2011 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. 

A sleeper in Audi's range may awaken following the introduction of a new generation A6 medium large sedan. A6 has never really resonated with buyers in this country who seem to prefer cars from BMW (5-Series) and Mercedes-Benz (E-Class.) That is not to criticise the A6 as past iterations have all been impressive but it just hasn't been on the radar for a fairly select clientele.TECHNOLOGYThe seventh generation A6 deserves a place among its competitors for a whole range of reasons; aluminium space frame chassis/body, quattro all wheel drive, efficient petrol and diesel V6 engines — two force-fed, and a seven-speed dual-clutch `manumatic' auto as standard.The quattro all wheel drive system is a bonus in A6 that none of its competitors can match. It's available here now with a choice of three engines lifted from other Audis.DESIGNThe V6 models (two four cylinder variants will be available soon,) have Audi's sporty S-Line styling treatment with front air intakes, large diameter wheels, a rear diffuser and boot spoiler. All subtly executed of course.It's a shorter car than the previous model but with a longer wheelbase evident in generous rear seat legroom.The car looks glamorous with an arching, coupe like roofline, sharp side shoulder creases and a three dimensional bonnet. Lights are xenon or LED.The wrap around interior is stylish, modern and has a craftsman-built (bespoke) appearance. Options can add considerably to the allure of the interior at a considerable price. One of our test drive cars had the optional Bose audio at $10,700?Audi's brilliant drive select system is standard on all V6 models. It allows drivers to "dial-up" the car's dynamic behaviour through a selection of calibrations to the engine, suspension, steering transmission and stability control systems.Fuel efficiency gains are made through the engine stop/start system on all V6 models.DRIVINGWe drove the two 3.0-litre V6s in New Zealand and really couldn't pick between the two. Both offer superb engine performance and sumptuous luxury right up with the competition. The styling is a bit derivative and it's possible to mistake the new A6 for an A4.It does have real presence on the road and is a glorious consumer of long distances. Two 2.0-litre models will arrive soon, one a petrol turbo and the other a turbodiesel. Both will have CVT auto transmissions and front wheel drive only.AT A GLANCEPrice: from $80,000.Warranty: 3 years/unlimitedService interval: 15,000km/12monthsEngine: TFSi 3.0 supercharged petrol V6, 220kW/440Nm FSi 2.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol V6, 150kW/280Nm.Body: Four-door sedanWeight: 1725kgTransmission: 6-speed tiptronic with DSP (Dynamic Shift Program) and sport program.Thirst: 8.2-litres/100km (TFSi 3.0), 8.0-litres/100km (FSi 2.8)

A new Audi A6 is throwing a punch at the large luxury heavyweights, the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Audi has struggled to lure cashed up customers into its big luxury machines including the A6 and even larger A8 in Australia, but is confident this new model will convince many when it arrives in July.The new car is more spacious and 80kg lighter than the last thanks to the extensive use of aluminium. It has a range of remarkably efficient engines, while there is a lot of fresh technology. Audi has followed BMW and added heads-up display feature, which projects information such as the speed onto the bottom of the windscreen, and will also offer a squiggle pad data entry system, which allows you to draw letters and numbers to control items such as the satellite navigation.VALUEAudi is yet to lock in pricing for the new A6, but don't expect it to shift too far from the current position. That means the range will likely start off at close to $90,000, although a more affordable version could well be added later.TECHNOLOGYThere will be three engines to choose from to start off with, including two petrol units and a diesel, but history suggests a smaller cheaper diesel engine will come, as will a hot V8 version. All three of the initial engines use stop/start technology, which kills the engine when you pull up to a stop and fires it up again when you are ready to go.The entry level engine is a 2.8-litre V6 with 150 kiloWatts and 280 Newton-metres of torque. It has an official fuel economy uses 8 litres per 100km and an emissions rating of 187 grams per kilometre.The other petrol powerplant is a 3.0-litre V6 with a supercharger nestled on top and it produces an impressive 220kW and 440Nm of torque. Its fuel consumption is better than you might expect, with an official average of just 8.2L/100km and emissions rating of 190g/km.The diesel is a 3.0-litre turbo V6 with 180kW and 500Nm. It uses very little fuel, with an economy average of just 6L/100km and emissions of 158g/km.All models run Audi's Quattro constant all-wheel drive system and a seven speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.DESIGNThe A6 looks like a shrunken A8 limo. It has a hunkered down appearance with narrow headlights and tail lights stretched to give it a wide and imposing look. Like other Audis, the front end is still dominated by a big grille while Audi has added some extra bling with LED driving lights.SAFETYAs the price tag suggests, there is a huge amount of safety gear in the A6 including a full suite of airbags and electronic stability control. Optional systems include a special radar cruise control system that can bring the car to an emergency halt if the vehicle in front stops suddenly. There is also a thermal imaging night vision system that highlights pedestrians in red to warn the driver.DRIVINGA test drive on the tough roads of Sicily quickly reveals there is lot to like about the new A6. In many ways, it feels just like a shrunken down version of the bigger A8 luxury limo. The interior looks great, as is the case with most Audis, and its classy mix of understated design and top quality woodgrain and chrome-look trim matches the price of the car.Audi has done a very good job with the engines. The base 2.8-litre non-turbo V6 is a surprise and actually seemed to get along pretty well. It does better than the numbers suggest and is quite smooth too. The supercharged 3.0-litre V6 is a potent engine and turns the A6 into a very fast car indeed. That said, it doesn't sound fast or exciting. The diesel is the most sensible, with lots of pulling power and super economy. It rattles, like any diesel, but the pay-off is in the way it responds to your right foot.The seven-speed dual clutch automatic is an effective transmission in general with nice quick changes. Only every now and again does it get caught out and thump when shifting. It is very quiet in the cabin apart from some tyre roar on some surfaces and there is also a fair amount interior space.The ride is comfortable, even on some of Sicily's rougher roads. As for the handling, well, the A6 isn't really a very involving car and is not as fun to drive fast as a BMW 5 Series.The steering is light and lacks feel. The air suspension on the cars we drove was too soft, which also hurt its ability to change direction in hurry. A run in a car with regular steel spring suspension showed it is a much better solution for sporty driving, but also remains comfortable.VERDICTNot the sportiest car in its class, but has a lot else going for it including comfort, elegant design and a whole range of trick luxury features.AUDI A6 Price: TBCEngines: 2.8-litre V6 with direct injection and dual overhead camshafts, 3.0-litre supercharged V6 with direct injection and dual overhead camshafts and 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 with direct injection and dual overhead camshaftsOutput: 150kW at 5250-6500revs and 280Nm at 5250-6500revs (2.8), 220kW at 5250-6500revs and 440Nm at 2900-4500revs (3.0) and 180kW at 4000-4500revs and 500Nm at 1400-3250revs (3.0 diesel)Economy: 8 litres per 100km (2.8), 8.2L/100km (3.0) and 6L/100km (3.0 diesel)Emissions: 187 grams per kilometre (2.8), 190g/km (3.0) and 158g/km (3.0 diesel)