Audi A6 saloon (2004 – 2011) expert review

The Audi A6 has had a bit of a nip and tuck, and combined with our test car’s ‘S line’ spec, it looks superbly menacing. Big 19-inch wheels, a subtle body-kit and daytime running LED lights – as found on the R8 supercar – turn this executive barge into something Neo should definitely be running away from.

The layout is pleasing and the controls are within easy reach of the driver. Once you get your bearings, navigating through the controls becomes second nature, and although the cabin is bathed in plastic it looks techno-smart – just shy of becoming fussy. Our car’s S line sports seats gave the interior a funky sporting ambience too.

Up front the driver and passenger get plenty of headroom and impressive adjustability, while three adults will slot into the rear seats with ease. The boot is cavernous and holds 546 litres, more than you get in the BMW 5 Series, and there is plenty of space for extraneous stuff inside, thanks to its deep side pockets and arm rest cubby.

Our test car came in S line trim, which gets Audi’s world-famous Quattro four-wheel-drive system, sports suspension and optional 19-inch alloy wheels. The Quattro system has been tweaked to give the Audi a more sporting feel – under hard driving conditions, as much as 60 per cent of the A6’s power is sent to the rear wheels. The A6 grips superbly, cruising comfortably over a variety of surfaces. Carry some speed into a bend and the Quattro transfers the power between the car’s wheels to get you around the corner with the least amount of fuss.

The new 3-litre, supercharged V6 develops 310lb/ft of torque with 0-62mph taking 5.9 seconds, before maxing out at a limited top speed of 155mph. Elsewhere in the petrol range, you can buy the entry-level 167bhp 2-litre turbocharged unit, the 2.8-litre V6 with 216bhp, and the range-topping S6 with a 5.2-litre V10 engine and 430bhp. The diesel range comprises 2-litre TDIe, 187bhp 2.7-litre and a 236bhp 3-litre TDI, the 2-litre engine is the most frugal – with emissions of 139g/km and a combined mpg figure of 53.3mpg.

Buy an Audi A6 in S line spec and you’ll pay £37,130 – but our test car came with a host of options, boosting the price to £44,040. Audi claims a combined mpg of 30mpg and we managed to match this figure over town and motorway driving. An insurance rating of 17E will mean premiums will remain high, and its CO2 figure of 219g/km makes it expensive to tax too.

The fit and finish of the materials is excellent, and everything feels solid – it is no cliché to suggest that nobody does build-quality like Audi. This means it should stand the test of time. However, this model scores below Audi’s average on the reliability index, which accounts for frequency of breakdowns and cost of repair.

The Audi A6 is fitted with anti-lock brakes, ‘Anti Slip Regulation’ (ASR) traction control, driver and front passenger two-stage airbags, ‘Electronic Differential Lock’ (EDL) traction control, child seat mountings, side airbags for the driver and front passenger, a ‘sideguard’ head airbag system, and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser. The A6 scored four out of five stars for adult and child protection, and one out of four for pedestrian protection.

Standard equipement includes electric windows, light and rain sensors, speed sensitive power steering, cruise control, driver’s information system, electronic climate control, and halogen headlights. Our test car came with Bluetooth connectivity, S line body-styling, sports suspension and heated front sports seats, DAB module, rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitor, Audi’s Multi Media Interface, sat-nav, a CD changer and a BOSE stereo system. The MMI allows you to simply plug in your iPod and navigate through it via the dash-mounted screen.

The Audi A6 makes a great case for itself – its understated corporate good looks have been freshened up with a hint of menace; the Quattro four-wheel-drive system is outstanding and provides resolute, sure-footed grip; the build quality is sound; it has excellent practicality and is sure to hold its value well. Plus, the performance from the 3-litre supercharged engine is superb. However, we were left feeling a bit cold. The Audi’s fantastic engineering and acres of grip provided an entertaining drive, but we can’t help thinking the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF offer all of this and more.