Audi A6 2.0 TDI 2009 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $74,500
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): metallic paint $2000, mobile phone/Bluetooth $1475, xenon headlights $2807 and Audi Music Interface $585.
Crash rating: five-star (Euro NCAP)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.8
CO2 emissions (g/km): 153
Also consider: BMW 520d , Mercedes-Benz E 220 CDI (not yet released)

Overall rating: 2.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 2.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.5/5.0
Safety: 2.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 2.5/5.0
X-factor: 2.5/5.0

About our ratings

A 2.0-litre turbodiesel variant of the A6 calls into question everything for which Audi stands. What, in fact, does Audi mean to people? Is it quality and German prestige at a reasonable price? Is it turbo performance and all-wheel drive traction that recalls the Quattro rally giants of the 1980s? Is it a wannabe BMW? A Volkswagen in evening wear?

In reality, none of those perceptions fully encapsulate what the new base A6 variant is. For example, it offers reasonable performance when you take into account its impressive fuel efficiency, but it's front-wheel drive only -- so don't expect to give WRC wonder woman Michelle Mouton a run for her money.

If anything, this car is -- and it's a controversial view perhaps -- a bit like a Nissan Maxima or Toyota Camry powered by a diesel engine and designed by Audi.

What strikes you immediately about the new A6 variant is the engine noise. It's very distinctly diesel -- by both the standards of Volkswagen/Audi products and for a car well above the Luxury Car Tax threshold. Just on that, because this A6 is a diesel that returns a fuel consumption figure below 7.0L/100km in combined-cycle testing and it's priced (just) below $75,000, the 2.0 TDI variant doesn't incur any Luxury Car Tax in standard form.

According to Audi's combined-cycle figure, the base A6 uses just 5.8L/100km. For the week the car was in our possession, it averaged 8.7L/100km, which is plainly a long way shy of the combined-cycle figure. Bear in mind though that it did a lot of around-town driving and some performance testing, such as would not feature in a combined-cycle test.

Nor did the car run on the freeway much. On one occasion it did, and the traffic was heavy enough to keep the speed hovering around 80-90km/h, the trip computer did record a fuel consumption figure as low as 5.4L/100km. So the combined-cycle figure does appear to be achievable, if your driving exactly mimics that ADR test.

Similarly, a gentle run along outer suburban roads late at night also proved kind to the environment. If you're not doing a lot of peak hour driving (or you are, but it's always on freeways), the A6 2.0 TDI could be a very frugal and relatively clean way of getting to and fro.

Back to the engine; it's noisier around town than we expected, as already mentioned, but at open-road speeds it quietens down considerably. Indeed, at 100km/h there's a bit of road noise-related rumble and not much else to hear. It's a very quiet car once it's up to speed.

While the engine -- and its Multitronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) -- contributes to the car's low fuel consumption, there are drawbacks. Plainly, the NVH at lower speeds is one. Power delivery is another. It offers plenty of urge once the turbo's on the job, but it's the wait for the turbo to do its thing that will flummox drivers -- especially turning across traffic or squeezing into a gap.

On occasion, you'll plant the foot expecting something to happen and there'll be a delay before there's any sort of substantive power available for acceleration. Then, you'll have more power than necessary and the front wheels will axle-tramp their way forward -- and that's with ASR to regulate traction.

In the main, however, even on a light throttle the turbodiesel four in the A6 will provide acceleration brisk enough to keep up with or even outrun traffic -- helped in no small part by the CVT. This transmission, by being stepless, means that once the car is underway the turbo never lets up and lag ceases to be a problem. So you can extract good straightline performance from the car on even light throttle loads, which helps fuel consumption in turn.

The CVT pretty much makes the whole 'small engine in a big car' concept viable for this variant of A6.

We also liked the rapid response of the CVT on the move (including the amount of engine braking it provided on descending grades), but found the parking brake-associated hill-start feature could be a bit abrupt if you gave it a bit of juice away from a standing start.

Handling was quite consistent; turn-in struck a nice balance for a car like this (not too sudden, but not leaving you wondering when you could see some change of direction either). For the car's very good ride comfort, the roadholding was also decent, although some Audi drivers might have expected a balance that favours driving dynamics more than this suspension tune does.

Given the car's ride comfort, however, the body control is actually very impressive. Everything's well damped and it's only when subjected to provocative driving that you experience even a smidge of weight transfer in the rear.

Despite light weight at lower speeds the steering offers adequate feel, but it's still not as communicative as other Audi models we've tried in recent times.

Inside, the A6 offers a stylish but dated design with easily legible instruments and relatively sensible controls. The test car featured a two-tone colour scheme of caramel and medium grey, with a woven headlining, 'Milano' leather and aluminium decorative trim.

The standard equipment satellite navigation can be programmed while the car is in motion. This is a must have in our mind, but we wonder whether this is something that will go the way of chatting on a mobile phone -- once someone prods legislators.

Audi has equipped the car with a two-stage/lane-change indicator set-up, which is welcome as always. The shift lever is pulled back for downchanging in sequential-shift mode. That seems sensible to this reviewer, but not everybody agrees.

The MMI (Multi-Media Interface) system is starting to be overtaken by slightly more intuitive and easier-to-use systems from BMW and Mercedes-Benz -- let alone the likes of Lexus. Turning the single-point control dial clockwise in the Audi will scroll up through a list of tracks on a CD or radio stations or fields for a satnav destination. That seems counter-intuitive when most Audi drivers read from left to right and draw a circle clockwise from the top. Perhaps it's some sinister scheme perpetrated by left-wing designers.

Audi has generally offered consumers some of the best quality interiors around, but this car had a driver's seatbelt that rasped as it withdrew from its retractor, suggesting it was dragging across a piece of improperly formed plastic as it was pulled out. Rear-seat passengers complained also that the HVAC vents in the B pillars seemed cheap and loose. Otherwise, there was little to tell.

The seats were comfortable enough and generally supportive, although they could be caught out holding the occupant properly during more determined motoring. On a few occasions, this writer was held in place by the left knee pressed up against the centre console, as the car negotiated right-hand bends.

The A6’s accommodation is generous. There's plenty of adult-sized head and legroom in the rear seat, although it is moderately squeezy seated three abreast. Unlike other Audis (including other pre-upgrade A6 variants we've driven), this one provided a comfortable and commanding position for the driver from the word 'go'. There was no endless fussing around with seat motors and steering column rake and reach to get precisely the right setup. Sometimes perhaps, 'basic' is better...

Luggage capacity in the boot is an eye-opener. It's a little shallow and narrow, but the sheer length of the boot is unexpected -- and you can lower the rear seats for even more space! Volume, according to Audi's specs, totals 546 litres -- and they're useful litres.

Kudos to Audi for this car's headlights. They're not adaptive, but they provide a good spread and powerful illumination even on low beam. Dipping the lights won't by any means leave you driving down a mineshaft. It's an example for others to follow.

This review began by questioning whether the A6 2.0 TDI is entirely consonant with the Audi product range. Comparing the car to similarly sized vehicles from non-prestige brands suggests we don't believe the car is worthy of the Audi badge. On the contrary, we get it. This is yet another Audi that will broaden the brand's reach. It retains all the presence of other A6 variants; it's durable, luxurious, safe and sound.

It's also environmentally sensitive in terms of its fuel use, yet owners don't need to sacrifice much to drive one.

With its mix of relatively accessible torque and fuel efficiency, the A6 2.0 TDI is a car offering a lot of potential in the Aussie urban landscape of the 21st Century.

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