Punt a current A6 down a twisty road and you’ll arrive at the conclusion that while it handles competently, with crisp steering and decent body control, it’s no great entertainer. If follows, therefore, that chasing performance figures with more and more horsepower seems a vaguely fatuous exercise. The 177bhp generated by the 2.0-litre TDI engine doesn’t sound too enthralling, especially in a car of this size, but with a meaty torque figure of 280lb/ft it never feels breathless. The 2.0-litre TDI engine is only offered in front-wheel drive configuration and, given the ample torque, too much throttle will have the traction control light winking furiously on damp surfaces.
If there was one defining characteristic of the old A6, it was its size. The thing was huge. While that was great for rear seat passengers and people smugglers, it never did much for the car as a dynamic entity and it’s refreshing to see that Audi has resisted the temptation to go supersize again. The current A6 is both shorter and lower than its predecessor but a few millimetres wider. The good news is that rear legroom is actually better thanks to the new car’s longer wheelbase. Use of aluminium has cut the body and chassis weight by 15%, some 80kg being shaved off the final product. A kerb weight of 1,575kg is laudable for a diesel-engined car this large. To put that figure into perspective, this A6 doesn’t weigh much more than a Nissan 370Z coupe.
The styling is rather predictable, Audi deciding not to risk anything too edgy or avant garde on one of its mainstream cash cows, but the overall effect is cleaner and sleeker than before.
The range opens at £30,155 for the 2.0-litre diesel in SE trim. This includes 17in alloy wheels, leather upholstery, cruise and front and rear parking controls, SD-based satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone preparation, split/folding rear seats and light and rain sensors. Approximately 80% of A6 customers can’t resist S line models though, and these add 18-inch alloys, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, sports suspension, upgraded Valcona leather upholstery and an exclusive S line exterior and interior styling pack.
The Audi A6 2.0 TDI offers comparatively low running costs across the board. It pips a BMW 520d in terms of benefit in kind taxation and is considerably cheaper for business users than a Mercedes E220 CDI. It’s a similar story when it comes to fuel economy, the Audi shading the BMW but easily besting the Mercedes. A superior power-to-weight ratio counts in the Audi’s favour in both these comparisons, testament to its lightweight chassis and body materials.
When it comes to residual values, the Audi A6 2.0 TDI SE equals those of the BMW 520d SE and betters that of the Mercedes E220 CDI Avantgarde. You’ll need to be restrained with the options to maximise your residual value and not be talked into over specifying the vehicle by the dealer’s favourite line, “You’ll never be able to sell it without electric seats/bigger wheels/louder stereo”. The key figures you need to know about this car are its emissions, which are pegged at 129g/km and fuel economy which is an excellent 57.7mpg on the combined cycle.
So why is the Audi A6 2.0 TDI such a compelling proposition? It doesn’t drive as well as a BMW 5 Series and it’s not as stylish as a Mercedes E Class. Where the Audi scores is in managing its compromises so well and in working smarter rather than harder. Its lightweight body construction means that it’s economical and does extremely well in terms of CO emissions, instantly bumping it up the priority list for business buyers.
It also scores away from the balance sheet. The standard equipment list includes some fiendishly clever technology and there’s no arguing with its safety provision. If you do feel tempted to dip into the options list, there’s some genuinely jaw-dropping gear to choose from. Fancy turning your car into a WiFi hotspot? How about night vision? It’s all there if you’ve got the money. I’d be tempted to keep things simple and enjoy what is probably the best car in the A6 range; a 2.0TDI in SE specification with a Multitronic CVT transmission. Never mind the width, feel the quality.