The Good :)
Highly Refined, Powerful Engine, Superb
MMI User Interface, Luxurious Interior, Excellent Handling.
The Bad :(
Expensive with options, Needs larger
passenger compartment.
Engine
8Cyl 4.2 Liter
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Output
350 hp @
6800rpm
325 lb-ft @ 3500rpm
Top Speed
130 mph Limited in USA
0-60 mph
5.8 seconds
Weight
4,222 lbs
Price As Tested
$56,300
From the words of the founder of Audi, August Horch a car company was
born. “The only innovations that interest me are the ones that
lead to greater strength and quality.” Audi has been innovating
for more than 100 years and this constant strive for making a better
car has made Audi today one of the best car makers in the world.
We recently tested the 2008 Audi A6 and were taken aback by the overall
level of quality, refinement and superb engineering that not only makes
the A6, but the entire Audi lineup, the best cars on the road today.
The exterior of the A6 is sleek and stylish with the vehicle looking
like its slightly leaning forward. All body panels are smooth
from the front end to the rear. Everything is as if it fits
perfectly -- from the large front grille and the bold front end design
-- to the smooth yet uniform rear end. We liked the fact that
most panels do not have cuts or grooves in them, but instead are as
smooth as ice. The rear apron is one such body panel that is very
smooth and hugs the dual tailpipes and rear end nicely preventing you
from seeing any muffler or exhaust pipes that we commonly see in lesser
brands. The A6 now has more presence than before, being 193
inches long and 73 inches wide. Touches of chrome accents around
the windows and on the front and rear ends offers a higher class
appearance. All A6 models for 2008 receive the S-line treatment
with a distinctive front grille with S-line badges, better front and
rear bumpers and standard 18 inch wheels. Our vehicle had the
optional 19 inch wheels and high performance summer tires.
Open the doors and you notice that both doors are frameless with
windows surrounded by no sheet metal. We thought this design
feature made for a convertible-like feel while retaining more of the
vehicle on the body structure itself for an overall stronger car.
Our test car’s keyless start feature allows you to open the doors by
just touching the door handles. Locking is also easily done by
small buttons located just under the handles. When opening and
closing the doors you immediately notice their weight which gives a
strong and solid feeling. Doors open with segmented latches which
keep them open even when you are on a slanted hill. Many German
makes have learned that the first touch and opening of the door is
highly important in conveying the overall feel and build quality of the
entire car and here you definitely get that high quality feeling.
The owner of an A6 will appreciate the luxury found inside as this is
one of the best fit and finishes we have seen in any car. The
driver focused cockpit offers it all, using aluminum, leather, wood,
and distinctive sounds from the turn of each control switch. Our
caramel colored leather interior looked sumptuous and inviting.
Sitting in the drivers seat you will also remember the exterior’s
forward leaning stance which is carried to the inside on all door
panels, giving you a moving forward feeling.
The instrument cluster is a delight to view with two large gauges and a
large computer like display in between them. This display quickly
shows the driver almost every type of function in this vehicle, from
trip computers, to open doors, to navigation directions, and the
automatic cruise control. With a push of a button the car also
checks all fluid levels and electronically displays the results.
Rotating through the screens you will wonder how Audi did such a great
job of putting everything here in a multicolor display that has almost
every graphic imaginable. It is simply amazing and far better
than any other system we have tested.
The steering wheel is power tilt and telescoping with an easy exit move
away feature and its position can also be stored in the memory for two
drivers. We loved the Audi jog dials on either side of the wheel
face which you can push to select a setting from volume to channel
selection. For example on the volume dial, a simple push mutes
the volume. The steering wheel has paddle shifters that allow you
to upshift with a click of the right hand and downshift with the
left. Allowing you to have some fun on your drive home every day.
On the MMI screen next to the dash is another larger display of
everything the car offers: navigation, stereo, vehicle settings,
climate control, and telephone functions. Watch our video for a
view of how the system quickly changes menus and shows you a list of
stations which is constantly updated with song titles as you
drive. This system is one of our favorites and a must have if you
decide to purchase an A6.
Climate control functions can be set on the dash with a twist of two
aluminum control knobs, which feel very good by the way. The
automatic setting works very well with little noise. There is
very good air circulation all around the cabin thanks to the indirect
ventilation feature and B-pillar outlets. The system also has air
quality, humidity, and sun angle sensors. When you press the
heated seat button, the MMI screen shows you a photo of a seat and a
dial from 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest setting. You can also
control the air vent direction electronically via a switch which shows
you a graphical display on the MMI screen. The same goes for fan
speed as well. This climate system worked flawlessly and we never
had issues with windows getting fogged up in cold rainy days.
Just press the automatic setting, set a temperature and never worry
about playing with temperature, fan, or window defogger settings again.
Our test car also featured a rear window shade that automatically
lowers when you go into reverse. The rear side windows also offer
manual window shades making the A6 feel like a luxurious sedan with a
private rear cabin. Putting the car into reverse also turns on
the rear view camera which is displayed in the MMI screen. This
was a very useful feature with lines that would bend and show you what
you could hit as you backed up. Sensors also beep as you approach
objects.
The location of the MMI system is quite good with dials being right
under your hand as you rest your arm on the center armrest while
sitting. All buttons feel exceptionally high grade. The jog
dials for the MMI and the volume control are ribbed and made of metal
for a high quality feel. Turning the dials you will notice that
they make a nice clicking sound, which goes to show you the level of
detail Audi engineers went through. The deep gloss of the wood
accents adds to the level of luxury found inside the A6.
Located on the steering wheel is a button for voice control of the
navigation, stereo and the telephone. The system worked well
under various conditions and was useful at keeping your attention on
the road instead of playing with the buttons. We did not like the
fact that the Bluetooth phone pairing required you to first connect the
phone via a wire that you must buy separately at an Audi dealership
along with the bluetooth option you must add. Its very
strange to first connect the phone via wire, the entire point of
Bluetooth was to have a wireless connection! Audi should
look at GM’s system that is built into the rearview mirror; it’s simple
to use and works very efficiently in pairing any Bluetooth capable
phone. Inside the glove box is a is a six- disc CD changer as
well as a connector for the Audi interface option plug which plugs into
another cable you must buy from Audi for items like iPods, USB devices,
or standard audio jacks. The benefit is that everything shows up
nicely on the MMI screen once its attached. Features such as a
Bose surround sound system are excellent with DSP technology that
offers amazing sound quality. The A6 also comes with Sirius
satellite radio integrated into the MMI system so you can change
channels quickly, something that VW should learn from.
Front seats are comfortable while not being too firm. Both front
seats offer power lumbar support which is quite good for long
journeys. Even after driving for many hours we felt relaxed and
comfortable. Seat belts are also very comfortable with the right
amount of tension as not to cause discomfort.
Our test car offered the leather dash covering which looked quite nice
and had yellow stitching to match the caramel color of the interior
leather. We thought that this leather dash should have been
standard and not a $1300 option. The plastic trim piece
surrounding the instrument cluster and MMI screen should also have been
of a high quality material such as aluminum or wood.
On the A6 the glove box is electronically opened by way of a switch on
the dash. We found that this switch was rather large and
unnecessarily located right next to the center screen and away from the
glove box. Why not put the button next to the glove box and make
the MMI screen much larger? The automatic headlights with front
and rear fog lamps are controlled by a switch located near the
instrument cluster to the left of the steering wheel. This makes
for a clean and button free lower dash panel which was a pleasant and
thoughtful design.
The Bi-Xenon headlights feature a turning capability so you can see
through curves much easier. They were quite bright and worked
well at lighting up the road around curves and bends. We are
thankful that this technology is standard on the 4.2 V8 model instead
of an expensive option. More automakers should be offering these
types of lights as standard equipment because it has been years since
they were first introduced. Rear brake lights use LED’s which not
only light up faster than a regular halogen bulb but are also far
brighter. Another useful feature is that as you approach or leave
the car,, the front, the rear, as well as sides of the vehicle (by way
of small lamps under the rear view mirrors) light up to give you
visibility at night. The tail lamps also look quite nice at night
with a twinkle to their design for a very bling bling appearance.
The A6 is also available with a optional lane departure warning system
that slightly vibrates the steering wheel when a driver changes lanes
without blinking or unintentionally drifts into the other lane.
Our test car featured the Audi adaptive cruise control system which
keeps a set distance from the vehicle in front of you by way of a radar
system. The system can be set a few different ways ranging from
how far you want to keep away to how aggressive you want the car to
apply the gas and brake. There are three modes ranging from a
comfortable manner, a normal manner, or a dynamic manner. Each
method slightly changes the way the car reacts when room becomes
available in front of you. In dynamic mode the car moves forward
very quickly and gets quite close to the car in front and then brakes
hard. This mode is very realistic to how an aggressive driver
would quickly speed up until he gets close to another car whereby he
would step hard on the brakes. It was just a bit difficult to let
a computer do such hair-raising maneuvers for you. After various
attempts we decided to keep it in comfort setting. We have taken
pictures of what the screen looks like while using this system and the
various warning levels. A sliding bar shows you the distance in
front and as you approach the red section of the bar the vehicle will
beep and warn you to take over.
The rear seating compartment is quite comfortable with deep and angled
seat bottoms and more legroom than in pervious models. Both seats
fold 60/40 with a quick button push, allowing you to store longer items
in the trunk. The roof line in back is rather low and the windows
very high and narrow which makes it feels cosy and small in back.
Perhaps lessening trunk space and stretching the cabin will make the
rear seat more roomy. Quality in back is just as good in in front
with wood trim and strong aluminum door knobs. With all the
window shades closed it is a great feeling
inside.
The trunk is deep and cavernous with plenty of room for bags to fly
around, and Audi has at least thought of that fact and has provided 2
hooks in the roof that let you hang bags from them. This is the
end of flying oranges and bananas in your trunk. A full sized
spare tire is located below the floor and removing this can give you a
huge amount of space as well as reduce quite a bit of weight.
Many manufacturers have eliminated the spare tire and instead replaced
it with a can of tire sealant which is good enough to get you to a
repair shop but here you get a extra real wheel.
At night the inside glows a wonderful red color. The instrument
cluster is beautifully backlit in white with glowing red needles that
look like they are liquid. We loved how the MMI control system
was lit with a lava lamp like glow to the indicator lights. The
deep red glow was simply beautiful. Doors feature strips of white
light which you can also see in our photos. The floor lighting is
also a nice white glowing light that is offered in all four seating
spaces. The lighting is also controlled by way of the MMI system
to your precise liking. Even the buttons on the steering wheel
are lit. We are glad to see items from the A8 being brought into
the A6 model line.
The keyless start feature is a godsend once you get used to it.
Keeping a key in your pocket allows you to get in and out easily and
the system is quite smart at recognizing whether the key has slipped
out into the car or if it is outside of the car. Even the electronic
parking brake is easier to use and more advanced in its
operation. Starting the car or turning it off happens with a
touch of a button that is located next to the gear shifter.
The 4.2 liter V8 engine in our Audi A6 produces 350 horsepower and 325
lb-ft of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 takes a brisk 5.8
seconds. Taking a peak under the hood shows you that the engine
is placed is placed almost in front of the front axle. The tight
fit makes you wonder how a V10 can fit in here as well.
The driver feels like he is at the helm of a smooth and powerful
machine. The electrical steering offers almost excellent road
feel (not as much as a Porsche) and is very precise. It makes
turning easy in slow conditions when you need to do a U turn and more
precise when you are going fast. The smooth engine is very
powerful and power is strong from highway speeds into the triple
digits, putting a big smile on your face everyday. With all four
wheels providing push, you get a amazing feel when accelerating.
Brakes are equally quick to slow you down, it is a feeling that must be
felt once in your life. We encourage you to take this car for a
test drive, drive up to 60 mph and hit the brakes hard with one solid
press of the pedal. With all the 350 horses, carving through
traffic as if you are a movie star in a Hollywood action film is so
much fun.
In mixed driving we achieved an average of 18 miles per
gallon. Driving purely on the highway at 65 mph may let you
approach the highway mileage stated on the window sticker, listed as 25
mpg, although it is difficult to do this with such a powerful, quick
and smooth engine.
All engines choices in the A6 feature Audi’s FSI direct injection
technology. Direct injection delivers more dynamic engine
response with higher torque and power output and lower fuel
consumption. The main factor contributing to these improvements
is how fuel is delivered. Fuel is not injected into the intake
port but rather directly into the combustion chamber. The
injector, which is supplied by a single-piston pump and common rail
fuel line, is on the side of the cylinder head and controls the
injection time to within thousandths of a second, at injection
pressures of up to 1600 PSI. This technology can be adapted to
hydrogen fuel and hydrogen can be gotten from water by electrolysis
enabling us to all run our cars on water in the future. More
people should be asking Audi to take the lead on this front.
Other exciting features of the FSI engines are on-demand fuel supply,
four-valve technology, and a variable intake manifold and infinitely
variable camshaft adjustment which gives the driver a dynamic and
powerful reaction to every movement of the accelerator. All this
equals muscular torque and a high standard of fuel efficiency.
Audi’s have always been known for their Quattro all-wheel drive
system. This system particularly appeals to people who live
in northern states where it snows a lot. In fact, we have talked
to numerous people who can’t live without their Audi’s. A system
is also a typical feature of all high-performance Audi vehicles for
performance and traction reasons. Quattro models come with a
torsion center differential that distributes engine torque in a
straightforward but very effective flow of power to the front and rear
axles. This makes a significant contribution to the driving
dynamics and superior safety, even in extreme situations weather
conditions.
Audi’s dynamic suspension featured on the A6 is likewise based on
sporting, proven technology: the enhanced four-link front suspension
and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension are adopted from
the Audi A8. The result is a standard of dynamic driving behavior
beyond comparison. Like the A8, the A6 is a sporty and dynamic
car, benefiting from speed-dependent Servotronic and supplementing the
precise handling of the new A6 by even more sensitive steering
precision.
The A6 comes with a long list of standard safety equipment.
Active safety components include the latest generation of ESP, brake
assist and Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD). There is
also front and side airbags as well as the head curtain airbag
system. The A6 achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its occupant
protection in both frontal and side impact crash tests. A four
year and 50,000 mile warranty is included with a 12 year warranty
against corrosion. A 12 month 5,000 mile no charge first
scheduled maintenance is also included. Four years of roadside
assistance is provided as well should you have a flat tire.
Our test car started off at a base price of $56,300. Optional
items are the adaptive cruise control at $2000. The Technology
package adds items such as the voice control system, advanced key and
parking system for $1,850. The DVD navigation system is
$1,600. Nineteen inch wheels with summer performance tires
including the spare wheel and tire are $1,200. The leather
covering on the driver’s side of the dashboard is a pricy $1,275.
The leather steering wheel found on our test car was $690. Power
rear and manual side sun shades are $400. A music interface for
your media player is $290. Destination of $775 brings our total
to $66,380. You can probably have this car at dealerships close
to the invoice price with a good deal of bargaining.
The 2008 Audi A6 is a marvel of engineering and technology. The
car handles brilliantly and the engine, transmission and suspension
work flawlessly. The A6 is silky smooth and the engine has
instant power whenever you require it. Inside the level of
craftsmanship is suburb and everything from the fine leather and wood
to the heavy doors and aluminum dials feels so great. In the A6,
Audi has designed a car that will provide years of enjoyment to the
driver while providing everything from comfort to performance all in
one package. There is no need to buy a separate sports car, the
A6 can compete with the Porsches and seat four people comfortably.
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PRICING
INVOICE
RETAIL
Base Pricing
$52,361
$56,300
Destination
$775
$775
WTC Technology
Package Includes voice control system, Advanced Key and
advanced rear parking
system with rear-view camera. Voice control system allows voice
activated control of CD player, audio system and navigation system.
$1,721
$1,850
PND Audi Navigation
System
$1,487
$1,600
YVW Leather Driver
Side Dashboard
$1,185
$1,275
PQ4 19" Alloy Wheels
w/Summer Performance Tires
$1,115
$1,275
3FR Solar Sunroof
$790
$734
3Y5 Power Rear and
Manual Rear Side Window Sunshades
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