Review: Audi A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro

Fitted with a 3.0 TSFI engine and an enhanced infotainment system, Audi’s updated A6 combines power and class for one great drive.
The Audi A6 is a handsome enough car, but my affection for it is mostly because of the way it drives. In an age of plug-in hybrids, great though they are, it is wonderful to indulge in a 100% petrol engine that moves with an impressive amount of vigour and liveliness. That it is so good-looking is a huge benefit, I have to say.

The A6 was first introduced in 1968 as the Audi 100, providing the foundation for the carmaker’s premium positioning as its flagship model at the time. Since then, the seven generations of the Audi 100 and its successor, the A6, has been the vehicle to showcase the brand’s innovative technologies and progressive approaches.

Elegant, powerful and progressive, the new A6 displays balanced proportions, sharp lines, emphasised horizontals and athletically taut surfaces. Carefully honed as part of the model refresh, its signature single-frame grille appears even wider than before, with chrome struts providing a greater level of elegance. Elsewhere, changes have been made to the air inlets, bumpers, side sills, rear lights, tailpipes and headlights, making for an enhanced aesthetic that is at once familiar, yet worthy of a double take.

The headlights have seen particularly significant updates — besides featuring newly designed LED daytime running lights and headlights, Audi’s proprietary Matrix LED technology makes use of an array of 19 diodes per headlight, paired with four reflectors, to illuminate the road ahead without blinding other road users.

The car I get to drive is fitted with an improved supercharged 3.0 TFSI V6 engine, paired with a seven-speed S tronic transmission and the Quattro all-wheel drive. This combination allows the car to produce a maximum torque of 440Nm between 2,900 and 5,300 RPM, enabling it to make the century sprint in just 5.1 seconds. Although I didn’t quite manage to put that to the test, the raw power whenever I accelerate makes it quite easy to believe. For the record, the car can go all the way up to an electronically-governed top speed of 250 kph.

The latest generation modular infotainment system is displayed on an eight-inch screen along with Bose surround sound and 14 loudspeakers

For the most part, you can leave the car in Auto mode as it’s more than sufficient to drive around quite comfortably — so much so I completely forget to try out the Comfort mode — with just enough power to get you going. But to really put some hair on your chest, Dynamic mode really lights up the powertrain and hefts the steering, which provides added stability, which is great when I power through the slinky bends of the southbound highway to Melaka. If you’re picky with the settings, you can alter the engine, gearbox, steering and sport differential separately using the Individual mode.

Big petrol engines like these have become a minority in mid-sized sedans like the A6, so this car is a pretty good deal for people who like a quietly elegant car with plenty of pep that comes when you least expect it. The V6 TFSI engine is a gem, thanks to its combination of stodgy, diesel-like low-down torque and an appetite for revs — this I get to test out quite liberally, and boy, is it fun! Thanks to the quattro (all-wheel drive) system and a clever sport differential, the A6 is planted and grips through corners well even on full throttle. I find the ride quality a touch on the stiff side, but that’s an incredibly small trade-off for the car’s handling capabilities.

Despite its exhilarating performance, the car is extremely fuel-efficient, with a combined consumption rating of 7.4 litres/100km and a CO2 emission of just 172g/km. To keep you safe, the A6 comes with a smorgasbord of features like a start/stop system with energy recuperation, traction control, electronic brake force distribution, anti-long braking system and a total of eight airbags.

As a passenger, the A6 gives you nowt to complain about, as its 2,912mm wheelbase and the deployment of only the best materials and uncompromising workmanship ensures the interior sets new benchmarks for business class comfort. A child seat also fits quite comfortably in the rear, with additional space for one more passenger.

Of special note are the infotainment and connectivity options — the latest generation modular infotainment system is displayed on an eight-inch screen, along with Bose surround sound and 14 loudspeakers. The new Audi connect functionality with Google Earth and WiFi enables drivers to connect to the internet via a SIM card.

Why is this car such a winner? It is powerful, easy to manoeuvre and remarkably stable. And best of all, its elegant and swanky styling doesn’t allude to its power. With its innovative technologies, progressive design and a thrillingly diverse range of equipment features, the A6 unites these values in a product of extraordinary sporting elegance.

The Audi A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro comes in 13 colour choices and retails from RM487,900. Visit www.audi.com.my for more information or to book a test drive.

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