But realistically, the car feels fantastic in any mode. The excellent V6, the complimentary exhaust note, the subtle supercharger whine, and the finely balanced and taught sport suspension make this a stellar road car. I tested a comparably priced Mercedes E350 about six months ago and as good a feel as that car had, I prefer the feel of the A6. The Mercedes was an excellent car, great on the highway, but the A6, while not as quiet, seems to communicate better with the driver. In addition, the trademark quattro all wheel drive system does add some reassuring stability when entering and exiting corners at speed.
The suspension is on the firm side, especially combined with the 19-inch wheels and tires, but it suits my preferences well. The longer wheelbase combined with moving the engine a small amount further back helped to balance out the car, eliminating some of the well documented front end heavy oversteer that most older Audis had. In fast sweeping turns the car had less of a nose diving push. Instead it exhibited more of a neutral feel, helping to make the car easier to manage and more fun to drive.
Interior/Exterior Styling
The A6′s style is iconic. There is no mistaking the look of an Audi. This A6 represents the most current of Audi’s sedan design cues. The changes are subtle, but the car retains the classic Audi look. The A4 and A6 share similar aesthetics save for the overall dimensions of the cars. The trademark Singleframe® grille and the widely copied LED lighting technology are stalwart features that also help to make the exteriors unique. Audi has also worked on the aerodynamic flow of the body’s curves in order to boost the efficiency of the car and to keep the interior quiet.
Inside, the Premium Plus trim Audi is reassuring. The driver’s proximity to the controls is virtually perfect. It’s truly a cockpit where the driver has full control over every aspect of the vehicle. Nothing is out of reach or obscured, and the dash and color navigation screen are easy to read.
The Audi MMI® touch interface was one of the easiest and intuitive fully functioning navigation units that I’ve tried. It boasts a brand new touch pad that can identify handwritten inputs and toggle smoothly through station presets. The system’s standard carry over center dial system is incredibly easy to use and is not overly sensitive to inputs, which helps when you’re toggling while driving. Once you get used to the button layout, the system is easily managed without the need to look down at the center console.
The sound quality of the Bose audio system is also stellar and needs no upgrading. The Audi Connect wi-fi system and the front and rear parking sensors rounds out the features that come with the Premium Plus package. Those sensors, combined with the rear back up camera ,which also tells you precisely where the car is aimed, help make the A6 very easy to maneuver.
Near ideal well priced but would I go up to the A7 that would be a hard choice.The BMW 5 seems to small to compete with the 6 and the Mercedes E is to old fashioned .Just is the reliability there ?That’s what hurts AUDI is it’s low reliability right next to bottom with Mercedes.