Audi A6 |
|
---|---|
Rating |
★★★★☆ |
Price |
Tested €58,925 From As €75,746 |
Engine |
2 And Smooth A Neat, 0ltr Powerful, Economic Turbodiesel |
The Spec |
Little Quality Is A Mean Certain Build In Astonishing But Areas, The |
Verdict |
Motor A Drawer Top Truly |
It might seem incongruous at this point in time to be reviewing a car which, on the face of it, is a thing of the past, but the truth of the matter is that people are still so dubious about either the value or worth of all-electric vehicles, they are still actively looking for petrol or diesels which they know will do the job they require.
This week, therefore, we are testing something with is not only un-electric (if there is such a word), but which is also not an SUV. A combination of both these characteristics is, as we know, a distinct rarity these days.
And yet, it was so nice to sit in and drive the Audi A6 40 TDi S-Line, that it almost seemed sinful in our new modern era of zero-emission, zero-CO2 cars. But it was good – real good.
Why, however, are we driving this thing at all? Why, indeed? Well, the answer is quite simple as delays to the new – radical, perhaps – A6 have shunted the model range behind the eight-ball as its main rivals, the Mercedes E-Class and the BMW 5 Series, have already been launched in their latest guise and there are also all-electric versions of both.
Down at Ingolstadt, we are told, delays in the development of the sophisticated software needed for car that will be both powerful (over 600 bhp at the top end of the line-up) and have a range of over 600 km.
Audi tell us it was always the plan to have diesel and hybrid models of the new A6 sell alongside the electrics in due course, it’s just that it’s taking a bit longer to bring the model range to market than was originally envisaged. The current A6, therefore, is going to have to put its shoulder to the wheel for a while longer.
Consequently, Audi has given the car a little bit of a refresher to allow it keep pace with its rivals for a little longer than was expected and our tester, therefore, has been dickied up a bit with various cosmetic and tech changes on this, the basic turbodiesel model.
While it has also been given a hint of ‘environmental kindness’ with (very) mild hybrid 12 volt technology, there are others in the range that have been greened further – the 50 TFSIe model and the 55 TFSIe versions (with 299 and 367 bhp respectively) and will give somewhere in the region of 70 km of all-electric motoring.
The tester is something of a relic of auld decency and while the facelift has benefitted the look, what with new front and rear bumpers, a revised grille and new alloy wheel options, these have merely enhanced a car that was already something of a handsome devil. A couple of new colour choices have been added and I have to say that the Ascari Blue overcoat on the tester was gorgeous.
Tech developments have seen the incorporation of a new reversing camera and a new instrument screen for the driver which – given it is only a stop-gap measure – is still impressive nonetheless.
In S-Line spec, which the tester was, the car comes with 19” alloys, those very flashy dynamic indicators and Matrix LED headlights, as well as a sportier body kit and things like brushed matte aluminium trim, stainless steel pedals, sportier seats and practical additions such as sports suspension and a headlight cleaning function.
That makes the car quite the sophisticate and, in truth, you can possibly smell the quality of the car once your bum is ensconced in the drivers’ seat. You can feel the build quality in everything you see and touch in the interior; it just oozes class and is a salutary lesson for everyone else in the premium market as to how to do this stuff properly.
The logical way everything is laid out and the materials with which they are made are top drawer and the ergonomics are truly driver friendly. There are three screens – one for the instrumentation, one for the infotainment and one for all the climate/air con functions. Each is a model of ease of use and assimilation.
There are a couple of gaps the in classiness, however, and one was certainly left wondering why the front seats were not electrically controlled and especially so in a car costing over 75K. But the rest of it is very classy indeed. Stuff like the ‘Audi emblem’ puddle lights are a real neat touch and while many manufacturers have similar tech, these ones add great presence to proceedings.
Another pain in the ass was the ‘haptic’ nature of the infotainment and climate controls which were a little baulky and not the seamless controls you’d envisage; they certainly didn’t help to keep your attention firmly focussed on the road ahead.
But then you came to driving it. And what a pleasure that was. If there was ever an antidote to the old vision of smoky, smelly diesels, this is the one. This is a lovely car to pilot and the near silence in which you are comported about the place is amazing, as is the smoothness of the driving experience.
The two-litre turbodiesel might not sound like the essence of topflight motoring, but it comes damn close. There’s 204 bhp on tap which is plenty and gives you a 7.9 second 0-100 km/h time and a top speed of 245 km/h. There’s none of those awful range issues either, as the A6 offers 1,200 km with a full tank.
Like most diesels, the headline figure is the 400 Nm of torque on offer between 1,750 and 3,250 rpm and the grunt this provides, while also allowing a consumption rate in the region of 5.9 l/100 km (47.4 mpg) – as well as an annual road tax figure of just €210 annually.
There’s a seven speed auto here and the manner in which it works with the engine is a joy and again, the main thing you notice is simply how smooth everything is. If you thought this was a prehistoric option, think again.
Some, who’ve grown to love the height advantage of an SUV, might find the prospect of a low-slung saloon to be a deal-breaker, but I must say I found the A6 to have no issues with all-round visibility and nor did its lack of height provide any feelings of insecurity or your ability to get it into a tight parking spot.
Sure it might not be the state-of-the-art devices that Mercedes and BMW have on offer right now, but this is an exceptionally good car to drive and live with and while it might appear to be a throw-back, it is actually far from that and it works equally well for those who like a bit of zip, rather than simply a large cruiser.
There are no space issues either – either in the interior or the boot – and this is an executive that truly meets expectations.
Thing is, this sort of car might not be around for a whole lot longer and, if this form of motoring suits you and your needs, then don’t be cajoled into thinking any differently. To this end, my advice would be quite simple: get one while you still can.