Audi's attention to details-both functional and aesthetic-abound in its luxurious cabin. The 12-way power driver's seat offers enough positioning options to satisfy even the fussiest frames. Power lumbar support can be fine-tuned to lend upper-middle or lower-lumbar support-a dream-come-true for those with lower-back problems.
Audi clearly understands that luxury-car buyers like to indulge themselves a bit. Therefore, there's a choice of three different interior "atmospheres." These design motifs are dubbed "Ambition," "Ambiente" and "Advance," distinguished by the upholstery and the type of the wood/aluminum trim. Our test model came in Ambiente, featuring sycamore wood trim.
The leather seats were handsome and crinkly, and among the most comfortable we'd ever settled into. The dash flows elegantly across the front. Attention to detail makes the A6 a joy to live with: Map pockets snap outward, on hinges, then close with a smart click. Grab handles retract into little cubbies when not in use. Front and rear seats are heated, and heating/cooling vents offer separate driver/passenger temperature controls. The rear seat is equipped with heat vents, cupholders and cigarette lighter/power receptacle. A heated steering wheel comes as part of the cold-weather package.
Front-seat legroom was plentiful, and rear-seat knee- and legroom was prodigious. At 38.5 inches, front headroom was ample-about the same as the Catera's, and more than an inch better than the Mercedes C280.
The stereo offers excellent audio quality and the controls are well designed. The trip computer is a bit harder to figure out and may require a trip to the owner's manual.
At night, the red-on-black instruments are startlingly different. Once you become accustomed to them, however, they offer reduced glare for improved night vision. Fighter pilots have used red gauges for years for this reason. Legibility of red on black suffers slightly, but this improves greatly by adjusting the instrument lighting to about the halfway point.
The A6 is powered by a 2.8-liter engine that harnesses 200 horses. That's more horsepower than that of the Infiniti I30 or Mercedes C280 and equal to the Cadillac Catera.
Audi's 2.8-liter dohc V6 engine-with five valves per cylinder-is hitched to a smooth-as-silk five-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission, which allows you to slide the shift lever sideways into a gate that provides quick manual upshift and downshift capability. The Tiptronic shifter provides improved shifting response. It's useful for holding the transmission in third on winding, mountainous roads. It also provides some entertainment value when commuting.
The A6 packs more than enough power for everyday city driving with plenty of reserve for passing on the highway. Capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.3 seconds and covering the standing quarter-mile in about 17.2 seconds, the A6 is not the quickest luxury sedan in the pack, nor is it the slowest. Like many German sedans, the gearing is oriented more toward high-speed cruising than acceleration performance.
A6 comes standard with four-wheel disc brakes and ABS, and the brakes were excellent. The brake pedal feels firm and braking power is precise.
Torsional rigidity is 50 percent stiffer than in the pre-1998 version. That means a less rocky ride on bumpy roads. It also allows for a more finely tuned suspension, which translates into a quieter ride and more assured handling.
Audi makes one of the best all-wheel-drive systems in the world. Its Quattro system will transfer as much as two-thirds of the power to the wheel that is providing the best traction. That comes in handy on snow and ice, but it also enhances handling on dry pavement. Handling on wet or icy roads is stable and predictable. This system counters driving errors, making the A6 a great car in emergency maneuvers.
During nicer weather, the A6 offers excellent traction in corners and coming out of them. The tires make themselves heard when pushed to the limit. The steering provides excellent on-center feel, meaning there's little play. The suspension is extremely responsive and well-controlled. This car is a joy on back roads.
Ride is smooth and refined in city traffic and silky smooth and stable on the highway. High speeds seem to bring out the best in this car. It drives like it's on rails. With a low drag coefficient of 0.28, wind noise is low, a small amount of it coming from the windshield wipers. There's quite a bit of power assist in the steering, which makes maneuvering through crowded parking lots easy.
To get this level of comfort and quietude, the A6 had to give up a little something in the road-dancing department. But the tuned suspension and deftly responsive steering make the A6 lot of fun to drive, whether you're city-bound or out in the sticks.