SIX SENSE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_audia6_2019

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 159

Smart, relatively light, suitably fast and quite green, Audi's C8-series A6 model, which sold between 2018 and 2025, offers a beautifully conceived and expertly executed alternative for buyers in the full-sized Executive sector currently considering saloon or estate versions of cars like BMW's 5 Series, Mercedes' E-Class or Jaguar's XF. The use of front wheel drive at the foot of the range still differentiates this contender from rivals like these, but with this model, Ingolstadt claimed a new level of dynamic parity in other regards. There was certainly no doubt that this C8-era was thoroughly rejuvenated over its predecessor, with mild hybrid engine technology, class-leading possibilities for driving autonomy, sophisticated media connectivity and cutting-edge cabin design. All delivered along with the kind of ownership and running costs that played well in the practically-minded fleet market. In short, if you're browsing for a full-executive premium badged saloon or estate from this period, this A6 is a difficult car to ignore.

Modelsword count: 25

4dr saloon / 5dr Avant Estate (2.0 TFSI petrol, 2.0 TFSI petrol, 3.0 TFSI petrol, 4.0 TFSI petrol / 2.0 TDI diesel, 3.0 TDI diesel)

Historyword count: 394

While Audi's A6 has long been the world's best selling full-sized Executive car, it's rarely been Britain's overall favourite. By 2018, Audi had offered no fewer than eight different models in this segment and with this C8-series design, the fifth of them to be badged 'A6', there were fewer reasons than ever not to consider one. Whether you choose this design in saloon form or the alternative Avant estate body style, this sleeker more sophisticated C8 design proved to be quieter, lighter, smarter and more technologically advanced than its predecessor. By the time of this C8 model's launch, the Ingolstadt brand had been making full-sized Executive segment business-orientated saloons and estates since 1968, changing the badge work from 'Audi 100' to 'Audi A6' in 1994 but keeping the same Teutonically clinical approach to wafting middle-aged company folk between far-flung boardrooms. All the while though, the German brand had been refining its approach, first with the C5-series model in 1997 and then with the more sophisticated C6-series design of 2004 and the C7-series model launched in 2012. The C8-series A6 design we're looking at here was introduced in mid-2018 and is, as you would expect, was a much more modern interpretation of the breed. The petrol and diesel engines used became much more efficient thanks to MHEV mild hybrid electrification and the new-era cabin became completely touchscreen-orientated. In addition, the sleek exterior styling introduced a fresh design language for this model line and clothed a completely new and much stiffer aluminium-intensive MLB EVO body structure. Options from new included four-wheel steering and an astonishingly sophisticated active air suspension system. And Audi engineered this contender to be able to offer so-called 'Level 3' autonomous driving tech, which theoretically allowed its driver not only to relinquish control at certain speeds but actually to engage in other tasks unconnected with driving. In short, it was all very Vorsprung Durch Teknic. In 2019, the A6 range expanded with an allroad Avant estate model (which lasted only two years); and a flagship RS 6 Avant high performance flagship variant (which lasted until the end of C8 production). A PHEV 50 TFSI e model arrived in 2020. There was a light facelift in 2023 which saw the main A6 range through to the end of production in late 2024; it was replaced by a new generation C9-era A6 in early 2025.

What You Getword count: 445

According to Audi's research clinics, A6 customers value understated exterior design above almost everything else - so they should feel right at home with the conservatively evolved looks of this C8-series eighth generation contender. Whether you choose saloon or Avant estate, the balanced proportions are smart and contemporary, with much borrowed from this model's A8 saloon and A7 Sportback stablemates. That means taut surfaces, sharply defined edges, striking lines and short overhangs. This is a pretty sizeable piece of sculpted Executive segment German real estate, being nearly five metres long and the best part of two metres wide, yet standing only just over 1.4-metres high. Classically elegant? Maybe not, but it's certainly handsome and sophisticated, with shaping that the brand reckoned referenced its 'quattro genes'. The Avant version is exactly the same length as the saloon but is 10mm taller. Behind the wheel, the Vorsprung Durch Teknic charisma of this car really gets into gear. There's a different, more technological ambiance than you get with obvious rivals, but the interior still incorporates the required splash of luxury needed for a full-sized Executive model of this status. You're going to need to like screens because the completely redesigned cabin can incorporate no fewer than three of them, largely replacing all the many buttons and dials of the previous A6. The two you'll notice first power up as soon as the door is opened and dominate the upper and lower parts of the piano black-trimmed centre stack. The gently curved upper display deals with the most important radio, media and telephone functions while the lower 8.6-inch monitor is reserved for more comfort-orientated mainly climate-related features. Both monitors interact with the optional 12.3-inch 'Audi Virtual Cockpit' instrument binnacle screen you view through the three-spoke wheel. In the rear, thanks to 21mm of extra interior length over the old C7 model, a 6ft 3-inch passenger can comfortably sit behind a driver of the same size. Audi said that with this C8 design, legroom in the back increased by 17mm, while headroom was up by 10mm. Out back, the boot is the same size as it was with the previous generation design, which means that it's pretty big. Raise the wide-opening lid and you'll find 530-litres in all. If you need more room, the trunk can be extended by flipping forward standard split-folding rear seats - a feature that cost extra on rival BMW and Mercedes models. The extra space this feature frees up may be enough to preclude some from having to consider the greater capacity of the Avant estate version. If not, then in an Avant, once you've raised the standard electric tailgate, you'll find 565-litres of space.

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