are well placed and easy to read. Audi's command centre control system — a simpler and more intuitive version of BMW's ground-breaking i-Drive — brings most of the main control functions easily to hand. Sound system, navigation, suspension settings and phone are all just a click or a twist away.Twin dual-stage front airbags, side bags for front and rear passengers and Audi's sideguard curtain airbag offer a strong passive safety comforter. A full complement of electronic safety systems including stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes and the Quattro all-wheel-drive complete the active safety story.Four 17-inch alloys are standard fit but the spare is a space-saver — another disappointment. Space for the rear passengers is generous if travelling four-up, less so if you want to fit a third across the rear.Load space is generous without being excessive. With the rear seats in place there is ample room for luggage for four and the clever rails system in the floor of the luggage compartment offers a variety of options for fixing or steadying any load. Fold the rear seats down and load capacity is out to 1660 litres, which is comparable to other similar-sized wagons.Rear access is aided by electronic opening and closing of the tailgate.The air-suspension offers five settings ranging from 125mm to 185mm clearance. They can be set manually but will adjust automatically when speed and road conditions exceed factory settings. The damper settings adjust automatically in concert with the ride heights.Around town and on the open road the settings and adjustments are both subtle and supple. Ride varies from plush to a little floaty at higher speeds but is never unacceptable.Stability and grip from the Quattro system is superb, let down only slightly by steering that is a little remote and light when pushing on. However, in city traffic and carparks that same lightness is a blessing when manoeuvring this large car.So far so good, but it is where the Allroad could have fallen down that it really excels. Too often a good package is spoilt by an inadequate or inappropriate engine. Happily, that is not the case with this Audi.The 3.0-litre TDI is an absolute gem and as good as it is in the hulking Q7, it stands apart in the lighter (1800kg) Allroad. The engine's 171kW gives adequate power for top speed and cruising capability, but it is the V6's 450Nm of torque that is the key to the enjoyment you will get from this wonderful oil-burner.At anything over 1400rpm the urge through the all-wheel-drive is little short of manic and doesn't start to go away until you cross 3250rpm. Controlling that torque is Audi's six-speed tiptronic transmission which without fuss keeps the meat of the torque curve engaged. It is good enough that after a couple of experiments with the manual shifters, most owners will not bother with anything but full automatic. It is nothing unusual but you will not see fuel economy approaching the 8.8 litres per 100km claimed by Audi.Mostly driven in the city and with a good lashing of enthusiasm, the test car returned an average of 10.2 litres per 100km, still very acceptable figures for such a substantial vehicle. The Bottom LineStylish, practical and expensive. It is a shame that many potential buyers will turn away from the Allroad to other, less city-friendly options to pocket a substantial saving.   Snapshot Audi A6 Allroad QuattroPrice: $106,000Engine: 3.0L V6 turbo diesel; 171kW, 450NmTransmission: 6-speed tiptronicEconomy: 10.2L/100km (as tested), 8.8L/100km (claimed) The RivalsSubaru TribecaPrice: $60,990 (3.0R Premium 7-seat)Engine: 3.0L/6-cylinder; 180kW, 297NmTransmission: 5-speed autoEconomy: 12.4L/100km BMW X5 3.0d autoPrice: $86,800Engine: 3.0L/6 cyl turbo diesel; 150kW, 480NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 9.4L/100km Volvo XC90 D5Price: $72,950Engine: 2.4L/5 cyl turbo diesel; 136kW, 400NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 9.0L/100km

Audi already offers some of these elements separately in other models, but in this one, it all comes together. The second-generation allroad sits between the prestige A6 Avant and the larger, luxury SUV, the Q7.And Audi believes that despite some similarities to the other models, it will still find its niche market, with a forecasted 100 sales for the remainder of the year. The price tag alone brings high expectations.Sitting at $106,000, the allroad isn't cheap, and price seems to grow rapidly once options are added. Our test cars were all fitted with other features such as an iPod connection, different leather, reversing camera, satellite navigation and so on, which will add thousands to the price. And considering it is already $20,000 more than the Q7, it is a big step up and for that you expect a lot more.Granted, it does come in cheaper than the 3.2-litre petrol A6 Avant. But it doesn't have the same off-road ability and has a $3000 premium. The 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine is a smooth, quiet performer and you can barely notice it's not a petrol from the inside.The noise, or should I say lack of, doesn't reveal its true identity.The V6 reaches a maximum 171kW and it boasts a torquey engine producing 450Nm from the lower end of the tacho, coming on relatively quickly from 1400rpm to 3250rpm.And with the performance accessed through a very smooth shifting six-speed tiptronic transmission with DSP and sports program, there's no doubt it's a luxury and to a degree, sporty drive.The big difference to the A6 Avant is the adaptive air suspension system. When the conditions change, the suspension adapts. It is activated both automatically, or if you choose, manually. Known as the electronically controlled adaptive air suspension system, it alters the trim height of the body by up to 61 millimetres.It acknowledges the road conditions, speed and driving style and automatically adjusts the control characteristics of the adaptive shock absorbers. In simpler terms, it means there are five modes, which are all pretty self-explanatory. These are dynamic, automatic, comfort, allroad and lift.During the different modes, the body is lowered or raised. As an example, dynamic is like a sports suspension setting, so the body is lowered to a ground clearance of 125mm.And you really notice the difference when taking control of the system and manually adjusting. The ESP system has also been enhanced to be more suitable for off-road use.Quattro all-wheel-drive is another feature on the allroad. It splits the torque between the front and rear axles in a 50/50 distribution, with a bias to the rear.The car is also very strong in its stance on the road, with a boosted torsional rigidity.The allroad proved itself this week on a combination of bitumen and dirt roads, although the dirt roads weren't extreme four-wheel-driving tracks and more bumpy conditions and tighter turns might alter the performance. Its luxury presence may not be as well suited to more adventurous tracks.But on the roads we tackled, the allroad handled well at high speeds and was a comfortable drive in terms of ride, setting and appearance. It's like a sibling to the A6 — think the Minogue sisters. You can tell they're related, but each has her own defining character.The allroad is longer, wider and more spacious than its younger relative.The striking front grille on the allroad stands out with a dominant and strong presence, which also gives the car a really muscular impression.This is nicely complemented by the new roof rails in aluminium, newly designed bumpers, flared wheel arches and those sporty looking, large twin-exhaust pipes.The wheels are also slightly larger than the A6 Avant. Audi designs succeed because they're not too much of a “look at me” style. The new allroad follows this line with its subtle, classy design.There's all the comfort you can expect with the interior: cosy leather, sports seats, wood trim and an electronic parking brake, all in the style that mimics the A6 Avant. The entertainment system is very easy to use and incorporates features such as the radio/six disc CD stacker, the viewing for the air suspension, and extras, including the optional navigational system.One downside to the allroad is that it only comes with a space-saver spare. With its off-road abilities, the allroad would make much more sense with a full-size spare.The launch saw one car temporarily sidelined because of a flat. Audi Australia says a full-size spare isn't available at this stage. The previous allroad achieved better sales than originally expected for Audi.There were some 90,000 orders worldwide between 2000 and 2005. About 1000 of those sales were in Australia. This new generation is aimed at “affluent professionals” with a family, who are sporty and adventurous in character. Most buyers are expected to be male, but it is designed to satisfy women as well.The allroad is unique in its character because other luxury manufacturers don't have a model that offers the whole package of off-road and diesel in wagon form. Fast factsAudi A6 Allroad quattroPrice: $106,000Engine: 3.0-litre, V6 turbo diesel, 171kW@4000rpm, 450Nm@1400rpm-3250rpmTransmission: 6-speed tiptronic with DSP and sports program.Fuel: 80-litre tank, 9.8L/100km (as tested), 8.8L/100km (claimed) combinedVerdict: It's all elegance and all style in this luxury wagon, and the best part is you can even get it dirty.