Audi A6 Review

The Audi A6 remains one of the core cars in the executive class, even as more buyers drift towards SUVs and fully electric alternatives. There's still a clear place for a low-slung, long-distance saloon that majors on comfort, calm motorway manners and a properly premium driving environment. The Audi A6 knows exactly what sort of car it wants to be, and that clarity is one of its strengths.

Visually, the Audi A6 takes the familiar Audi approach of being elegant rather than shouty. It has the sort of clean, well-proportioned shape that looks expensive without trying too hard, and that suits this market well. Buyers coming from an older Audi A6 or an Audi A4 will probably like the fact that it feels more modern and more digital than before, but without losing the brand’s usual sense of restraint.

Inside is where the Audi A6 makes its strongest impression. The dashboard is built around an 11.9-inch digital driver display and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, and the whole thing looks crisp, modern and expensive. Higher-spec versions can add a 10.9-inch passenger display, while the optional Sound & Vision pack brings the sort of extra hardware many premium-car buyers now expect, including a head-up display and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The overall feel is more lounge-like than sporty. Seats are comfortable, refinement is excellent and the Audi A6 feels engineered for people who spend hours at a time in the car. That is where it earns its keep. It's not the most exciting saloon in the class, but it's one of the easiest to enjoy over distance.

The engine line-up stays sensibly focused. There's a 2.0-litre petrol for buyers doing lighter annual mileages, a 2.0-litre diesel with quattro four-wheel drive that makes the most sense if you cover big distances, and an Audi A6 Saloon e-hybrid for company-car users or drivers who can take full advantage of regular charging. That leaves the Audi A6 easy enough to understand, which is not always true of modern premium-car ranges.

Practicality is perfectly respectable, but it's not class-leading. The regular saloon has a useful 492-litre boot, which is fine for business travel, airport runs and day-to-day family duties, but some alternatives offer more luggage room or more generous rear-seat space. The Audi A6 counters with a more polished cabin and a more obviously premium feel than most mainstream rivals.

It's also worth noting that buyers who like the Audi A6’s character but need more versatility can look at the Audi A6 Avant. That gives you a larger, more flexible load area and makes more sense if you regularly carry bulky luggage.

For most private buyers, the best fit in the regular Audi A6 range is the 2.0-litre diesel with quattro four-wheel drive in S line trim. It suits the car’s character better than anything else, combining strong torque, relaxed motorway performance and the sort of refinement that makes the Audi A6 such a good long-distance companion.

The 2.0-litre petrol has a role if you do lower annual mileages and want something quieter and simpler around town, but the diesel’s 400Nm of torque and stronger long-haul character make it the more convincing all-rounder. It also brings mild-hybrid assistance and standard quattro four-wheel drive, which suits a car of this size and purpose.

In trim terms, Sport is the entry point and already gives you a lot. S line is the one many buyers will end up wanting, because it adds the visual sharpness and upgraded seats that feel right in a premium executive saloon without forcing you into the most expensive trim. Edition 1 is the more indulgent choice, with extra display tech and luxury flourishes, but it's not the one that makes the strongest value case.

The plug-in hybrid makes sense for a fairly narrow buyer profile. If you can charge it regularly and your routine includes lots of shorter trips, it can work brilliantly. If you can’t, the extra complexity and considerable boot-space penalty make it harder to justify.

The regular Audi A6 Saloon currently starts at £52,110. The Sport trim sits at the foot of the range, S line starts from £53,410 and Edition 1 rises to £58,310. The plug-in hybrid Audi A6 Saloon e-hybrid starts at £61,765 for the Sport trim, £62,565 for the S line and £67,985 for the Edition 1.

That places the Audi A6 firmly in the premium executive bracket, where it goes head to head with the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It's also more expensive than large mainstream alternatives such as the Skoda Superb, but that’s the usual trade-off here. You’re paying for the Audi badge, the more upmarket cabin and the stronger sense of polish.

The important thing is that even the lower trims do not feel stripped out. You don’t have to chase the top of the range to get a car that feels properly premium, and that’s a big plus because option packs and trim upgrades can make a considerable difference to the final bill.

The BMW 5 Series is the most obvious alternative if you want a more engaging drive. It still feels the sharper, more tactile executive saloon, although some buyers will find the Audi A6 calmer and more soothing over long journeys.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the softer, more comfort-led option. It majors on a plush feel and a more overtly luxurious ambience, though some may prefer the cleaner, less showy approach of the Audi A6.

If value and space matter more than badge prestige, the Skoda Superb is the sensible outsider. It's hugely roomy, especially in the back, and costs much less. The Volkswagen Passat is also worth a look if you want similar long-distance ability in a slightly more conservative package.

For buyers who like the Audi A6 but need more luggage flexibility, the Audi A6 Avant is the natural next step. It keeps the same broad strengths while adding a more useful load area. Fancy going fully electric? Take a look at the Audi A6 e-tron. 

The regular Audi A6 Saloon offers 492 litres of boot space, which is a healthy number for day-to-day use. That’s enough for a family holiday with sensible packing, a set of airport cases or the usual week-to-week work and home duties. It just is not exceptional by class standards. And if you’re considering the plug-in e-hybrid, you’ll find the boot is considerably smaller at 354 litres due to the way the extra batteries are packaged.

This is where you need to be realistic. If rear-seat space and maximum load capacity are your main priorities, there are better options. A Skoda Superb feels airier in the back and makes a stronger case as a full-time family workhorse, while the Audi A6 Avant is the version to choose if you need proper estate-car flexibility.

The regular saloon’s boot is usefully shaped and easy enough to load, and that matters more than headline litres in some real-world situations. For most executive-car buyers, it will be enough. The larger point is that the Audi A6 is practical without being the most practical choice in its class.

The rear bench is comfortable and the cabin has a good sense of width, but taller adults may find some alternatives more generous for headroom and knee room. Up front, there's plenty of seat adjustment and the driving position feels spot on for the car’s laid-back executive character.

Storage around the cabin is decent rather than remarkable, with the usual door bins, central storage and charging areas. The Audi A6 feels well thought through, but this is a car that prioritises ambience and refinement ahead of clever packaging tricks.

The Audi A6 measures 4,990mm long, 1,880mm wide and 1,420mm tall, with a 2,927mm wheelbase. That makes it a sizeable executive saloon, but not an unwieldy one. The long wheelbase helps rear-seat space and gives the car the planted, long-legged feel buyers in this class expect, while the overall width keeps it in line with key rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. In practical terms, it's a big car in a tight multi-storey car park, but still an easy one to place once you are moving.

Every Audi A6 gets an 11.9-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus – a digital driver display – and a 14.5-inch central MMI display, and both are crisp, modern and easy enough to use once you have spent a little time with them. The screen quality is excellent and the software is more intuitive than some rivals’ systems.

That said, this is still a screen-led cabin. Climate functions and other day-to-day controls lean heavily on the touchscreen, and there are moments where a proper physical button would be easier. It's not a deal-breaker, but drivers who value simple ergonomics above all else may prefer more traditional alternatives.

The optional Sound & Vision pack is worth knowing about because it adds genuinely desirable features rather than filler. Depending on trim, it can bring a head-up display, Bang & Olufsen premium sound with 16 speakers, upgraded USB charging, ambient lighting and headrest speakers on S line and Edition 1 cars.

Edition 1 models can also add a 10.9-inch passenger display, which allows the passenger to access infotainment functions separately without becoming a distraction for the driver. It's not essential, but it does help the Audi A6 feel properly current and swanky.

Material choice varies by trim, but the broader impression is consistent. The Audi A6 feels expensive in the right places, with a soft-wrap dashboard design, tasteful trim finishes and a generally higher standard of fit and finish than you get in more mainstream large saloons.

Sport trim gives you a clean, understated look, while S line adds sport seats and a slightly more assertive feel inside. Edition 1 is the most obviously lavish, adding more display tech and more visual drama. Even so, the Audi A6 never really descends into flashiness. It feels premium in a restrained, businesslike way.

The regular petrol Audi A6 uses a 2.0-litre TFSI engine producing 204PS and 340Nm. It gets from 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, which is brisk enough for the class without ever feeling especially urgent. This is the version for buyers doing lighter annual mileage who want the quietest, simplest combustion option.

The 2.0-litre TDI with quattro four-wheel drive is the engine that suits the Audi A6 best. It also produces 204PS, but with a much healthier 400Nm of torque and a quicker 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds. More importantly, it feels more natural in the way it delivers its performance, with the sort of effortless mid-range shove that makes overtaking and motorway work feel easy.

Then there's the Audi A6 Saloon e-hybrid. This combines petrol and electric power for 299PS and 450Nm, reaches 62mph in 6.0 seconds and can cover up to 64 miles on electric power alone. It also supports AC charging at up to 11kW, with a claimed 0-100 per cent charge time of 2.5 hours on a suitable charger. That makes it the tax-led choice, and it will appeal strongly to company-car users.

As a range, it's simple enough to understand. The petrol is the easy private-buyer entry point, the diesel is the long-distance all-rounder and the e-hybrid is the commuter and tax-efficiency option.

The Audi A6 feels immediately solid and well insulated. Around town it's easy enough to place for a large saloon, and the standard driver-assistance tech takes some of the stress out of tighter manoeuvres. This is not a car that shrinks around you in the way a BMW sometimes can, but it's easy enough to trust from the first few miles.

At motorway speed, the Audi A6 makes its best case. Wind noise is low, tyre roar is well suppressed and the seats are the sort you can spend hours in without complaint. This is exactly the sort of car many buyers will use for long, repeated journeys and it feels engineered with that in mind.

The diesel deserves particular praise here. It's quiet enough, strong enough and smooth enough to feel like the natural engine for the Audi A6’s executive brief. The petrol is refined too, but it lacks the same effortless feel once the car is loaded or covering serious ground.

On a challenging road, the Audi A6 is competent rather than thrilling. Grip is strong, body control is tidy and the car feels secure, but the BMW 5 Series remains the more engaging choice if keen handling is a priority. The Audi’s focus is calm competence rather than driver entertainment.

That is not a criticism so much as a statement of intent. The Audi A6 is designed to make a long day on the road feel easy, and it succeeds.

The Audi A6 received a maximum five-star rating from independent safety organisation Euro NCAP in 2024. Euro NCAP describes it as a partner model to the Audi A5 2024, with the safety results applied to the Audi A6 after comparison and additional tests where required.

Standard safety systems include autonomous emergency braking, lane support, speed assistance, seatbelt reminders front and rear, child-presence detection and an advanced eCall system. Euro NCAP also notes that the Audi A6 includes measures to mitigate occupant-to-occupant injuries in side impacts.

That gives the Audi A6 a strong safety story and the sort of standard assistance baseline buyers now expect in this class.

The regular 2.0-litre petrol returns 39.2 to 40.4mpg according to official figures, which is respectable rather than outstanding for a car of this size. The diesel quattro is the more convincing long-distance choice, with official consumption around the low-to-mid 50s mpg depending on specification. The plug-in hybrid is quoted at 113mpg to 128mpg and up to 63 miles of electric range, but only if you charge it regularly enough to make proper use of the battery.

Audi covers the Audi A6 with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty. Plug-in hybrid battery degradation cover runs for five years or 100,000 miles.

Audi’s current flexible service guidance runs to every two years or up to 18,600 miles, whichever comes first. Buyers who prefer a fixed schedule can instead work to annual or 9,300-mile oil services, with inspection services every two years or 18,600 miles.

The Audi A6 sits in the kind of insurance groups you would expect from a large premium saloon, so cover is unlikely to be especially cheap. Depending on the exact engine and trim, A6 models fall somewhere from group 31 to group 41, which puts them towards the more expensive end of the market to insure.

That means the lower-end versions should usually be easier on insurance than faster, higher-spec cars, but this is still a relatively costly car to cover compared with smaller executive models. As ever, your age, postcode and driving history will make a big difference, but if low insurance costs are a priority, the Audi A6 is not the obvious choice.

The bigger tax story with the Audi A6 comes after year one. Most versions will cost £640 a year to tax from the second year onwards, because they pay the standard annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED or road tax) rate of £200 plus the £440 expensive car supplement for cars with a list price above £40,000. That extra charge applies for five years, starting from the second tax payment.

That means petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid Audi A6 models are all likely to be relatively costly to tax in years two to six, simply because most sit comfortably above that threshold. Once the supplement ends, the annual bill drops back to the standard rate.