Audi A6 (2011-2017) Review and Prices

Audi only offers one petrol engine in the A6 range and – as it’s the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 fitted to S6 and RS6 performance variants – it’s fair to say it, or at least its running costs, will not be for everyone. Not to worry, the diesel engines are actually some of the best on the market – they’re quiet, cheap to run and offer more pace than most cars on the road.

It’s the basic diesel that comes recommended. Its 2.0-litre capacity produces 187hp, which is enough to get the car from 0-62mph in a shade more than eight seconds and, with a top speed of 144mph, it brushes off the UK’s 70mph national speed limit with the same ease that Usian Bolt collects gold medals. But, unlike Bolt, it’ll keep on going like a long-distance runner – fuel economy of more than 65mpg and a 73-litre fuel tank mean that an 800-mile range is readily attainable.

The rest of the diesel range is composed of the 3.0-litre models – two single turbo versions with 215, 268 or the biturbo range-topper with 316hp. Along with offering wads of power and torque for effortless overtaking, their six-cylinder design means they’re even quieter and smoother than the basic four-cylinder model, plus even the biturbo returns close to 50mpg fuel economy.

Choosing a petrol A6 means opting for either the seriously rapid S6 or the downright explosive RS6 Avant. Both models come with four-wheel drive, offer acceleration to worry the space shuttle (the RS6 does 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds), but also have running costs that could bleed the Bank of England dry – try fuel economy of no better than 30mpg on for size, and getting that will take some doing.

Audi offers the option to fit quattro four-wheel drive, which gives lots of traction no matter how miserable the weather conditions are, but doesn’t make the A6 any more entertaining to drive. For this reason, it’s better as a cruiser than it is a sports saloon. Stick to the motorways and you’ll be perfectly happy…

…so long as you pick the right suspension setup that is. Black edition and S line models come as standard with lower and stiffer sports suspension that can dish out a bottom-bruising pummeling on bumpy B roads. Thankfully, the more forgiving standard setup is a no-cost option. If you want a magic-carpet ride quality then the £2,000 adaptive air suspension is an option that needs ticking.

Gearboxes also figure prominently on Audi’s notoriously vast options list. Basic models get a six-speed manual transmission that slots through the gears with precision. If you’d rather let the car shift through the cogs for you, you can opt for Audi’s seven-speed DSG ‘box, which delivers the quick changes expected of a twin-clutch system. Finally there’s an eight-speed conventional auto. It comes fitted as standard to the top-of-the-range 3.0-litre diesel models and slushes through the gears almost imperceptibly, working perfectly in tandem with the engine’s lazy power delivery.