The new Audi A6 is now on sale in IrelandRead Caroline’s Audi A6 review for everything you need to know about Audi’s large premium saloon on the Irish market.
The latest generation Audi A6 arrived in Ireland in 2018. Audi’s popular executive car has undergone a serious makeover with mild hybrid technology now a feature and a new cabin packed full of the most modern infotainment and assistance features.
Clearly inspired by the flagship Audi A8, Audi claims that the new A6 condenses “A8-style technological sophistication and refinement”. With the new arms race in the motor industry being fought along the lines of intelligent in-car technology features and showstopping connectivity, Audi needs that sort of A8 inspiration to futureproof the A6.
Yet to look at the new A6 you might doubt that much has changed. In typical Audi fashion, styling of the new A6 is a mere evolution, but bears all the hallmarks of contemporary Audi design language. The new A6 has a classic Audi silhouette and stately presence that goes with the territory of a premium saloon.
The interior of the new Audi A6Revolution inside the Audi A6
It’s inside where the true revolution has taken place. The interior of the A6 was starting to feel old-fashioned; but not anymore. The new A6 gets Audi’s slick new cabin design and infotainment that really speaks of the ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ that the brand has been built upon.
The centre console and top MMI touch response display (8.8-inches in standard form/10.1 inches with the optional MMI navigation plus upgrade) are directed towards the driver. The lower 8.6-inch display is used for the climate control, convenience functions and text input. The all-digital operating system gives haptic and acoustic response to inputs though it still can be a bit fiddly to use on the move. Yet this double screen layout looks so good and along with the Audi Virtual Cockpit (added as an option as part of the Technology Pack for €2925), this new car feels uber-modern and light years ahead of the competition.
The material quality is also excellent throughout and the overall cabin ambiance has to be the ultimate selling point for the new A6. In practical terms, the new A6 will seat five and there is now that bit more legroom, headroom and shoulder room for passengers. The footwells are large in the rear and the boot opens to reveal 530 litres of space.
The new Audi A6 now offers mild hybrid technology to improve efficiency across the rangeWhat are my options?
The new Audi A6 is available in two trim lines in Ireland, SE (from €50,800) and S Line (from €55,000). Standard equipment includes 18” alloys, LED headlamps, Lane Assist, cruise control, climate control, lumbar support, Audi Connect, leather interior, smart phone interface and an 8.8″ touchscreen (‘MMI touch response system’). S Line models add 19” alloys, lowered sport suspension, front sports seats, S Line styling kit, matrix LED headlamps and leather/Alcantara upholstery.
The car launches with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel (204hp) and two 3.0-litre V6 diesels (231hp and 286hp) with each model coming with an automatic gearbox as standard. A 2.0 TFSI petrol variant will follow later. All engines in the new A6 now feature new mild hybrid technology to improve efficiency across the range. My test car was a 2.0-litre TDI badged ’40 TDI’ and is a perfect match for the new A6. Running costs are reasonable too with motor tax of €200 per year and my fuel consumption over a week of driving was about 6l/100km. And I was enjoying this car a lot with a few sprints in Dynamic mode from Audi Drive Select!
The Audi A6 impresses with ride quality and in-car technologyWhat’s the new Audi A6 like to drive?
On the road the Audi A6 is impressively quiet and refined with a beautiful ride and feeling of gliding effortlessly over Irish roads. The 2.0-litre diesel and a 7-speed automatic gearbox work seamlessly together providing smooth, responsive power delivery.
Progressive steering, which becomes even quicker and more direct as the steering angle increases, is standard. There’s a nice fluidity to the steering and the A6 feels reasonably agile for its size. A BMW 5-Series would offer a more sporty and engaging drive, but there’s little really to complain about behind the wheel of the new A6.
When comfort and refinement are priority, the new Audi A6 really excels and it really is an absolute pleasure to drive. This generation of A6 is easily now the technology and innovation champion of its class. The mild hybrid technology delivers genuine results in terms of fuel efficiency, while the slick and modern interior makes rivals now look quite old-fashioned! The new A6 is a fine example of Audi’s expertise in making excellent large executive saloons.
Now would you like to watch a video review of the new Audi A6?
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Audi A6 2.0TDI 204HP S-tronic S Line
Price: €55,000 (Range from €50,800)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel
Power: 204 hp
Torque: 400 Nm
0-100km/h: 8.1 seconds
Top speed: 246 km/h
Economy: 4.3-4.7l/100km
CO2 emissions: 124-129 g/km
Motor tax: €270 per year