Reviews - Audi

Overall Rating

Good looking, very well built, spacious, comfortable and refined. Could the executive buyer ask for anything more apart from a Mercedes or a BMW badge on the bonnet?

• Subtly elegant styling, excellent interior space
• Smooth engines and supple ride enhance comfort
• Very carefully constructed, reliable and durable

• Less presence and prestige than 5-Series
• Handling is not as taut or composed, either
• Fairly steep depreciation on larger engined versions

Subtle is the only way to describe the A6; and for many buyers that has to be a positive benefit. Choosing an A6 means that you have decided not to join the BMW/Mercedes crowd. What you get is a discreetly understated but equally high quality package. There's a wide choice of smooth, reliable petrol and turbodiesel engines, front-wheel drive or Quattro four-wheel drive, all wrapped up in elegant saloon or estate (Avant) bodies. What all A6s have in common is a very spacious, comfortable interior and a well laid out dashboard. The pick of the engine range is the 2.5 V6 TDi turbodiesel which is refined, strong and puts out more power than the petrol V6 whilst also delivering excellent 40mpg economy. A6 is not a dedicated driver's car like BMW 5-Series. It's possible to criticise the firm suspension at low speeds and the less than direct steering.

JD Power stars: 4

NCAP: 3

Best Models: 2.4 SE and 2.5 TDI Quattro SE

Worst Models: 4.2 V8 Quattro and S6

Replacement: 2004

• BMW 5-Series (1996-03)
• Mercedes-Benz E Class (1995-02)
• Volvo S80