Audi A6 saloon (2011 – ) first drive
Wednesday 26 January 2011
This is the all-new Audi A6, the executive saloon Audi is hoping will prove more successful than the mighty BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class.
Prices for the first models available will range from £30,145 to £41,620 and the first customer deliveries are expected in April.
The biggest news is its class-leading fuel economy and low emissions, with the cleanest 2-litre TDI model averaging 57.6mpg while emitting 129g/km of CO2. These were impressive figures for a supermini not so long ago, and out of the question for a large saloon.
In the coming months the A6 will also be launched as Audi’s second ever hybrid model, featuring a 2-litre TFSI petrol engine twinned with an electric motor. It will have 242bhp and average 45.6mpg.
Engine line-up:
• 2.0 TDI diesel, 175bhp, 57.7mpg, 129g/km
• 3.0 TDI diesel, 201bhp, 54.3mpg, 137g/km
• 3.0 TDI diesel quattro, 242bhp, 47.1mpg, 158g/km
• 3.0 TFSI petrol quattro, 296bhp, 34.4mpg, 190g/km
Along with fuel-saving technology including stop and start, the A6 is the most aerodynamic and lightest car in its class. Around 20 per cent of the A6 is constructed from aluminium, making it several hundred kilograms lighter than its competitors, which are built predominantly from steel.
Class-leading economy
Not only does this benefit fuel economy and emissions, but performance gets a leg-up too. The slowest A6 gets to 62mph in 8.7 seconds, while the 3-litre TFSI petrol with quattro four-wheel drive takes just 5.5.
The engine which arguably benefits the most from these improvements is the 3-litre TDI diesel quattro, which has only 5bhp more than the equivalent previous A6, but it rockets to 62mph in 6.1 seconds (almost a second quicker), averages 47.1mpg instead of 39.8mpg and emits 158g/km of CO2 instead of 189.
The equivalent Mercedes E-Class E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and the BMW 530d are slightly slower and average 45.6mpg and 44.8mpg while emitting 162 and 166g/km of CO2, without having four-wheel drive.
So, despite the target audience being firmly in the ‘high earners’ category, the A6 should be incredibly cheap to run, while not polluting the Earth any more than a Volkswagen Golf.
Impressive technology
The interior has received a major overhaul and is the definition of Germanic quality. The centre console cocoons the driver more than before and there are fewer buttons, thanks to the MMI interface. This uses a joystick where the handbrake would usually be (that’s now electrically operated) to access all the car’s settings on the main screen. It’s clear and increasingly easy to use with familiarity. Upgrading to MMI Touch increases the screen size to 8-inches and replaces the joystick with a sensitive pad, allowing commands to be ‘drawn’ by the driver.
A new optional feature first seen in its big brother, the Audi A8, is Mobile Telephone Preparation High, which effectively turns the car into a WIFI hotspot allowing occupants to connect to the internet. It also allows for news and weather updates, while the sat-nav can download Google Earth satellite images for your route.
The A6 is a technical tour de force and includes other useful features including blind spot indicators, optional full-LED headlights which adjust to suit the road, a system which parks the car for you (you only have to accelerate and brake) and a new safety system which detects when the car is straying out of its lane and automatically guides it back between the white lines.
The definition of Germanic quality
We drove both front-wheel drive and quattro four-wheel drive models, the first of which is well-suited to the 2-litre diesel, but can struggle to cope with the immense pulling power of the 3-litre diesel. In all conditions, including dry and greasy wet roads on our our test, the quattro-equipped cars feel rock solid, despite having the most powerful engines.
Like most cars with electric power steering, there’s little feel, but a sense the car has almost limitless grip, and enough safety equipment to correct most drivers’ mistakes.
Refinement is extremely impressive, with little wind or road noise and very quiet engines. The diesels are more raucous than the petrol when you accelerate hard, but all motors are barely audible at a motorway cruise.
When fitted with air suspension the ride is very comfortable, while the conventional suspension also copes well with testing roads. Avoid the S Line-equipped cars if comfort is key, as the small increase in handling prowess also brings an unsettled ride.
While not as involving to drive as the best BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6 is an epic long-distance cruiser, leaving driver and occupants completely unruffled. Choose interior trims carefully and it also has a class-leading cabin ambience, while its wireless connectivity is sure to prove invaluable for many.
Key facts:
Models tested:
• A6 2.0 TDI 6-spd manual,
• A6 3.0 TDI Multitronic
• A6 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic S-Line
On the road price: £30,145 to £41,620
Date tested: January 2011
Road tester: Andy Goodwin