Audi A6 and S6. What is the difference and does it make sense to pay more?

Unfortunately, today the sedan is no longer the most popular body format. As sales statistics show, in our country the era of large sedans is over: top positions in the leaderboards are occupied by either crossovers or representatives of the budget segment. Full-fledged business sedans are left far behind. With the exception of Toyota, of course, but that's a slightly different story.

This test drive is dedicated to just such a business sedan – the Audi A6 in the C8 body. To be more precise, our car is equipped with a 55 TFSI engine and all-wheel drive.

This test drive will be different from the previous ones: in it I will go from the opposite and immediately say that this Audi A6 is a good car. It would be foolish to think otherwise. For the same equipment as ours, you will need to pay about 100 thousand dollars. But do not jump to conclusions, because the basic version of the same model will cost 43 thousand. It turns out that the options in our car cost more than the base sedan itself.

Too lazy to read? Watch the Audi A6 test video:

And this is already starting to be interesting and suggests that among the configurations and options for the A6 there is an opportunity to search (and find) the most optimal “six”, which is worth considering for purchase.

Appearance

I am sure that it is not worth dwelling on the difference in dimensions of the Audi A6 (C8) and the previous model (C7), because the new “six” has grown slightly. As before, it is a large sedan with an almost three-meter wheelbase.

But the general approach to the design of the model is worth noting. Audi really manages to make simple things attractive, and this quality sets them apart from all competitors (regardless of country of origin). Simplicity and restraint are in the first place here and, in my opinion, this is the most valuable feature in the appearance of the A6.

Of course, the basic version of the sedan will look different from the test version, because our car has an optional S-Line package, which, in addition to other linings and bumpers, also includes other interior design. Without this option, the Audi A6 will look much simpler, but the cost of such a package is $ 2,400.

In addition, you also need to pay extra for body coloring. Only the basic black color is available without an additional charge, but such a gray one (like the test car) will cost $1,300 already. Therefore, if you want your chosen car to look more impressive, you can immediately add at least $ 3,700 to its cost.

If you remember, Henry Ford once said that 80% of a car's beauty comes from its wheels. In this I agree with him one hundred percent. The test car is equipped with 20-inch wheels with a spectacular pattern, while the base A6 is equipped with 18-size wheels. I remember that even ten years ago even 18-inch wheels were considered huge, but now even the 20th diameter does not look foreign, but seems to be just right. Such wheels for a base car will cost the buyer $4,000. In my opinion, they are just great and very suitable for this sedan.

LED optics is already present in the basic version. Our A6 is equipped with Matrix HD headlights and dynamic turn indicators. This optics “cuts out” oncoming traffic and highlights the turns. But its cost is already $ 2,700, and conventional matrix headlights (without the “HD” prefix) can be obtained for 2,000. It seems to me that LED is already good, especially since they are already available in the basic configuration. But matrix – this is for a sophisticated lover.

It is easy to calculate that these options add $ 7,700 to the base cost (S-Line package, color, 20-inch wheels). That is, a car for 51 thousand will look about the same as the test one.

Salon

As before, there is no lack of space in the front seat – there is a lot of space. It is even possible that the flagship A8 sedan provides no more space, and the cars are almost identically equipped. There is a power steering column, seat position memory, mechanical curtains on the rear doors and an electric curtain on the rear window. The seats themselves are trimmed in leather with Alcantara, the front panel and doors are also neatly sheathed in leather, there are also wooden inserts. Everything is done very high quality, looks modern, and in some places much more stylish and organic than some direct competitors. But at the same time, we must not forget that you need to pay for all the options. Therefore, the total amount for a rich finish seems just crazy.

The dashboard in the car is digital (the same as in other premium models of the brand: Q7, Q8, A7 and A8, S- and RS-versions). When you start the engine on the instrument panel, you are greeted by the inscription “Welcome to the future.” And with these words I completely agree, because such a salon really looks like the future.

In the basic version, by the way, there is no “future”. The instruments are analog, and the central climate control display has a smaller diagonal. Of course, there is nothing critical here, because everyone chooses a car for themselves.

But the prices for options are often striking in their indiscretion (to put it mildly). For example, a set of 10-inch display, navigation and digital instrument cluster costs $4,500. And if you need Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, you'll have to pay extra. But you need to immediately make a reservation that in version S all this equipment is available by default, that is, you do not need to pay extra for it. And the more I add options to the A6, the more reason I have to doubt that I should choose the A6, and not the S6. We will return to this conversation later.

The back row of the A6, surprisingly, is not as spacious as one would expect from a wheelbase of almost three meters. In fact, the amount of legroom here is about the same as in the VW Passat. For the rear passengers, there is a separate touch-screen climate control, there are heating. But the main thing is the presence of a pleasant feeling of comfort. And in this regard, Audi, no doubt, is in the lead compared to all competitors.

The luggage compartment is huge, and its volume of 530 liters will be enough for any purpose. In terms of the quality of materials, everything is expected – without compromise. As befits a car of this class.

Engine and dynamics

As I already mentioned, the basic version of the Audi A6 (45 TFSI) will cost 43 thousand dollars. Such a car is equipped with a 2.0-liter engine with 245 hp. with. and 370 Nm of torque, which is transmitted to the front axle. Of course, these indicators will be quite enough for simple movement around the city. But still, since you are buying an Audi A6, you should think about something more serious. The test sedan is equipped with a 55 TFSI engine, that is, a 3.0-liter V6 with a return of 340 “horses” and 500 Nm of torque. Torque is already realized on both axles. But it's not the dry numbers that impress (although 500 Nm is a pretty promising indicator), but the acceleration dynamics.

Acceleration to the first 100 km / h is declared by the manufacturer in 5.1 s, which is a very worthy indicator. With Launch Control activated and a two-pedal start, I managed to accelerate to “hundreds” in… 5.05 seconds, and even the first time!

I was pleasantly impressed with this score. And this indicator also means that VAG has stopped directly lying to their customers.

By the way, during this test, we decided to experiment a little. In addition to the acceleration dynamics, we also measured the braking dynamics from a speed of 100 km/h and 60 km/h. So, from a “hundred” the car stopped in 38.75 m (3.1 s), and from 60 km / h – in 13.57 m and (1.96 s).

Of course, this 3.0-liter TFSI is good. The maximum torque is achieved from low revs (1370-4500 rpm), so fast movement is easy for him. But do not forget about the cost of such pleasure. Such a sedan (with the S-line package, 20-inch wheels and a 3.0-liter engine) will cost $63,500. And this is with basic interior equipment.

Drive

The interior of the Audi A6 is very quiet and calm. You can drive at 1000 rpm and not notice it at all: the motor has so much torque that the gearbox allows you to do it without problems. The high level of noise insulation is the merit of the optional double glazing installed here. The engine is not audible, and only by a slight vibration on the steering wheel you can feel the moment of its start.

True, it is quiet here until the moment when under the wheels of the car there is smooth, non-abrasive asphalt (this is typical, by the way, for the sound insulation of the A8). As soon as the road begins to be covered with joints, the “slaps” of the tires become clearly visible. But this is felt only against the background of general silence in the cabin. I think if the background noise inside was higher, these reactions to the joints could not be noticed at all.

Comparing the level of sound insulation of the A6 with the Lexus ES, for example, I can say that it is better there… Although it would be correct to say not “better”, but “more”: there is a rather strange feeling of silence in the Lexus cabin. In the Audi A6, on the contrary, the interior seems to be filled with air, even despite the slap of the wheels.

In terms of ride comfort (not least thanks to the air suspension), this sedan deserves the highest praise. Pneumatics can work in different modes, the car's ground clearance can be forced to increase. True, today you will not surprise anyone with ride height adjustments, but many can envy the smoothness of the ride (in Comfort mode) of this Audi A6. This is especially noticeable at low speed. For example, you may simply not notice some speed bumps or tram rails. Incredible smoothness sometimes “responds” too loudly when working out bumps, but if you have already driven a modern VAG car before, this phenomenon will not surprise you. True, there are nuances here.

In fact, it’s not very smooth to drive in Auto or even Comfort mode, and it doesn’t work out very well. The reason for this is the S-Tronic robotic gearbox (with two wet clutches). It should be noted that the previous body in European versions was also equipped with a “robot” (DL501). It also twitched in the first gears, and is said to have easily withstood at least 200,000 kilometers without major repairs.

In our situation, it is difficult to talk about the resource, but, probably, since you bought the version with a 340-horsepower engine, it is hardly worth discussing the constant calm driving style.

In the test car, the “robot” twitches in the first three gears. Interestingly, this is least noticeable in the Efficiency mode. But here again there is a dissonance, because the economical mode and 340 forces do not combine well. In general, it would be understandable if you were buying a more budget car with such a feature of the box (where twitches could be attributed to a lack of engine torque). But here, blaming the engine for a lack of power and torque will not work. After all, everything is in abundance, but, nevertheless, the gearbox still behaves, in fact, as on small-capacity representatives of the VAG group. I won’t call it critical, but the word “strange” will be quite appropriate.

Although there is a way out, because there is a diesel version of the sedan with a 3.0-liter engine, which is paired with a ZF hydromechanical “automatic machine”. Such a car bears the nameplate S6. And – returning to the topic already touched upon above – he is able to turn the picture upside down.

The S6 starts at $66,000. 3.0 TDI, installed under the hood of a sedan, produces 349 hp. with. and a very impressive 700 Nm. With an 8-speed “automatic” to the first 100 km / h diesel Audi S6 accelerates in 5 seconds. In addition, the S-version is initially better equipped, and additional options for it are cheaper than for a regular A6 (it is also interesting that the optional sports differential can only be ordered in the S-version). For example, air suspension costs $1,100, while A6 costs $2,500. And if you use the configurator thoughtfully, you can assemble cars of equal options for the same price. But at the same time, the diesel engine will not require you to 14 liters per “hundred”. Not to mention that if you “advance” well, then an indicator of 17-18 liters becomes more realistic.

In evening time

Separately, it is worth mentioning the drive on the Audi A6 at night. The interior of the sedan is filled with the magical light of contour lighting, which is simply impossible not to fall in love with. Of course, it can be customized to your own taste.

Optics works fine, all systems work as expected. For example, the blind spot monitoring system blocks the door if you want to enter the roadway, and a car is moving along it at that time. There is also a traffic jam assist system. This assistant is able to steer even at a speed of 5 km / h, independently stop the car at the right time, and then – also independently – start moving again. In the presence of other pleasant things, for example – the backlight of seat belt buckles. And there are really a lot of such elements in the car.

There's something special about driving slowly around town in the evening, and I love the illuminated “Quattro” sign in front of the front passenger. This is a nice design touch (the effect of the inscription “Audi” would not have been like that at all), and also a reference to the legendary past of the brand.

Although the all-wheel drive here is not permanent, namely “Quattro Ultra” (the clutch connects the rear wheels if necessary). With such a system, this sedan can generally remain front-wheel drive for a certain time.

findings

There is no doubt that the Audi A6 is the embodiment of the best practices of the brand for all the years of work and effort. Comparing this model with the older A8, I allow myself the liberty to draw a parallel with the world of the Italian mafia: if the A8 could be called the “Godfather”, then the A6 surely deserves the status of “Consigliere”. That is, this is not a rude, rustic subordinate, yelling at every corner, which he “decided”, but a serious and balanced person who is aware of his real capabilities.

Audi A6 is a stunning and amazing car at the same time. Its basic configuration is very competitive in terms of its cost, but at the same time, this sedan does not make sense to consider this sedan in versions “for oneself” in comparison with the S-version, which already provides much more at the turn of 70 thousand dollars. If you expect to spend more than this amount on an Audi sedan, I recommend that you choose the S6.