Item: Used Audi A6 2018-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/used-review/n991">BMW 5 Series</a> has long been the benchmark saloon in this class. It’s plush enough inside to compare with just about any other car on sale. It has a spacious, well-appointed interior and it’s great to drive, with a refined and economical range of engines.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/used-review/n17423">Mercedes-Benz E-Class</a> has a range of smooth and strong engines, a supple ride and a generous amount of standard equipment. It’s good to drive, if not up to the 5 Series’ exceptional level.

<h3>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a></h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/audi/a6?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used A6</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.</h3>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

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

The Audi A6 is classy, quiet&nbsp;and smooth, and makes an extremely impressive luxury car&nbsp;

Used Audi A6 2018

<h3 dir="ltr">MPG</h3>

Thanks to its hybrid technology, the CO2 emissions are sensible and its average fuel consumption is respectable, too. The 40 TDI puts out just 117g/km, and when we tested the economy we managed an average of 46.8mpg; both figures are better than its main rivals the BMW 520d and the Mercedes E 220 d can manage. The V6 diesel is reasonably economical too, considering its performance, but the V6 petrols are both thirsty old Hectors.&nbsp;

<h3>Car tax</h3>

All examples of this generation of A6 were registered after April 2017&nbsp;so attract a flat-rate fee, currently £150 a year, plus an additional cost&nbsp;for cars that cost more&nbsp;than £40,000 when new, currently £325 a year.&nbsp;To find out more about the current&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing</h3>

Examples that&nbsp;are over three years old will qualify for Audi’s fixed-price servicing, which costs from £185&nbsp;for a minor service and £355&nbsp;for a major one, based on&nbsp;cars with a 2.0-litre engine. A6s with larger engines will cost £215 and £409 for the same level of work.&nbsp;

<h3>Insurance groups</h3>

Insurance groups for the A6 are slightly higher than the equivalent models from BMW and Mercedes, with 2.0-litre diesels starting in group 33; the more powerful 3.0-litre BiTDI in group 44, followed by the most potent RS6 in group 50.

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Used Audi A6 2018-present

The Audi A6 is classy, quiet and smooth, and makes an extremely impressive luxury car 

You can find a good used A6 of 2018 vintage for between £22,000 and £25,000, depending on engine and trim, which is a reasonable saving on the price of a new one. Spend between £25,000 and £32,000 on a 2019 model from a franchised dealer, with a nominal mileage, again, a small saving on the new price. Expect to spend between £30,000 and £35,000 on a 2020 model.&nbsp;

The 2.0 TDI four-cylinder diesel is an engine that imbues the A6 with remarkable refinement, such that there are times you wouldn’t know it was a diesel. It’s the cheapest in the range and is also the most economical and, unless you are more interested in straight-line speed, that’s enough to make it the one we’d seek out.&nbsp;

Likewise, we’d stick with Sport trim as this offers all the goodies you could reasonably want or need.&nbsp;

Our favourite Audi A6: 2.0 TDI Sport

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<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

This is a very large car so check the front and back for scuffs and dents, and the alloy wheels for any kerb damage. Check that all the electrical equipment works as it should, including sat-navs, seat motors and the climate control.&nbsp;

It’s too early in the life of this particular A6 to identify specific problems, but the number of faults on the older model was relatively low. Among them, problems with the car’s infotainment system were a cause for concern, with phones not connecting and flickering screens being the main complaints. The latest software from Audi can cure some of these ills. Despite the old A6’s reputation for having a great interior, there were some issues with rattling parcel shelves and buzzing from interior trims.

The old A6 finished mid-table in the luxury car class in our most recent reliability survey. Audi as a brand finished in 19th place out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers.&nbsp;

 
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Steady evolution has always been the name of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/audi">Audi </a>A6’s game, almost back to the very olden days when it was known as the Audi 100. This process of natural selection is not to be feared, however, because the A6, whether in saloon guise as here or as the more voluminous <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/estate/used-review/n19735">Avant </a>estate, has in recent years developed into rather a splendid car.&nbsp;

This latest version, launched in 2018, ups the ante even further, even if at first glance it looks rather similar <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/used-review/n894">to the car it replaced</a>. Underneath, it harnesses new technologies borrowed from other Audis, cars such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a7/hatchback/used-review/n20932">A7 Sportback</a> and the expensive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a8/saloon/used-review/n17890">A8</a>, in the hopes of making this luxury car more comfortable, more efficient and more desirable. Chief among these are a new (mostly) aluminium chassis and some mild hybridisation for each variant.&nbsp;

Engine options are limited to two diesel options and two petrol, although firecracker RS versions will appear at a later date. The petrols are a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, in either 45 TFSI or 55 TFSI editions, while diesel options start with a 204bhp 2.0-litre 40 TDI four and finish with a 280bhp 3.0 V6 50 TDI. A lower-powered 3.0-litre diesel, badged 45 TDI, will join the range at a later date. All are four-wheel-drive quattro models, except the base 2.0 TDI, which can be had as a front-wheel-drive car only.&nbsp;

The mild hybridisation comes in a 48-volt system for the six-cylinder engines and a 12-volt one for the four-cylinder unit. The idea is that a belt alternator/starter connected to the crank recovers energy under deceleration and stores it in a lithium-ion battery under the boot. The A6 can also coast with the engine idling at speeds between 34 and 99mph, and the stop-start function can operate at higher speeds too, all in the name of fuel efficiency.&nbsp;

Standard equipment is pretty generous on any A6. All models come with electric front seats and LED headlights, and the entry-level Sport also comes with 18in alloy wheels, leather seat trim, dual-zone climate control, ambient LED interior lighting and keyless go. Upgrade to S line and you’ll get bigger 19in wheels and firmer sports suspension and adaptive LED headlights, as well as a lot of styling add-ons.

On the road, it’s mightily impressive. The 2.0 diesel can feel a little lethargic, but the rest of the engine options don’t lack for punch. Only a lag in the transmissions can annoy, as there’s often a slight hesitation between putting your foot down and anything actually happening. The 3.0 petrol V6 cars are both flyers, but their fuel consumption is commensurately high. All the engines are hushed, mind you, especially the four-cylinder diesel. Wind and road noise are low, too, and the interior of an A6 is generally a calming place to be.&nbsp;

There were four suspension options to choose from when the car was new. Entry-level Sport trim uses conventional steel springs and dampers, S line models use the same, but stiffened and lowered, and there was the option of adaptive suspension that comes with switchable dampers that can be softened or stiffened to suit your mood. We’d recommend you seek out a car with this fitted, if possible. Adaptive air suspension was an even pricier option, but shop around and you may pick up a car with it on, although oddly it can be caught out by sharp bumps taken quickly, causing a most unseemly thud.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Approach a corner and the A6 feels lighter and more agile than its size would lead you to believe. Some cars even come with four-wheel steering, which makes things sharper still. There’s plenty of grip and the overall balance instils confidence in the driver, even if one or two of its luxury-car rivals are more precise.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Inside, it’s easy to find the right driving position, thanks to an electrically adjustable seat and steering wheel. The driver is definitely pampered, with lumbar support and a dashboard of unimpeachable logic and good-quality materials. As standard, you get clear analogue dials ahead of you, but if the Technology Pack has been added these are replaced by digital dials on a 12.3in screen. They're excellent, doing more than analogue dials by being highly configurable and showing a wealth of useful information just below your sightline. There’s also the option of a head-up display.

Visibility is excellent, with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view parking camera. Audi’s latest generation of infotainment system swaps a rotary controller (like BMW’s iDrive) for a touchscreen with haptic feedback. The screen is sharp and, as standard, it's 8.8in diagonally across, but if you find a car with the Technology Pack fitted, the upgrades include a larger 10.1in screen.

Up front, there’s plenty of space for two, while in the rear passengers enjoy more leg and head room than most rival cars offer. A central third passenger will have to straddle a small central tunnel but otherwise gets a good amount of room. The boot is positively massive, and is a good shape and easily accessible - it’s one of the best in its class.&nbsp;

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/audi/a6?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used A6</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Audi A6 2018-present review

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Find out how much the Audi A6 2018 - present costs to run, covering expected MPG, servicing costs and insurance costs.

You can find a good used A6 of 2018 vintage for between £22,000 and £25,000, depending on engine and trim, which is a reasonable saving on the price of a new one. Spend between £25,000 and £32,000 on a 2019 model from a franchised dealer, with a nominal mileage, again, a small saving on the new price. Expect to spend between £30,000 and £35,000 on a 2020 model. ,,MPG,Thanks to its hybrid technology, the CO2 emissions are sensible and its average fuel consumption is respectable, too. The 40 TDI puts out just 117g/km, and when we tested the economy we managed an average of 46.8mpg; both figures are better than its main rivals the BMW 520d and the Mercedes E 220 d can manage. The V6 diesel is reasonably economical too, considering its performance, but the V6 petrols are both thirsty old Hectors. Car taxAll examples of this generation of A6 were registered after April 2017 so attract a flat-rate fee, currently £150 a year, plus an additional cost for cars that cost more than £40,000 when new, currently £325 a year. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.,ServicingExamples that are over three years old will qualify for Audi’s fixed-price servicing, which costs from £185 for a minor service and £355 for a major one, based on cars with a 2.0-litre engine. A6s with larger engines will cost £215 and £409 for the same level of work. ,Insurance groupsInsurance groups for the A6 are slightly higher than the equivalent models from BMW and Mercedes, with 2.0-litre diesels starting in group 33; the more powerful 3.0-litre BiTDI in group 44, followed by the most potent RS6 in group 50.Page 2 of 5

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Used Audi A6 2018-present review

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