Audi: all-wheel drive
Audi A6 3.0 quattro
test drive
Engine: V6, petrol
Displacement: 2976 cc
Power: 218 hp at 6300 rpm
Max torque: 290 Nm at 3200 rpm
Top speed: 241 km/h
Fuel tank:
70 liters
Fuel: AI-95
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
tiptronic with DSP and Sport mode
Permanent all-wheel drive quattro
Dimensions:
Length — 4916 mm
Width — 1855 mm
Height — 1459 mm
Tires: 225/55 R16
Curb weight: 1735 kg
Amir Gatin, director of Avtomakiyazh company, 10 years of driving experience
Finally, it came true! I had long dreamed of trying the new A6. In the Audi lineup, this model always seemed to me the benchmark. Smooth body lines, streamlined shapes, elegance and dynamics in the exterior never ceased to admire. But you must agree, a beautiful shell does not always guarantee the corresponding filling. So I kept thinking: how good are you inside? However, intuition told me that the A6 is fine in all respects. And I was not disappointed. Once in the driver's seat, I instantly entered a world of comfort and impeccable interior. The luxurious interior trim speaks for itself.
This is a car for self-confident people who know the value of their success. It is safe to say: the car will tell everything about its owner. And so, having settled behind the wheel, I felt some relaxation and carelessness. The wide range of driver's seat adjustments pleasantly surprised — a person of any build and height can easily find a comfortable position. I settled in comfortably, pressed the button instead of the ignition key — and off we go. The three-liter engine together with the automatic accelerates the car very briskly. On the road to the airport, I easily reach 180 km/h and do not feel the speed at all. The car rushes, or rather, glides smoothly and silently. Here it is, the pleasure of flight! But, as a law-abiding driver, I soon slow down to the permitted 90 km/h.
It seems that I am standing still — so smoothly the car moves. In this, by the way, lies a danger: drivers who relax behind the wheel of such perfection develop a false confidence in their abilities. Such self-confidence often leads to accidents… But let's not talk about sad things! The Audi A6 is flawless in everything! You want to drive it and drive it, somewhere far away, to the sea with your beloved woman, forgetting about everything in the world!
Vadim, commercial director of the newspaper Avtoklub-Kazan, 9 years of driving experience.
My acquaintance with the A6 began with awkwardness: I could not open the glove box! It turned out that you need to press some secret button, which I could not find on my own. Overall, the interior is filled with many buttons and switches; before the trip, I even had to undergo a brief briefing. Everything turned out to be simple and logical, the only thing I did not have time for was to figure out the on-screen menu, although even there everything is arranged intuitively. Before leaving, I looked into the trunk — it seemed indecently huge to me (as it turned out later, 546 liters). I involuntarily thought: it would be better to reduce it to add space for rear passengers. But here I was wrong: a person of average height can sit in the back, even crossing their legs. A pleasant difference between the “business class” E and the usual “family” D.
This time I was lucky to get behind the wheel first. What impressed me most was the gearbox — the six-speed automatic in normal D mode pleased with soft, almost imperceptible shifts. In combination with the three-liter engine, this mode is quite enough even for active city driving. There is a slight pause when pressing the gas sharply, but for more energetic acceleration, you can use the paddle shifters. I especially note: the paddles work even in D mode. This is very convenient and faster than moving the selector to the “±” position and manually downshifting. But if you are driving in a jerky rhythm and switch to manual mode, it is more convenient to use the lever rather than the paddles. Moreover, the manual mode algorithm here is the most modern, such is still rare.
The main difference: when you select mode “3”, the third gear is engaged exactly. In outdated automatics, the gearbox itself selects the desired gear in the range from first to third, limiting the driver's freedom. In addition, there are electronic protections for manual mode: the gearbox will not allow engaging a lower gear at too high revs; when dropping to 1000 rpm, it automatically shifts down; at redline, it automatically shifts up. You get real pleasure from such an automatic transmission! The only thing that did not impress was the Sport mode (S), which shifts up only in the red zone. It is only suitable for starting from an intersection. After all, during active driving, you need to shift both up and down in time.
Overall, although it is embarrassing to admit, I found no shortcomings in the A6 (except that the price is a bit high for me — $69,000). A very balanced and pleasant car. Even the leather on the seats does not irritate, as in other cars! Classically beautiful design, spacious interior, all-wheel drive, plenty of options, powerful engine and modern automatic transmission. This car deserves your attention.
Alfred, executive editor of the newspaper Avtoklub-Kazan, 11 years of driving experience.
For most ordinary drivers, there are cars whose quality is not even disputed. One of them is certainly Audi, especially the A6. The first thing you understand next to this car: the new A6 has noticeably grown compared to its predecessor. Both externally and in terms of interior volume. But this does not add any heaviness. On the contrary, the Audi has become more swift and fit. At the same time, it is pleasant to note that the company preserves its corporate style, does not succumb to momentary fashion. Today, alas, this is a rarity…
Before the manager handed over the keys, I had to undergo a short briefing. The car is so saturated with electronic “excesses” that some cannot be figured out on the go even with experience. For example, my colleague could not open the glove box — I suspected there was a button, but I could not find it right away. And mastering the MMI system will take more than one day. But more on that later.
The engine also starts with a button, but only if the key is inside the car. It is not necessary to insert it into the slot — it is enough for it to lie in the driver's pocket. The electronics will “see” the key without it.
I would advise Audi to patent the sound of the exhaust system. At idle, two chrome pipes quietly, in turn, pop with a pleasant sound that perfectly combines with the quiet rumble of a dormant powerful engine. Just a symphony! And how it sounds when you floor it! It is a low-frequency roar of a awakened tiger. But more on that later.
The briefing is over, we have the keys — let's go! And how the doors slam — a low, muffled, expensive “thud”. I settle into the back seat and realize: how good it is here! There is more than enough space, but it is not only that — it is cozy and calm here. The interior has simple, familiar and almost perfect shapes and proportions. The plastic is traditionally expensive both in appearance and to the touch, it is more pleasant to touch than some leather. It cannot be said that the A6 is a very soft car. Rather, moderately soft — moderately hard. No, there is no shaking, just the suspension is elastic. Aerodynamics are at their best — wind noise at any speed is not heard at all! Only by the emotional exclamations of those sitting in front do I understand that we are already flying over 160 km/h.
The MMI system does not leave my head, so, catching a convenient moment, I move to the front passenger seat. The rotating selector controls the selection of functions, and the buttons around it open access to submenus — be it navigation settings or on-board computer readings. Every movement of the climate control knobs is immediately reflected on the color display with animated pictures corresponding to the selected option. Everything is done elegantly and logically, but you begin to truly navigate these menus freely not right away.
Driving is a pleasure, and almost everything here is appealing, except for the steering wheel itself. It's somehow too plain, featureless, and slippery. Cover the hub with the four rings with your palm, and you have an ordinary wheel without any zest. The interior is designed in a distinctly masculine, 'driver-oriented' style — the cockpit seems built around the person behind the wheel, which is flattering. The luxurious-looking leather seat has a huge range of adjustments! While adjusting it with the electric drive all the way back, and then forward again, I had to move a bit closer, otherwise my legs simply couldn't reach the pedals. The steering column, by the way, also moves within very wide limits, and also with an electric drive!
The car handles with utmost precision: it willingly and obediently enters a given arc, greatly aided by all-wheel drive and a well-balanced weight distribution. Honestly, it's not easy to throw it off course with sharp turns. Even under serious lateral loads, the body doesn't lean too much. The six-speed automatic transmission handles power with utmost delicacy — it cares not about shift speed, but about ensuring passengers feel not a single jolt. Gears can also be changed via paddle shifters — left for 'minus', right for 'plus'. They are convenient to use, but the sequential mode here is more for show: the gearbox still decides on its own when to shift up or down. It's easier to just move the lever to sport mode and not think about it anymore.
Between the front seats now sits a small button for the electromechanical parking brake. Pull it up — the handbrake engages. Press it — it releases. Or you can not touch it at all: the smart automation will release the brake itself when starting off. Times change, and yet not long ago I considered climate control and an electromechanical 'handbrake' a bourgeois luxury. Now here we have an electric drive for the rear sunshade, a glovebox that opens with a button, and a whole bunch of similar little things!