REVIEW: Audi's A6 3.0T Is The Total Package, Forget The V8

When it comes to picking a mid-size sport saloon these days, there are a lot of options.  Almost every manufacturer has jumped on this bandwagon and it seems as though no matter which vehicle you pick there is no wrong choice.  Cars are getting that good these days.

I am not speaking simply about build quality.  Cars are becoming more stylistically moving, brands are starting to separate themselves and conjure up their own unique look.  For instance, we see Audi implementing their LED headlight treatment across their line up, as is BMW with their "Angel eyes."

As the years go by, image is becoming even more crucial to our society.  Buying a car is not as simple as "getting me from point 'A' to point 'B,'" as it is a symbol of who you are and what you enjoy. 

I like to imagine that minivan owners place tremendous value in their children and their needs, either that or they hate their lives and are gluttons for punishment.

But if you would rather invest into a more stylish and lively experience, while having room for a family, most likely you will check out the Audi A6.  Trust me, this is nothing like purgatory. 

If you do not recall, this year's Super Bowl featured yet another stunning advertisement from Audi.  Whoever is leading Audi's marketing department is a genius, I am convinced.  It featured Jason Statham, a sleek black Audi, a couple of European marques and a lone Japanese auto builder.  Essentially the gist is that the new supercharged Audi is the car you want, while the others are lame in comparison.

Since Audi has been mostly about turbo'd motors in recent years, I have been curious and excited to test out the new supercharged motor. 

What would it sound like?  Would I miss the turbo's lag?  How fast could it be?  Would it hold a candle to BMW's 3.0 I-6 twin-turbo?

The answers: blissful, no, much faster than I thought it could be and yes.

But because we are talking about Audi, we have to start with what appears to be the most important aspect of the brand; style.  Before the refresh, the A6 had a helping of fashion and class, but now the revamped version has gone back for seconds.  The most notable additions can be found in the form of the LED strips located in the front headlamps and a reworked posterior.  The narrower rear taillights give the A6 a shorter appearance than pre-refresh.  Two thumbs up, Audi.

Although the remainder of the modifications are relatively little, they make a difference in a big way.  Sometimes the changes that appear trivial, like the front bumper and grille, can change the entire characteristics of a vehicle.  This is the case with the latest A6.

Admittedly so, when the A6 originally debuted I was not so enthusiastic about the controversial front grille or as some would like to call "the fish mouth."  Remember, the A6 was the first to debut Audi's new look.  Now that it has been tweaked and age has had some time to work on me, I can appreciate it for what it is and how it relates to the brand, traditionally. 

Again Audi's strong suit, the interior, continues to impress.  Where competitors seem to look disjointed or straight up ungainly, the A6 brings a handsome equation to the table.  I have to admit, whoever is in Audi's interior design department must work in cohesion with their marketing department. 

Has much changed through the refresh? Not really, some accents here and there.  Why fix something that is not broken?

One of my favorite aspects about this particular car: the sound of the door shutting.  It is easily the most solid closing door I have ever heard.  One swift, solid "thunk."  There is no rattle, echo or reverberation.  I have never heard a door shut with such confidence. 

My particular tester was quite stunning.  Decked out in two-tone leather upholstery, in what can be likened to a peanut butter or a caramel-like color paired with black, the depths of the A6 looked slick. 

Audi interiors manage to make a $50,000 car appear as though it is a $75,000 car. 

Seating was surprisingly comfortable.  Surprising because at first glance the seats appear very flat; however, there is a bit of "cush" to them so the seat molds to the passengers, more or less.  A huge plus that makes them stand out from the crowd is their construction, which has an exceedingly long bottom portion.  No need for thigh extenders in these seats.  Even LeBron James' legs would be supported.  

But, let's get down to brass tacks and talk about what really matters; the driving experience.  Equipped with an all-new motor, the 3.0 TFSI V6, the A6 is putting out 300-horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, which comes on at 2,500 RPM.  This translates into a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds, a full second difference from the 3.2 liter V6.  A second is an eternity when driving. 

Do not worry about MPG, however.  The 3.0 obtained 18 MPG real-world.  This accounts for a mix of city and country driving.

Stepping on the throttle, acceleration is more than adequate and power on the top end is ample for passing easily.  The most stellar aspect of this new motor is its sound.
 
I was not entirely sure if the six-cylinder heavenly wail would be overpowered by the sound of the blower, as in the new Cadillac CTS-V, or if it would be refined as are most Audi's.  It was more sophisticated than other supercharged vehicles I have piloted.  The only time(s) I heard the supercharger was when I was in a higher gear, at a lower RPM and getting hard on the gas.  For the most part, however, the supercharger remains unnoticed and it becomes forgotten. 

Coupled with the motor is an automatic six-speed, Tiptronic transmission.  Although it is a quick shift for an automatic, and it is miles ahead of the older Tiptronic systems, it is not a match for a contemporary dual-clutch transmission.  Granted, I doubt your daily drivers are going to want to shave their shift times into the millisecond area, unless they are like me. 

It will be interesting to see if Audi begins to make their dual-clutch transmissions available on non "S" models at some point down the line.  In an ideal world, the car would be equipped with an adjustable S-tronic gearbox.  So if you want to do some leisurely cruising with slower shifts, it can be had at the touch of a button.

Equally as important as the transmission is the steering feel.  Set up with Servotronic steering, the A6 becomes incredibly easy to drive at low speeds.  As seen in the TT-S, it takes just one finger to flick the car whichever direction you want.  Although it tightened considerably as velocity picks up, it could use a little less play at speed.  Steering inputs need not be strong, the car's steering rack is calibrated so it is very sharp.  All in all it is an easy car to drive without having to worry about getting tired shoulders. 

Although it leaves a little to be desired.  If the A6 had a "Sport" button, a la the recently tested 2009 BMW Z4, to increase the tighten the steering feel, it would be perfection. 

Taking it through the back country roads revealed a very surefooted drive.  Pitching it into hard turns at speeds, the A6 has a tinge of controlled body lean.  It is there but not in a sloppy or top heavy fashion.  Because of the 40/60 rear-biased Quattro all-wheel drive, understeer does not get out of control albeit it makes a small appearance on the limit.

Bucking Audi's trend of a sharp automobile continues when getting to the brakes.  Equipped with vented 12.6 inch rotors in front and nearly 12 inchers in back, they are not comprised of the most impressive hardware on the market.  But, the feedback from the pedal is astoundingly sharp.  There is so much bite it is nearly bordering on a bad quality. 

Once acclimated though, you realize the power these brakes hold.

While driving through some of New Jersey's wooded regions, I came across a large, furry friend that must have become entranced by the LED headlights.  I say this because it got uncomfortably close to the car.  This massive deer, with racks for you hunting fellows, crossed in front of the menacing, black A6 so quickly that I nearly stood on the "slow down," pedal. ABS intervened and I am pretty sure my stomach was in my throat.  Had it not been for these brakes, it would have been a lose-lose situation for the deer and the A6.  Thank you, Audi.

That anecdote really speaks to Audi.  The brand does not always go over-the-top with their autos for the most part and there seems almost to be a sense of conservativeness throughout the brand's line up, R8 excluded. 

For instance, it seems that Audi tends to restrain itself.  We see the S6 with a 435-horsepower V10 and you cannot help but wonder, "they could have done more with that motor."

What makes Audi compelling is that although they tend to refrain from being overkill with specs, it continues to deliver a total package.  That is, a well-rounded vehicle -- which is what most buyers want.  Hell, it is what I want.

You get ample acceleration, serious braking, versatile steering feel, a comfortable suspension, a class-leading interior and contemporary styling.

Keep it coming, Audi.  Considering your growing market share, must be doing something right.

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