Item: Audi S6
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

In this entry-level 201bhp 2.0-litre diesel form, the A6 is a tad slow off the mark, but only because its standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox hesitates when you put your foot down. It's plenty brisk enough thereafter, though with 0-62mph taking 8.1sec, and more efficient than the equivalent BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class in real-world conditions. Automatic only, but available with front or four-wheel drive.

40 TDI Quattro

Saloon

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Entry-level Sport trim is all you really need, with electric front seats, four-way lumbar adjustment, LED headlights, 18in alloy wheels, leather seat trim, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, ambient LED interior lighting and keyless start. The standard infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat-nav, Bluetooth, a DAB radio, an 10.1in touchscreen and a punchy 10-speaker stereo.

Sport

40 TDI Quattro Sport 4dr S Tronic [Tech Pack]

40-tdi-quattro-sport-4dr-s-tronic-tech-pack

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BMW M240i

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Mercedes-AMG C63 S

Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

In terms of purchase price, the S6 fits between the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 540i</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes-AMG E 53</a>, while <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">resale values</a> for all three should be similarly strong. It's worth bearing in mind, though, that the regular A6 50 TDI does almost as much for a lot less money.

When it comes to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">fuel economy</a>, Audi’s decision to go with diesel power gives its car an advantage over its petrol rivals: the S6 tops 35mpg in official tests, whereas its rivals return nearer 30mpg. What’s more, the difference is only likely to grow in the real world when you start putting your foot down.

Just bear in mind that if you’re lucky enough to be considering an S6 as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/check-your-company-car-tax-rate/n1255">company car</a>, it attracts a 4% diesel surcharge, so it still won’t be&nbsp;particularly cost effective on benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax.

Even the standard S6 is very well equipped, with 20in alloy wheels, privacy glass, keyless start, leather seats (heated in the front), and all those infotainment and visibility aids we’ve mentioned previously.

Upgrading to Vorsprung trim adds 21in alloys, keyless entry, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, soft-close doors, adaptive cruise control and black ash interior wood trim, but it also carries a huge price premium, so we wouldn’t bother.

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If you’re expecting the engine to be clattery, think again; thanks to a trick exhaust, it does a passable impression of a big capacity petrol V8.

True, the S6 doesn’t rev like a petrol, so the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 540i</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes-AMG E 53</a> can both get from 0-62mph faster. However, a time of 5.1sec is anything but slow, and making swift progress is pretty effortless because of the huge torque that's available between 2000rpm and 4000rpm to push you along.

It should be noted that the cheaper 50 TDI A6 makes life similarly easy much of the time and doesn’t feel significantly slower. But the 50 TDI&nbsp;can leave you hanging when&nbsp;pulling out of junctions or overtaking,&nbsp;because the gearbox is so slow to kick down through the gears. The S6’s 48-volt electrical system ensures it rarely frustrates in the same&nbsp;way.

In fact, the eight-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-type-of-automatic-gearbox-should-i-buy/n17022">automatic gearbox</a>&nbsp;contributes to the car’s easy going character, doing a good job of keeping the engine within its ideal operating window. But you do have to put up with quite a bit of road noise, and the S6 never feels especially sporty.

Both the 540i and the E 53 are more agile and deliver greater steering feedback. Smaller performance cars, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/giulia/saloon/review/n159">Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrafoglio</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n17218">Mercedes-AMG C 63</a>, are what you need if you're a really keen driver&nbsp; looking for truly&nbsp;effervescent handling.

Where the&nbsp;S6 scores better is for those looking for ride comfort. Fit the optional&nbsp;air suspension (standard on Vorsprung trim) and select the softest Comfort setting and the car wafts along motorways or back roads with considerable aplomb. Things get a little grislier on really battered sections, especially around town, but it’s still one of the most cosseting cars of its type. A word of warning, though: the&nbsp;optional 21in wheels make the ride a lot more crashy.&nbsp;

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

The S6 has a 3.0-litre V6 diesel under the bonnet with 339bhp to give 0-62mph in 5.0sec dead. It has lots of low down urgency and can crack 40mpg according to official figures, too.

http://example.com

S6 TDI 344 Quattro

s6-tdi-344-quattro

Public opinion tends to ebb and flow. But in the case of diesel, the tide is very much against it right now. So, you might question the decision to offer the Audi S6 performance saloon (and its Avant estate sister) with only a 3.0-litre V6 that drinks from the black pump.

Look beyond the ‘all diesels are bad’ headlines, though, and it’s an easier call to understand. Not only are diesels more fuel-efficient than the equivalent petrols, but they produce more torque, and that’s what you need to make fast progress without really trying.

To assuage any thoughts that it’s a dirty diesel&nbsp;the S6 has some clever tricks up its sleeve. These are&nbsp;centred around a 48-volt electrical system, which boosts performance and efficiency. For example, it saves fuel while you're cruising by allowing&nbsp;the engine to switch off completely for up to 40sec when you lift off the accelerator pedal.

In addition, it recovers energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and stores it as electricity.&nbsp;That's&nbsp;used to drive an electric compressor, which&nbsp;works alongside a regular turbocharger&nbsp;to boost the S6’s low-rev responsiveness.

There’s plenty to get excited about&nbsp;then, but – if&nbsp;you’re after something fast yet practical – is the S6 better than its petrol rivals, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 540i</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes-AMG E 53</a>?&nbsp;And does it feel special enough to justify its premium over the luxurious <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n61">Audi A6</a> on which it’s based?

In this review we’ll look at everything from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n19445/on-the-road">what the S6 is like to drive</a> to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n19445/space-practicality">how practical it is</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n19445/buying-owning">how much it will cost you to buy and run</a>. And if you do decide it’s the car for you, head over to our new car buying service to check out the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">latest Audi deals</a>.

The S6 comes with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which replaces traditional analogue dials with a 12.3in digital screen. This is an excellent system, being highly configurable and showing a wealth of useful information just below your sightline. In fact, it makes the optional head-up display (standard on Vorsprung trim) an unnecessary luxury.

Look to the left and you’ll find twin touchscreens, the top one measuring 10.1in and covering such things as the radio, navigation and smartphone links (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> are standard). Meanwhile, the 8.6in screen just below is dedicated to climate controls and convenience features.

Both screens respond quickly and provide haptic feedback&nbsp;to confirm when you’ve touched an icon. However, you still have to glance away from the road to find the one you want in the first place, and that’s our biggest bugbear; the setup is so much more distracting to use on the move than the rotary controllers in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">Mercedes E-Class</a>.

The driving position is much harder to fault. The sports front seats are supportive and come with electric adjustment (including memory recall and lumbar adjustment). Plus, all-round visibility is good in the saloon and class-leading in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/estate/review/n17864">Avant estate</a>. You also get parking sensors front and rear, a rear-view camera and bright LED headlights to illuminate the way ahead after dark.

As you’d expect, given how much you’re paying, everything feels beautifully constructed and the materials are plush. Our only complaint is that the interior doesn’t feel significantly more special than those of much cheaper S line models.

Even the standard S6 is very well equipped. You get 20in alloy wheels, privacy glass, keyless start, leather seats (heated in the front), and a full infotainment suite with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two touchscreens, sat-nav, a DAB radio and Bluetooth. Visibility aids include a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors and LED headlights.



The S6 is quiet, spacious and effortlessly quick, but not huge fun to drive.

Although the S6 has slightly less front leg room than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 540i</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes-AMG E 53</a>, that's a bit like saying the Asian elephant is smaller than the African;&nbsp;the point is that both are big old beasts.

But the S6’s rear leg room is particularly impressive,&nbsp;beating both its key rivals for space in the back. Plus, accommodation for three adults sitting side by side is more generous, even though the middle passenger has to straddle a hump in the floor.

Those rear seats split and fold 40/20/40, but even with them in place we fitted nine carry-on suitcases in the boot of the saloon. The Avant estate, meanwhile, is obviously even more accommodating, and its tailgate and luggage cover open electrically. However, for the ultimate in load-lugging ability, you’ll need the Mercedes E 53 Estate.

The Audi S6 is positioned very much towards the luxury end of the performance car spectrum, so it works more for those looking for a comfortable ride than exciting handling — nimbler rivals like a Mercedes-AMG C 63 or Alfa Romeo Giulia QF will appeal to keen drivers more. However, the S6's character is a little too similar to the cheaper A6 50 TDI’s given the premium you’re paying.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Entertainingly agile handling</li> <li>Eye-widening acceleration</li> <li>Fruity exhaust note</li> <li>Punchy and characterful engine</li> <li>Great driving position</li> <li>Everyday usability</li></ul>

The best performance cars combine sports car-rivalling acceleration with&nbsp;engaging handling. However, they also retain the&nbsp;impressive everyday usability of the conventional saloons and estates on which they're based.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio currently sets the standard. However, the models from BMW's M division and Mercedes-AMG also tend to impress.

Performance car

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Your cheapest (and smallest) options are the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and brilliant BMW 5 Series, the latter of which is so good we voted it our 2017 Car of the Year. Larger options that are definitely worth considering if you plan to travel in the back include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-Class, which is beautifully finished inside and not as expensive to run as you might think.

Or if money really is no object at all, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is hard to overlook – especially in extended-wheelbase form. It’s as opulent as cars get.

Luxury

Audi S6 review

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Review of Audi S6 interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

The S6 comes with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which replaces traditional analogue dials with a 12.3in digital screen. This is an excellent system, being highly configurable and showing a wealth of useful information just below your sightline. In fact, it makes the optional head-up display (standard on Vorsprung trim) an unnecessary luxury.,Look to the left and you’ll find twin touchscreens, the top one measuring 10.1in and covering such things as the radio, navigation and smartphone links (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard). Meanwhile, the 8.6in screen just below is dedicated to climate controls and convenience features.,Both screens respond quickly and provide haptic feedback to confirm when you’ve touched an icon. However, you still have to glance away from the road to find the one you want in the first place, and that’s our biggest bugbear; the setup is so much more distracting to use on the move than the rotary controllers in the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class.The driving position is much harder to fault. The sports front seats are supportive and come with electric adjustment (including memory recall and lumbar adjustment). Plus, all-round visibility is good in the saloon and class-leading in the Avant estate. You also get parking sensors front and rear, a rear-view camera and bright LED headlights to illuminate the way ahead after dark.,,As you’d expect, given how much you’re paying, everything feels beautifully constructed and the materials are plush. Our only complaint is that the interior doesn’t feel significantly more special than those of much cheaper S line models.

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