Audi A6

Audi A6 Models

Four Audi A6 models are available: 2.8 sedan, 2.7T sedan, 4.2 sedan, and 2.8 Avant wagon. All come with a high level of standard equipment.

The Audi A6 2.8 sedan comes with a 2.8-liter V6 rated at 200 horsepower. It's the only A6 that uses front-wheel drive with electronic traction control.

All Audi A6 models except the 2.8 sedan come standard with Quattro four-wheel drive, including the Avant wagon, which is otherwise similarly equipped to the 2.8 sedan.

A6 2.7T sedan comes with a 250-horsepower twin-turbo V6, a Torsen center differential, P215/55R16 tires, traction control, and an electronic stability program.

The Audi A6 4.2 sedan is powered by a 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter, five-valve V8 engine. In addition to the above, it comes with leather upholstery, leather door trim panels, a HomeLink garage door opener, memory system for seats, automatic dimming mirrors, ski sack, power sunroof, premium 200-wat sound system, and an adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and telephone controls. It's equipped with P235/50R16 tires on unique six-spoke cast aluminum wheels.

Audi has extended its warranty package to four years/50,000 miles.

Driving the Audi A6

When it comes to luxury sedans, the A6 is not the quickest bunny in the forest -- nor is it the slowest. It can do the 0-to-60-mph sprint in about 9.3 seconds, and covers the standing quarter-mile in about 17.2 seconds. Like many German sedans, the gearing is tweaked more for high-speed cruising than for off-the-line acceleration. But the A6 packs more than enough juice for everyday city driving, with ample reserve power for freeway passing.

The 200 horsepower for the base A6 comes from a 2.8-liter, double-overhead-cam V6 engine with five valves per cylinder. The V6 is hitched to a silky-smooth five-speed automatic transmission with a Tiptronic feature. Tiptronic enables the driver to slap the shifter sideways out of the normal P-R-N-D-3-2-1 gate into a parallel gate that allows sequential upshifts and downshifts simply by tilting the spring-loaded lever forward or backward, much like you would shift a motorcycle. The Tiptronic also improves shifting response. It comes in handy in situations when you want to hold the transmission in one gear, such as on winding roads. It also provides zippy entertainment during those otherwise boring suburban commutes.

On dry terrain, the A6 offers sure-footed cornering. The suspension is extremely responsive and well-controlled, making the A6 a joy to drive on back roads. Torsional (twisting) rigidity of the chassis is 50 percent stiffer than in the pre-1998 version. This allows for a more finely tuned suspension, which translates into a quieter ride and more assured handling, especially on bumpy roads. Excellent on-center feel of the steering is another boon.

Audi's world-class Quattro all-wheel-drive system enhances handling ability on dry pavement by offering more grip, but it is especially appreciated on snow and ice. It can transfer as much as two-thirds of the engine's power to whatever wheel is providing the best traction, thereby ensuring stable and predictable handling in all conditions. Helping out in the safety department are standard four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The firm brake pedal delivers precise braking feel.

In city traffic, the A6's ride is quite civilized, even refined. It is very stable on the freeway, where high speeds seem to bring out the best in this car. With a low drag coefficient of 0.28, wind noise is low, except for a slight whisper from the windshield wipers. At low speeds, drivers will appreciate quite a bit of power assist in the steering, which makes it a breeze to maneuver through crowded parking lots.

In order to deliver this kind of ride comfort and refinement, the A6 had to give up a little something in the road-dancing department. But the nicely tuned suspension and deft steering make the A6 a lot of fun to drive, whether you're city-bound or out in the sticks.