Road Test: Audi A6 2.0 TFSI

By Feann Torr - 6/Mar/2007

Audi is doing some very good things at the moment, and though it's a shame the German company hasn't begun to tap into hybrid or fuel cell technology, it is nevertheless building some very smart motors. 

While BMW and Mercedes adhere to the traditional rear-wheel drive luxury car ethos, Audi has stuck to its guns and represents with a number of front- and all-wheel drive prestige cars, one of which is just unbeatable and indescribable, the RS 4.

Global sales are continuing to rise - as are Australian sales - and one of the new vehicles that Audi hopes will get more of its larger cars into garages across the nation is the new 2.0-litre turbo A6.

Priced from less than $80,000, this is a very cost-effective way to get into a 'proper' German bahnstormer, but before you slam your fist into your keyboard and declare that such a large luxury car shouldn't be equipped with a 4-cylinder engine, hear me out - there's more to this story than first meets the eye.

Even I was a bit concerned when I heard the story, which conjured up images of a mule trying to pull a bus. But the white coats and nerdlingers down at Audi are a rather clever bunch, and have taken the world-beating engine from the Volkswagen Golf GTI - a direct injection turbocharged petrol engine - and hooked it up to a CVT, or continuously variable transmission. 

The result is a car that delivers almost diesel-like levels of fuel efficiency, which is something to behold, while offering a smooth and silky power delivery that suits this prestige car very nicely indeed. 

Drive: 4/5

It's long, a bit awkward-looking from some angles, and drips with Teutonic refinement and attention to detail. It's Audi's A6, and to put things in perspective it's rivals include cars such as the BMW 5 Series, the Mercedes E-Class and the Lexus GS Series. That's some seriously dangerous competition.

And where most people equate this car with huge 6- and 8-cylinder engines, invoking images of these large cars hacking down German Autobahns on a cold Autumn night at more than 245 clicks, this new model is powered by a 4-cylinder engine.

Before you choke on your bratwurst, let me tell you that this car drives very nicely. It's top speed of 220km/h means that cars half its size will be overtaking it on speed-limit-free Autobahns in Germany, but that's not really an issue here in Australia where even the Northern Territory has abolished its unlimited speed limits.

And you know what? 200km/h is bloody fast, and I would hazard a guess and say that most Australians do a large part of their motoring at around 110km/h and lower, and at these speeds the turbocharged engine in the Audi A6 does the job with a level of civility I've seldom encountered.

And if a BMW M5 were to roll up at the traffic lights and it's driver were to lean over and boast, "My car runs on military grade plutonium, and can reach 250km/h with out even changing into seventh gear," and you simply asked him to show you, would he even be able to?

It's not as fast as some of the cars in the Audi range either, such as the S6 (the 'Sports' A6), which has a colossal 5.2-litre V10 engine, but if you don't have a predilection for ball-tearing speed you'll find that this determined 4-banger ticks a lot of boxes.

In terms of its ability to quietly and smoothly accelerate away from the traffic lights it's almost in a league of its own. The 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is a smooth revving unit to begin with, but coupled with Audi's Multitronic gearbox (a fancy name for a CVT), this vehicle is considerably smoother than any other mainstream transmission - whether a traditional automatic, a DSG twin clutch system, or even a manual gearbox.

In operation, it's smoother by orders of magnitude than many others and this makes driving the car not only fluent and far more relaxing than most cars, but also adds an another level of sophistication to its already thoroughbred pedigree.

This cost-effective Audi A6 is fitted with German-made Continental tyres, sized at 225/55 R16, which offer decent grip, and are fitted to 16-inch, seven spoke alloy wheels with slight a concavity giving the car some attractive footwear.

The chunky 55 profile side walls on the tyres reduce the car's grip limits, but improve its ride, keeping occupants comfortably cosseted even when driving on shoddy roads. Indeed, it drives very smoothly, and reduces pretty much anything the road can throw at you to smooth rolling motions (save for the odd meteorite crater). The suspension is very compliant, and this translates into a relaxed and easygoing urban driving experience.

The damping rates on the shock absorbers are well tuned to allow plenty of give, but without becoming sloppy or soggy so that you always feel in control and steering wheel inputs feel fairly precise. There is a firmness to the ride at times, and you will feel bumps and lumps when you cross them, but it's never sharp edged or abrupt - always smooth.

Pretty much everything except for deeply corrugated dirt roads are handled by the A6, and on the highway at triple digit speeds it's very quiet and very smooth.

However, the A6 is rather long - measuring almost 5.0 metres - and quite obviously it's no nuggety A4, so it doesn't have the crisp turn-in and precision you get from smaller and lighter cars when navigating corners. 

Though it's long, this 4-cylinder German car is not too heavy, tipping the scales at 1555kg (which is at least 200kg less than a Falcon or Commodore), and as is the case with most Audis it has a fairly flat attitude through corners. There's not a lot of bodyroll to speak of, and it is fairly nice to drive through twisting sections of road so long as you don't push too hard as the tyres are not designed for white-knuckled sojourns. 

As far as handling goes this vehicle is rather nice for a front-wheel drive car exhibiting fairly progressive steering, though I do think that feedback - through the steering wheel and the seat - is average. What I'm trying to say here is that this is no sports car, yet has decent capabilities for something so large, and the steering is less wooden than Audi's of yore which is a promising sign. In general it goes about its business in a calm and unflustered manner.

With it's tall doors and slim window line there's not too much glass around the car which means it won't get stinking hot under the Australian sun, but at the same time visibility is pretty good. The A-pillars are fairly chunky, and can make turning (and surveying) into right angles a little worrisome, but no more so than most large sedans.

Power wise, the 2.0-litre turbo engine manages to cut the mustard, but it isn't as quick as when coupled with a DSG (direct shift gearbox) and a lighter chassis, such as the VW Golf or even an Audi A4. The engine's power has been reduced by 22kW to 125kW, but this allows the engine to reach its sweet spot at lower revs and when coupled with a CVT, or Multitronic gearbox in Audi speak, it works very seamlessly and suits the cars character very nicely.

You do get a subtle turbo push as the torque wave builds when you floor the accelerator pedal, but because this a CVT (which doesn't have to keep changing gears to get to high speed), it exhibits a much steadier, smoother flow of power and as such you never really get the forcefulness that characterises this great 2.0-litre engine in smaller, sportier models. Ultimately, it's not as involving to drive as when it's coupled to smaller car, and the 2.0-litre turbo engine doesn't give you a thrill like in some models but it's a great cruiser and ridiculously smooth.

Unlike some of the more expensive Audi A6 models this thing is front-wheel drive, so you miss out on Audi's awesome Torsen 4WD centre differential, but it's not all bad, as the car does get the usual complement of airbags, the all-important electronic stabilisation program (ESP), plus other electronic driving aids such as ABS, and a traction control system (ASR). Audi has even done away with the traditional hand-brake lever, replaced by an electronic push-button version.

The brakes? They're neither brilliant nor terrible, falling firmly under the 'ample' descriptor. If you really fang the car hard, the 312mm/302mm ventilated front/rear brakes will fade, but for most jobs the brakes do a good job and combine with ABS and brake assist to ensure your heart rate never climbs too high - even in the wet.

On the whole the car is very accomplished, providing a relaxed but responsive drive. It's a very smooth operator, which adds to the sense of luxury andvery efficient too, which is always a boon. It's no bahnstorming sports sedan, but at the same time it doesn't carry the high price tag either.

Engine: 4.5/5

Sliding in underneath the 2.4-litre V6 Audi A6, this bargain-priced large German prestige car is in fact quicker than its V6 sibling in a straight line, while offering better economy too. So why bother offering a slower V6 model? No idea.

So, it takes 8.7 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill, which ain't lightning quick, but at least you be left behind by that Toyota Yaris over there.

It features the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that has won numerous international awards and can also be found on vehicles like the VW Golf GTI, some Audi A4 models and it's even being used on the upcoming Audi S3, albeit in a far more potent form.

Though the A6's motor has the same 10.5:1 compression ratio of the Golf GTI's 2.0-litre turbo engine, it makes less power - 125kW versus 147kW - and as well as accepting 95 RON fuel (premium grade) it makes its power much lower in the rev range, improving driveability.

With this new 2.0-litre engine, Audi has one of the widest powertrain choices in its class, with everything from 4-cylinder petrol, to 6-cylinder diesel and even the range-topping 5.2-litre V10 engine, borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Being the entry-level A6, I was surprised at how flexible the 2.0-litre was when coupled to the Multitronic gearbox. You just tickle the throttle and even at low revs like 1500rpm the car accelerates.

At 100km/h on the freeway the engine ticks over at about 1750rpm, which is a fair effort for a small 4-cylinder turbo engine pulling more than one-and-half tonnes of steel and aluminium. And with a large 70 fuel tanks it's cruising range is very impressive too. 

If you drive it carefully, you can extract huge distances from the one tank; it has diesel-like levels of fuel efficiency. During this test I had covered 100km of urban driving with about half of this on the freeway before the needle even dipped below the full gauge reading. The model we tested was also fitted with Adaptive Cruise Control so that when cruise control is active the car uses a radar system to slow the car down when it detects other cars in front of you, so even on the highway you don't need to touch any pedals.

This radar-based cruise control system works very well, but at the same time I felt that it made me a bit lazy and lethargic on the freeway, with the only input required being through the steering wheel. Still, one can always turn it off if one believes it contributes to inattentive driving patterns.

Acoustically the engine is very quiet, and not half as rorty as the Golf GTI, but it fits in with what this car is trying to achieve. Fuel economy is very impressive and is one of the best things about this car, and having the new sub- $80,000 A6 model on the books means that Audi can do battle across far broader market spectrums.

Exterior: 3/5

If you're after a car that will have people craning their necks to get a look at your new ride, you may be somewhat disappointed with the A6. From some angles I think it looks thoroughly dull, with all its droopy edges and what not, but other angles - the angles that most other drivers will see the car from - like the front and rear it looks pretty good.

The single-frame grille up front - flanked by a pair of very serious-looking headlight clusters - can be quite intimidating, particularly when the A6 is quite wide (1.85 metres not including the mirrors) and has a very solid, dense look to it and the addition of fog lights is also a nice touch.

Viewed from the side, the cars silhouette is fairly unremarkable, with a long bonnet and mid-sized boot section. The 16-inch alloy wheels suit the car well, which displays a very conservative profile, and is instantly recognisable as both a German car and an Audi. 

Rivals BMW and increasingly Mercedes - particularly with its new C-Class - are moving away from these 'safe' designs, due in large part to the success of Lexus and its avant garde stylings. But Audi seems happy where it is, and who knows - the trend could well be reversed and everyone will be scrabbling to mimic Audi once again?

In my opinion the A6's best asset is it's rear, which features twin exhaust outlets, basic badging, and fairly understated brake light clusters between which spans a thin chrome line. It's not overly sophisticated, but it works. 

One of the few angular lines on the car exists at the boots leading edge, where it flows from the horizontal into the vertical, and this helps give the car a touch of sportiness, and without it there would have been too many curves.

Interior: 4/5

The luxury car interior - a business person's home away from home. Like any good luxury car, even this base model A6 has lots of room and plenty of features, including plush leather upholstery, rear proximity parking sensors, rain sensing windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, and what Audi calls Deluxe Automatic Dual Climate Air-conditioning. 

In practice this Deluxe Automatic Dual Climate Air-conditioning simply makes the cabin warmer or cooler, but brownie points must go to Audi for using fourteen syllables to get the message across. All the usual fittings are included as well, such as electric windows, mirrors and there's some nice options too, like reverse parking camera and even a TV so you can watch the 7:30 Report with Kerry O'Brien.

The A6 2.0 TSFI is a very nicely finished car for under $80k: there's wood trim (birch, I think) across the dash and on the doors, and also on the centre transmission tunnel and because it has an electronic park brake, the transmission tunnel that runs between the front seats and houses the gear stick isn't clogged up with a hand brake lever, so there's more room for things such as business card drawers, cup - sorry - beverage holders, and the MMI system.

The MMI, or Multimedia Interface, is a fairly intuitive system that controls just about everything inside the car, from the air conditioning, to the radio presets and even how long the lights stay on after you've left the car. 

The MMI's main input device is a large dial, surrounded by four ancillary buttons and through these the navigation of myriad menus is fairly simple - or to qualify that, it's better than the equivalent system from BMW, called iDrive.

Another nice feature inside the cabin is the button-operated glove box, which took me about 10 minutes to figure out... But once you know where the button is (above and to the right of the glove box) it actually turns out to be quite effective, and easier for the driver to operate. 

The basic cruise control system without the radar gizmo works well, as there's a plethora of tiny LED lights that blink on around the speedometer to tell you exactly what speed setting is in use. It's all very efficient and Germanic.

In addition to the electronic bells and whistles, the basic themes of comfort are easily met, with ample shoulder room, head room and leg room. And that's in the front, the rear, and even boot. The A6 is very spacious.

Both front seats have electric 8-way adjustability, and what seems to be an Audi trait these days are the pleasant ergonomics. Everything's within reach, and everything feels good to touch and all dials and levers are easy to manipulate. The centre arm rest for the driver and front passenger is huge, giving you good scope to really sprawl out, and the passenger can pretty much drift off to sleep such are the comfort levels.

Although with a 10-speaker stereo, you won't have trouble waking them up. There are a total of six satellites up front, and four in the back, which translates into very nice audio quality. We listened to Vivaldi CD for a while (I rented it from the library) which the stereo seems to be perfectly in harmony with, but at the same token changing the tempo and belting out the AC/DC didn't trouble the stereo one bit.

When it comes to playing golf, the A6 is very accommodating. The boot displaces 546 litres, which is a whole 50 litres more space than the VE Holden Commodore, and can fit at four large golf bags and fold-up tricycle. It's looks a tiny bit narrower than the Holden's boot, but is much deeper and that's where the extra room is.

Safety is a must in any self-respecting luxury car, and though this Audi misses out on the brilliant quattro all-wheel drive system of the more expensive models, it does ship witha range of safety features that helped it attain a 5-star EuroNCAP crash test rating: eight airbags covering both front and rear passengers, ESP, ABS, ASR, and some other technical acronyms that require a degree in civil engineering to understand.

Overall: 4/5

Urbane, civil, refined, genial, obliging, composed. All words that can be found in a thesaurus, but also very apt in describing the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI's manners.

This car makes a lot of sense to me. Sure, $76,000 is touch more than what you'll pay for a Holden Calais or a Ford Fairmont, but build quality, resale value, fuel efficiency - the list goes on - are hard to argue with. German cars tend to hold their value quite well in Australia, and let's not forget the engine and gearbox - a brilliant combination, one that's perfectly suited to this luxury application whether you're crawling through traffic snarls in peak hour or cruising down the Hume highway with a full moon overhead.

It's a generously sized vehicle, with a huge boot and heaps of room for front and rear seat passengers of all shapes and sizes, plus it's exceptionally easy to drive. Unlike highly strung sports cars, you won't burn many calories coaxing this European from A to B.  

If you're in the market for a large luxury car that's fuel efficient, comfortable, has a shiny German badge on the front, and won't send you bankrupt, the A6 would be a good place to start your search.