Review: Audi’s A6: German sports sedan spoken here
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We’re all familiar with this saying: “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck….’’
Well, today we’re changing “duck’’ to “German sports sedan.’’
And we’ve come up with something like this: If it looks like a German sports sedan, handles like a German sports sedan, and has the power of a German sports sedan, it ….must be a German sports sedan.
One vehicle that fits that description is today’s test vehicle—a 2016 Audi A6 Prestige Quattro—a midsize, four-door sedan that is a terrific combination of luxury, comfort, handling, performance, and technology.
Is it perfect? No, but more on that later.
This is the car I tried to build almost 20 years ago. I’d found a 1997 Toyota Camry with a rare 3.0-liter V-6 and 5-speed manual transmission. I called it a poor man’s sports sedan, then invested a moderate sum on a factory TRD supercharger, suspension (lowering kit), performance exhaust, and ground effects appearance package.
It was a car I enjoyed for a decade. But it wasn’t anywhere near the A6’s class and refinement.
That was apparent when we took an on ramp to Rte. 495 early this June, and I punched the A6’s accelerator.
The response was perfect. The A6 accelerated quickly, smoothly, quietly, and most important, effortlessly. No surprise there; Audi’s supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 produces 333 horsepower.
That power goes to all four wheels in Audi’s proven Quattro system via a new-for-2016 8-speed automatic transmission.
On a curving road, the A6 handled as effortlessly as it accelerated; its speed-sensing power steering system helped in that regard. It also stopped strongly and smoothly. That pretty much sums up the road-test portion of our story.
With one complaint. The pedals, which didn’t have a height adjustment, were too high for this driver; my right foot kept cramping after a half-hour or so of driving and flexing to swing between gas and brake. That’s a first in 20 years of reviewing cars and it made me yearn for a Ford-like pedal height adjustment button.
It was a strong impetus for using cruise control whenever possible.
Inside, the A6 was a nice mix of first-class materials: leather seats, walnut inlays, and plenty of technology.
OPEN THE DOORS: Inside you’ll be impressed by the quality leather with walnut inlays and by the abundant technology.
All this comes at a price.
The A6’s MSRP (including destination) is $58,325. Add the Prestige package ($4,200), S-line sport package ($1,800), 20-inch black optic package ($1,500), cold-weather package ($500), and optional Florett Silver paint ($550) and you’ve “cha-chinged’’ the bottom line to $66,875.
For that, I’d like to have included the $2,550 Driver Assistance Package that adds adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go feature, lane keeping assist, and collision mitigation with auto braking. It also has much appreciated automatic high-beam headlights and a top-view camera system.
Considering that a vehicle of this quality should have at least a 10-year lifespan and also considering that the industry is moving toward a combination of autonomous driving/guardian angel passive safety systems, I’d want those on this vehicle.
So what is included in the above packages (abridged version)?
Prestige model: head-up display (great clarity); LED headlights (strong); front seat ventilation, passenger seat power lumbar; warm weather package (4-zone climate control, rear window shades); LED interior lighting; and power trunk.
S-Line sport package: Sports suspension and 19-inch wheels (superseded by 20-inch package). We thought it a bit stiff for everyday driving.
Cold-weather package: Heated rear seats and steering wheel.
If we’re going to talk German sports sedans—as we are—we won’t repeat my generic complaint about the audio and navigation controls being on the complex side. The good news is that the average driver now can figure out the Audi system, but it always seems unnecessary to have to push a controller several times to change a radio station that used to be accomplished by pushing one button.
Where to place the infotainment screen seems to be puzzling designers these days. Audi has opted for a pop-up screen that unfolds and comes to life every time you turn on the ignition.
When folded away, the dash is extraordinarily nicely designed; unfortunately, the screen always seems to be in play when driving—either for navigation, audio, or myriad other settings. The folding mechanism seems to be a repair waiting to happen.
Over the past decade Audi has earned its reputation for refinement and upscale brand identity. The A6 fits right in there. While most midsize sedans have a similar basic silhouette these days, the A6 stands out, perhaps because it sits so low.
Audi has given both the front and rear a slight revision for 2017. The trapezoidal grille—and most every automaker is using some variation on that styling theme nowadays—is in one piece. In back, the LED rear taillights help accentuate the A6’s wide stance.
It’s an attractive look that also manages to convey an upscale message.
We took the A6 on several trips to Boston—doing our best to avoid rush hour—and were amazed to see the onboard computer crediting us with 28-plus miles per gallon in easy driving. Overall we averaged 25.2 mpg for the week.
And it sure drove like a German sports sedan.
[You can find local deals on Audi here].
2016 Audi A6 3.0T Quattro
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $58,325/$66,875. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 20 city/30 highway/24 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 25.2. Drivetrain: 3.0-liter supercharged V-6, 8-speed automatic transmission, Quattro all-wheel-drive. Body: 5-passenger sedan.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 333. Torque: 326 lb.-ft. Overall length: 194.2 in. Wheelbase: 114.6 in. Height: 57.8 in. Width: 73.8 in./82.1 in. (mirrors extended). Curb weight: 4,178 lbs.
THE GOOD
Refinement, handling, interior quality, drivetrain.
THE BAD
Pedal height, accelerator can be twitchy if you catch the start-stop system in the act of stopping or starting.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Just what you want in a German sports sedan.
ALSO CONSIDER
BMW 5-series, Cadillac CTS, Hyundai Genesis, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS350, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80.
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