Does the 2024 Audi A6 hold enough of the imposing swagger and buttery smooth luxury of an A8 to sate the ambitions of the go-getter while saving them a bundle?
The most worthy car reviews should remain objective and offer wherever possible a reader respected advice to enable them to pick the best car model in a range while getting the most for their money. This isn’t one of them. I wanted to find out if the current Audi A6 that’s been on sale since 2018 gets close enough to Audi’s flagship A8 feeling of luxury without forking out around €50,000 more than the A6 to feel like a proper German Chancellor. I’m well placed to make this comparison – I personally own a current generation Audi A8.
Tested here is the A6 40 TDI Saloon S-Line front wheel drive with a modest 204bhp from the 2.0 litre diesel engine using a 7 speed S-tronic auto. Painted in a fetching Grenadine red or maybe it’s closer to a wine colour our car arrived using overly large 21″ wheels. The final price totted up with press car extras weighed in at a hefty €76,845 (in Ireland). The A6 40 TDI 204HP S-tronic SE starts from €58,925. Hence, the disclaimer about not offering you the reader a scintilla of money saving tips. Yet €78,000 is a snip compared with the entry level A8 costing just shy of €106,000. Go mad with the A8’s options and the final price is anyone’s guess.
Painted in a fetching Grenadine colour and riding on overly large 21″ wheels the final price totted up to €76,845.
Audi’s A6 is getting on a bit but so too is the A8. The question then – how much do you actually miss out on when buying an A6 if not going the full hog at the dealership and ordering yourself a spanking new A8 and paying a lot more? Bear in mind this can’t be a direct comparison either as the A6 40TDI uses a four cylinder engine while the base A8 uses a six cylinder unit. Not included either is the A8’s standard all-wheel drive Quattro or the cushy air suspension.
The A6’s steering is particularly light and offers none of the A8’s weighty feedback.
Where to start? The A6 is shorter in length than an A8 by almost 10 inches and narrower by 2.5 inches. The A6 hides its smaller dimensions well until that is you step inside the cabin and the A6’s tighter space is noticable. Boot capacity is 560 litres (360 hybrid model). The A8 meanwhile is at a deficit with 505 litres (390 for the plug in hybrid).
Several key differences between the A6 and A8 emerged out of the gate. The A6’s steering is particularly light, probably closer to medium-light if we’re being fair, and offers less of the A8’s weighty feedback. This is partly because the A8 is a heavy car and the steering’s heft and Quattro all wheel drive helps place the car firmly on narrower roads. Pressing on, it is less tiring car over long journeys compared to the A6’s steering that needs minor corrections when driving in motorway lanes.
Comparing the A6’s 2.0 litre four cylinder’s diesel against the A8’s three litre diesel with all wheel drive throws up a curb ball.
The A6’s seats are very firm and offer none of the creamy softness passengers experience sitting in the A8’s chairs. Comparing the 2.0 litre four cylinder’s diesel with front wheel drive against the A8’s 3.0 litre diesel with all wheel drive throws up a curve ball. In the A6 I achieved close to 55mpg. The far heaver A8 at 1,795 kerb weight regularly get close at just over 50 mpg. Drive the A6 with gusto, and it reveals itself to be a peppy unit that revs fluidly for a diesel reaching 100km in 7.2 seconds. One continual gripe with all A8 3.0 TDI’s is the irritating lag in accelerative power if overtaking a car or entering a motorway from an off ramp. All A8 TDIs perform this way. This is not banished by selecting Dynamic mode in Audi Drive Select, either.
One gripe with all A8 3.0 TDI’s is the irritating lag in accelerative power
Fill your A6 40 TDI to the brim with diesel and peer down at the indicated driving range. It measured 1,100 kms on this test or 684 miles and proves that diesel is still the industry best for drivers dependant on getting to a destination in one go. Try that in an EV.
In long distance journeys, the A6 is insulated well from the road apart from the tyre and slight wind noise that was compounded by the large 21″ wheel on this test car. If tempted to filling your new A6’s arches with large wheels, you will suffer in ride comfort deficit as well.
Back to the original question. Does the A6 convince us as a cut price A8 luxury limo? The A6 is the consummate, if aloof, professional. It demands little from the driver and in day to day driving it delivers its brief very well indeed. Its only drawback is the subjective lack of excitement or engagement. The A6 feels like a surgical tool exactingly designed to perform a premium saloon function. On that basis the A6 hits the bullseye without being a car you instantly warm to.
Most buyers will be satisfied with the A6’s capability and prestige and won’t see justification for the additional price for the A8
This is where the A8’s warmth of character and deeper luxury tries hard to make up the hefty additional financial investment over the A6. Most buyers will be satisfied with the A6’s roundness and prestige and won’t see the justification for the flagship A8. It’s quite an upset by the car from the middle management department.
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Mark Gallivan, Motoring Journalist