AUTOMOBILE GALLERY

A mid-size luxury car, the Audi A6 is offered as both a sedan and a wagon. The wagon is called A6 Avant.

Price:
Starting price: $ 42,950.00
The Audi A6 falls somewhere in the middle of the luxury car category. It costs a little more than its peers in the premium Japanese markets, but less than the competing German-brand models. Re-sale value for the Audi is a bit lower than cars from Audi’s chief German competitors. So consumers planning to purchase a second hand A6 will find a relatively affordable proposition.

Like other Audis, the A6 is one of the most luxurious cars available in its price range even when compared to its huge and exclusive European competition in the current automobile industry. According to recent trends, performance generally comes after luxury. But, Audi has offered a range of turbocharged and direct-injection engines over the years which have given the car plenty of personality. Along with its reputation for upscale accommodations, the A6's main selling point is its winter-weather capability. Nearly all A6s are sold with the quattro all-wheel drive system which distributes power to all four wheels, though Audi typically offers an entry-level front-wheel-drive model as well.

There are 3 generations of the Audi A6 to consider. The current generation, which dates to 2005, offers by far the best package of attention-getting style, entertaining driving dynamics and sparkling furnishings. The second generation A6, available from 1998 to 2004, was also a fine luxury car, though its handling characteristics and exterior design never really set it apart from the multitude of excellent sedans and wagons in this price range.

With its clean lines and over-sized grille, the current Audi A6 is one of the most distinctive mid-size luxury cars on the market. The A6 Avant is also one of the few mid-size luxury wagons on the market, and with a 34-cubic-foot cargo bay behind its rear seat, it makes a practical yet elegant choice for families with a large dog or double stroller in tow.


Enhancements:
The A6 can be equipped with all the usual luxury car appointments, including a high-end audio system, voice-activated navigation system and Bluetooth wireless capability. Most are accessed via Audi's easy-to-use Multi-Media Interface (MMI) vehicle management system. It sounds complicated, but with its logical menus and ergonomically designed, all-in-one control knob, MMI is a snap to learn.

Performance:
The Audi A6 is available with either a V6 or V8 engine. The engines are smooth and refined, though the V6 is taxed by the A6's 4,000-pound curb weight. Acceleration is certainly passable, but most other V6-equipped luxury cars are quicker. The A6 rides comfortably on the highway, and while it's not the most athletic car in its class, our editors like its predictable, nimble feel through the corners.

The second-generation A6 sedan arrived on the market in 1998 and benefited from a ground-up redesign; an all-new version of the Avant wagon debuted the following year. This was the first Audi A6 to ride on a stretched version of the highly regarded A4 platform, and the two have been platform mates ever since. For the first two years, only a naturally aspirated V6 was available, but in 2000, Audi added a spirited twin-turbocharged V6 and a torque-rich V8 to the engine lineup for the sedan. Given that acceleration tended to be sluggish with the base V6, particularly on the hefty A6 Avant quattro wagon, Audi began offering a larger, more powerful six-cylinder in 2002. Additionally, the company introduced a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on front-wheel-drive models that year.