2016 Audi A6

Otherwise, the A6's interior look remains the same as last years, which is to say: precise, if somewhat busy at times. There are dozens of panel, trim, and upholstery joints and seams. Each is executed with a surprising degree of precision, but the sum can be somewhat frenetic, if subdued in hue. With a low, slim dash and instrument panel, Audi supplements the information display with a pop-up central screen and available head-up display in front of the driver.

Ultimately, the Audi A6 continues to present the face it wants to, the sensibility which it must: that of the no-nonsense business person who owns it. For those seeking more expression, passion, or raw aesthetic appeal in a (very) similar package, there's always the Audi A7.

In addition, the 2016 Audi A6 2.0T gets an S tronic 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard equipment for front-wheel-drive models. The quattro all-wheel-drive version of the 2.0T continues with last year's 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The new dual-clutch gearbox delivers precise shifts and is expected to slightly enhance gas mileage—and best of all, it avoids the constant-RPM drone and sluggish feel of the previous CVT transmission, which is no longer offered. 

The 2016 Audi A6 3.0T also gains power, rising to 333 hp and 325 lb-ft, up from last year's rating of 310 hp and 325 lb-ft. That small improvement is enough to be felt, especially in mid-speed passing maneuvers such as those typically found on two-lane byways.

Audi's A6 TDI, with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and 240-hp, 428-lb-ft ratings, has been withdrawn from sale while Audi reaches an agreement with the EPA on how to fix diesel emissions that were purposefully understated in official testing.

For the performance enthusiast, the 2016 Audi S6 is the best option, improving power output and handling performance. For the 2016 model, the S6 upgrades from 420 hp to 450 hp from an enhanced version of the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. The S6 comes standard with quattro all-wheel drive and an S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

While handling is unobjectionable in all A6 variants, it's a mostly passion-free affair in the standard A6 2.0T. The A6 3.0T is more engaging, especially with the 2016 model's slight uptick in power output, but again, handling is competent but not inspired.

In the Audi S6, the brand has made strides to increase the fun factor, and succeeds wildly with the upgraded 450-hp output; handling, while more precise and sportier than elsewhere in the A6 range, is still that of a large-ish luxury sedan, however, without that glimmer of sports car ability one might hope to find.

The A6’s front seats offer very good leg and head room, though taller drivers may find lateral knee space limited by the wide center tunnel area. Audi's seats are very comfortable for long road trips, and the headrests get a special nod—they don't stick out too far, a problem with other active-headrest designs. Heated front seats are standard as well, and on the most expensive models, they're ventilated for improved hot-weather comfort.

The A6’s 14.1 cubic feet of trunk space is not only smaller than the A7’s hatchback area, it's even a bit small by luxury-sedan standards. The trunk’s cargo floor is also rather high.

Fold-down rear seats are standard, though they don’t fold completely flat. Like many other German sedans, too, the A6 doesn't offer up tons of space to store smaller items. Cupholders are small and maintain a tight grip, but the doors have molded-in niches for water bottles. The center armrest bin is a bit shallow, and the glove box doesn’t offer much storage space either.

The A6 is right at the center of the mid-size segment in overall size, but thanks to a longer nose and a shorter trunk lid, the A6 offers somewhat less space inside.

Overall, the A6 family of sedans has excellent fit and finish, a tight cabin feel, and an interior that blocks out road noise a bit better than the smaller A4.

The A6 also offers all the active-safety features you’d expect from a luxury car, including many of those offered by rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitors, a rearview camera, a night-vision system, and a head-up display are all available. The night-vision system has been upgraded for 2016 to recognize more animal types, and the side-collision detection features have been improved as well.

Thanks to a combination of adaptive cruise control and Audi's Pre-Sense system, which pre-tightens seatbelts and prepares the car when it detects an imminent collision, the A6 can completely slow down when it senses obstacles changing speeds in the lane ahead. All the latest safety technology—including adaptive cruise, Pre Sense, and a new cornering-camera system-are bundled in a Driver Assistance package.

Front, side and curtain airbags are standard on all A6 models, as are anti-lock brakes, and traction and stability control. A Bluetooth hands-free interface is also standard.

Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system can also be considered a safety-related feature; it's not available on four-cylinder A6 sedans, but it's standard on V-6 cars and the S6. Blind-spot monitors are standard on all A6 cars from the Prestige trim level and up.

We've found outward visibility to be excellent to the front, and better than other cars of this type thanks to the rather low beltline and large glass areas—although the stubby decklid still makes the rearview camera system useful.

While there’s no touchscreen, there's a touchpad called MMI Touch that allows some secondary input, including acting as preset buttons for the audio system, and as a Palm Pilot-style scratch pad, on which the driver can write out letters with their fingertip to enter destinations or choose contacts from the phone book.

The A6 Prestige models sit at the top of the model line and include a 7.0-inch display screen with MMI touch. A 14-speaker Bose sound system is standard on these models, as well as adaptive headlights; distinct 18-inch wheels; four-zone climate control; LED interior lighting; ventilated front seats; a power-adjustable steering column; cornering lights; and S-line cosmetic trim, including its own grille and bumpers. S6 models were only offered in Prestige trim.

On the base A6, standard equipment includes a sunroof; power front seats; cruise control; tri-zone automatic climate control; power windows, locks and mirrors; tilt/telescoping steering; keyless ignition; leather upholstery; 17-inch wheels; AM/FM/XM/CD audio with a 5.0-inch LCD screen; and LED taillights. Heated front seats are also standard.

Opt for the Premium Plus package, and you can add a 7.0-inch color display; a CD changer (for anyone who still uses physical artifacts); HD Radio; real-time traffic data; front and rear parking sensors; 18-inch wheels and tires; and Audi Connect, and an in-car wireless data service through T-Mobile. Audi Connect taps into the wireless data connection to enable Google Earth navigation maps and traffic information. Audi's system also allows you to plan a trip from your computer using Google Maps, then send up to 50 destinations to the car's navigation system over the internet.

A cold-weather package is also available, as is a Sport package with 19-inch all-season tires and five-spoke wheels. Other optional extras include a xenon headlight package, and a Black Optic package with gloss black exterior trim and 20-inch wheels wearing summer tires. The best option? An awesome 15-speaker, 1,300-watt Bang & Olufsen with tweeters that rise on startup.

The EPA has rated the diesel-fueled A6 TDI at 25/38/30 mpg, but it has been withdrawn from sale as Audi attempts to fix vehicles it sold with falsified emissions data.