Audi A6

Audi A6 at a glance

More Audi models are listed in our Audi catalogue, the sporty version is covered in our Audi S6 review, and the brand's story is told in our history of Audi.

History

The A6's story really begins in 1968, when the Audi 100 was presented. In 1994 Audi thoroughly updated the "100" and renamed it: from then on the car was called the A6, and the Audi 100 disappeared from showrooms, although many are still on the road today.

First generation: C4 (1994–1997)

The Audi 100 launched in 1991 was renamed A6 after a substantial update, keeping the same C4 code. It was built as a saloon and a five-door Avant estate, with a new design, cabin, suspension and engine range, and it lasted only three years before Audi launched a new body.

The C4 A6 has narrow halogen headlights, a long sculpted bonnet, a small chrome-trimmed grille and a massive bumper with headlight washers and brake-cooling intakes. The saloon has flared arches with 15-inch wheels and 120 mm of ground clearance, and its large boot lid forms a small spoiler above big rectangular tail lights.

Inside, the seats are good, with modest side support and leather on some versions, and there is plenty of space front and rear. The four-spoke steering wheel is comfortable, the large analogue instruments are informative, and the console — a little crowded with buttons — carries a radio, plenty of wood trim and dual-zone climate control. Materials matched those of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class of the time. The saloon's boot holds 510 litres; the rear seat does not fold.

The C4 had a wide range of engines: naturally aspirated petrol four-, five- and six-cylinders of 1.8 to 2.8 litres with about 74–142 kW (101–193 PS), and turbodiesels of 1.9 to 2.5 litres with 66–103 kW (90–140 PS). Five- or six-speed manuals and four-speed automatics drove the front wheels or all four through permanent quattro. Front-wheel-drive cars have a beam rear axle, quattro versions an independent multi-link rear, and all have disc brakes.

Second generation: C5 (1997–2004)

The C5 was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in 1997 and updated around 2001–2002 with a better exterior, cabin and engines. Audi galvanised the body to prevent corrosion and offered a 10-year anti-perforation warranty. With this generation Audi also launched an S6 based on the A6, and the off-road-styled allroad quattro followed in 1999.

The C5 has large projector headlights, a long sculpted bonnet, a chrome-framed grille and a bumper with round fog lamps and cooling sections that help aerodynamics. Muscular wheel arches and a smoother body give it strict, respectable proportions; ground clearance remains 120 mm, and the rear has new lights and a horizontal chrome strip on the boot lid.

The cabin changed less than expected. The heated leather front seats have modest side support, the four-spoke steering wheel adjusts for height and reach, and the instruments combine four small dials with a large speedometer, rev counter and trip computer. The console holds a pop-out cupholder, a cassette radio and dual-zone climate control, and the tunnel is largely trimmed in wood. Build quality is good, the rear bench seats three, and the boot grew to 551 litres.

Petrol engines ranged from 1.8 to 3.0 litres with 96–184 kW (130–250 PS), the strongest being the 2.7 twin-turbo V6, plus a 4.2 V8 with 221 kW (300 PS); turbodiesels of 1.9 to 2.5 litres produced 81–132 kW (110–180 PS). Manual and automatic gearboxes drove the front wheels or all four through quattro with a 50:50 split, and air suspension was optional.

Third generation: C6 (2004–2011)

The C6 appeared in 2004 as a saloon and an Avant, and the allroad quattro followed. It was updated in 2008 and offered powerful engines, a modern, prestigious exterior and an expensive-looking interior.

The facelifted C6 has narrow headlights with an LED strip, a large single-frame grille with a chrome surround and a sculpted bumper with fog lamps. A chrome-trimmed crease links the slightly flared arches, ground clearance rose to 130 mm, and the rear has narrow LED lights, an integrated spoiler, a diffuser and two exhaust pipes.

The interior became more modern and competitive, with a three-spoke leather steering wheel, large analogue dials with a big trip-computer display, a large MMI screen for infotainment and navigation, dual-zone climate control and heated, electrically adjustable leather seats. The tunnel carries the start button, the electric parking brake and the MMI controls. The rear seats three, with an armrest and a ski hatch, and the boot holds 546 litres.

Petrol engines were in-line four-cylinders, V6s and V8s, naturally aspirated and turbocharged, of 2.0 to 4.2 litres with 125–257 kW (170–350 PS) and 280–440 Nm. Turbodiesels of 2.0 to 3.0 litres produced 100–176 kW (136–239 PS) and 320–500 Nm. Gearboxes were a six-speed manual, a Tiptronic automatic or the Multitronic CVT, with front-wheel drive or quattro. The C6 has coil-spring multi-link suspension at both axles with anti-roll bars.

Fourth generation: C7 (2011–2018)

The C7 was launched in early 2011 on Audi's MLB platform and facelifted at the Paris motor show in 2014. It grew in every dimension and looks much like the Audi A8, with LED "eyelashes" in the headlights and a large trapezoidal grille reaching into the bumper. Better aerodynamics and lower weight cut fuel consumption. Ground clearance is 165 mm, and the LED tail lights are split between the body and the boot lid.

Inside there are heated and massaging seats, soft-close doors, night vision and many other options. The three-spoke leather wheel has many buttons, the instruments combine two large dials with a trip-computer display, and the large MMI screen retracts into the dashboard; the facelift brought a faster graphics processor. A Bang & Olufsen sound system is available. Three adults fit comfortably in the rear, and the boot holds 530 litres, or 995 litres with the rear seats folded.

A hybrid version combined a 2.0 TFSI with an electric motor. The 2.0 TFSI came with a six-speed manual or the Multitronic CVT, and the 2.0 TDI with the CVT. After the facelift, versions below 2.8 litres were front-wheel drive, while the others had permanent quattro with a self-locking centre differential and torque vectoring between the rear wheels. The multi-link suspension could be replaced by two sports set-ups or adaptive air suspension with ground clearance adjustable between 140 and 180 mm, and the steering gained electromechanical assistance with a variable ratio.

Fifth generation: C8 (2018–2025)

The C8 was presented just before the Geneva motor show in 2018 and went on sale that June. Audi updated it thoroughly with many visual and technical changes, while staying true to the concept of the previous generation, so it is not always easy to tell apart.

The hexagonal grille is wider with sharper corners, and the more angular headlights are LED as standard, with optional Matrix LED or HD Matrix LED units with dynamic indicators. The S line package adds a more muscular bumper, and the drag coefficient dropped to 0.24. Wheels range from 17 to 21 inches, and the rear has complex new tail lights linked by a chrome strip and rectangular exhaust trims.

Inside, the change is dramatic, with Valcona leather, wood and chrome trim, a heated steering wheel with shift paddles, the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit and ambient lighting in 30 colours. The centre console has an 8.8- or 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8.6-inch climate touchscreen below it, plus wireless charging. The cabin is 1.5 metres wide, rear passengers have their own climate display and two USB ports, and the boot holds 530 litres, with a power tailgate.

The 55 TFSI reaches 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, has a top speed limited to 250 km/h and uses 6.7–7.1 l/100 km; the 50 TDI uses 5.5–5.8 l/100 km. The six-cylinder engines have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that, besides start-stop, can switch the engine off while coasting between 55 and 160 km/h. All-wheel drive uses quattro with ultra technology on S tronic versions, engaging the rear axle only when needed.

The C8 uses more aluminium than before and offers conventional, sports, adaptive and air suspension; all-wheel steering turns the rear wheels by up to 5 degrees. More than 20 sensors, radars and cameras feed the assistance systems, including surround view, automated parking, adaptive cruise control and an exit warning that stops a door opening if traffic is approaching.

Rivals

The A6's rivals include the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac CT5, Genesis G80, Infiniti Q70, Jaguar XF, Lexus ES and Volvo S90.