Audi A6 2012 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $77,900
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Sunroof (glass) $2280; power boot open and close $1100; Metallic/pearl paint $2280; sports suspension (lowered) $830; Xenon Plus headlights $2400
Crash rating: Five-star
Fuel: 95 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.4
CO2 emissions (g/km): 149
Also consider: Mercedes-Benz E 250 CGI (from $95,300); BMW 520i (from $77,900)

The V8 boys will already have their fingers poised on the keyboards. So, I'll get it over and done with early – 86-large is a lot to pay for a four-cylinder sedan, even for one with the right badge. But that doesn't mean for a moment the cars tested here are not good value.

Indeed, for many, perhaps most, buyers of an executive-sized sedan, either of the two 2.0-litre Audi A6s driven back to back recently will deliver all the performance and poise they'll ever need.

There, I've said it. So shoot me.

It wasn't that long ago that the idea of a smallish-engine in a largish sedan was totally foreign to this marketplace. But times, and downsizing, are very definitely moving on. In the next few months we will even seen a local large sedan with a turbo-ed four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet. And given an opportunity the Falcon EcoBoost will impress many traditional six buyers. We know – we've driven it.

The Euros have been selling small displacement variants of their big cars for decades. In reality, though, it's only been the arrival of the higher performance and refinement levels gifted smaller fours by technologies such as direct-injection, variable geometry turbochargers and the like, that have rid these cars of a level of compromise from which buyers could not escape.

Now, like its Mercedes-Benz E-Class counterpart, some of the best of the A6 brood arrives right at the bottom end of the price range. Priced just $1000 apart, Audi's A6 2.0 TFSI ($77,900) and 2.0 TDI turbodiesel ($78,900) are attractive propositions. No, they don't quite come with the level of equipment of their larger engine counterparts, but they are around $16K less than cheapest six ($93,900 2.8 FSI). And as optioned (see above) our testers wanted for little.

Yours truly put around 1500km under the pair's wheels, with most of miles in the 132kW/320Nm turbo petrol TFSI. Though the 130kW/380Nm turbodiesel easily won the fuel consumption comparison (recorded figures around 8.5L/100km versus 10.5) and proved a touch more muscular at freeway speeds, the better overall 'polish' of the petrol won out for my money.

Audi claims a 0-100km/h time of 8.3 seconds for the TFSI. Fast enough to keep you ahead of the crowd. Top speed is academic but bound to be north of 200km/h. In fact the only time the 132kW/320Nm A6 2.0 TFSI starts to feel slightly underdone is when a fast overtake is on the agenda. It's the sort of performance with which most of us will happily live.

Especially given the level of luxury and refinement the A6 delivers. As we found on the local launch of the V6 models and the fours, there's not a lot left lacking in the standard spec. The A6 delivers keyless entry and starting standard across the range and the identically-specced 2.0-litre cars include cruise control, parking sensors front and rear, tyre pressure monitoring, auto-on/off headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

Additional equipment fitted standard includes dual-zone climate control, leather multi-function four-spoke steering wheel, Milano leather seat trim (plus a choice of interior finishes) and electrically-adjustable front seats with lumbar adjustment and memory (driver's only). The cars also get Audi's excellent MMI satnav and infotainment system which in the latest generation features the trackpad technology that was debuted in the A8.

As delivered they're somewhat stark cabins (especially in comparison to the 'softer' ambience of, say, Jaguar's XF 2.2) but there's no doubting the workmanship or materials chosen. Audi simply leads the field. Indeed, a personal favourite design aspect featured in the A6/A7 family is the ledge or rebate detail that sweeps across the bottom of the windscreen and rolls seamlessly into the door lines. This somehow works to soften some of the very formal aspects of the interior.

The instrument panel itself is possessed of graphical qualities even an iThingie junkie will appreciate. On the subject of smart phone integration, Audi vies with rivals BMW for top honours.

And with folding rear seats and reasonably sized port between boot and cabin, your Euro-limo has a fair dollop of practicality as well. It was easily able to accommodate a bike without the need to remove any wheels. When it came time to chase a wee white ball instead of the peloton, three large golf bags were easily swallowed with room to spare.

Chassis settings are on the firm side of boulevard smooth. Our TFSI tester had sport suspension though in this spec that's more a function of ride height rather than spring or damper rates. You can option up adjustable suspension, but we'd suggest the money's not necessarily well spent.

Our TDI tester had 18-inch wheels which added show. They're not required for go -- 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels are standard... Note too that these lower level A6s are exclusively front-wheel drive. No hardship, they well mannered to ensure few owners will know or care what end's doing the work.

Though I'm no fan of CVT transmissions normally, the 2.0-litre pairing's Multitronic CVT is the best of breed.

There are in truth very few times when you're aware the trannie is not a conventional auto. The worst CVTs allow the engine revs to 'flare' up to around 2500 - 3000rpm until the gearing and car speed catch up. The Audi system seems to control this aurally offensive tendency while getting the best from the A6s' small capacity turbo engines. The Multitronic quickly skips through computer-controlled predetermined gear 'ratios' to emulate a 'proper' gearbox. Top marks.

I still have some personal grizzles about Audi's over-assisted steering and feedback. Reality is, very few buyers of this spec of A6 are going to be focussed on 'the drive'.

What they will be focussed on is brand bang for bucks. At under $90K as tested (or considerably less as low kilometre demos) the littlest A6s take some beating.

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