2018 Audi A6 Review
The 2018 Audi A6 has been with us for quite some time, and should technically be considered a geriatric, but there's no denying that the A6 remains a comfortable and competent midsize luxury sedan. One of the big reasons why the A6 hasn't completely disappeared off the face of the planet, despite much newer offerings from its competitors like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, is the fact that it still provides the four tenets of midsize luxury motoring; luxury, performance, tech, and lots of room. The A6 might be aging in the styling department, but even there, Audi's conservative approach lends itself well to future-proofing their cars. The current A6 will soon find itself up for replacement, so you now get a whole bunch of features as standard on the 2018 model. The infotainment system is slightly out of date, but it still gets the job done, and rival automakers do provide a few more tech features, but the A6 continues to impress with great balance and all-around capability.
What's the Price of the 2018 Audi A6?
In base front-wheel-drive specification, the 2.0T Premium starts at an MSRP of $49,700. From there, the 2.0T Premium Plus costs $51,900, while the 2.0T Sport is priced the same. Adding Quattro to either of these adds another $1,500 to the price tag. The cheapest 3.0T model, the Premium, starts at a price of $56,500, while the Premium Plus carries a base MSRP of $58,700. The 3.0T Sport costs $58,000, while the range-topping 3.0T Prestige costs $61,400. Prices exclude $975 destination, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. You'll find some good deals now that the A6 is due for replacement. Happy hunting!
Handling and Driving Impressions
Key to the A6's appeal is the fact that it does so many things rather well, and handling is one of them. Whether you choose the front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive version, the A6 turns in with vigor and can be pointed with precision. The Quattro version is the best handling; it hunkers down under hard corner exit acceleration and keeps things nice and tidy when you're pushing, while base FWD models tend to run out of grip at the limit, availing themselves to good old fashioned understeer.
The A6 gives you the feeling that you're driving something much smaller, and even though driving dynamics aren't the main focus of this car, it still delivers the type of driving prowess that other, newer rivals in its class cannot match. The A6 brakes are up to class standards and keep the 4,000-pound car straight and stable under emergency braking. The steering feel can be a bit vague, and whilst a light feeling is fine for slow speeds, it doesn't exactly weight up when traveling at higher speeds. The newer BMW 5 Series is a better drivers car, as is the venerable Jaguar XF, but neither feel as well rounded as the A6.
Verdict: Is the 2018 Audi A6 A Good car?
The A6 remains at the top of its class in many aspects, which says a lot seeing as the new A6 is around the corner. The A6 cannot be beaten in terms of interior build quality and luxury, and the same goes for its impeccably balanced ride comfort and road-holding abilities. The A6 handles like a smaller car, partly thanks to the legendary Quattro system, accelerates like a sports car and sips fuel at a surprisingly low rate. Despite its well-balanced nature, there is no denying the fact that the A6 is starting to show its age, especially inside, where the infotainment system deserves an update. Its German rivals are newer and feature some more advanced tech, but all fail to find the same balance as the A6. With the current generation nearing its demise, proven reliability and the certainty of some great deals mean it's now a better time than ever before to buy an A6.
What Audi A6 Model Should I Buy?
Now packed with more standard features than ever, you can't really make a wrong decision when it comes to buying a 2018 Audi A6. If your only requirements are space and luxury, a Premium Plus 2.0T will do the job, and you can even make it more user-friendly with the optional Driver assistance package. For the best balance between price, performance, and luxury, the Premium Plus 3.0 V6 Quattro will be the pick. It features that powerful supercharged V6 engine and Audi's famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system. It comes with standard LED headlights, added safety tech, and an upgraded sound system. The Prestige might offer the most bells and whistles, but most of them seem a bit superfluous and do not warrant the extra money.
2018 Audi A6 Comparisons
2018 Audi A6 vs BMW 5 Series Sedan
The BMW 5 Series is world renowned for its driving capability and premium build quality, and in its current iteration, is almost four years younger than the outgoing A6, and it shows. The BMW matches the Audi for ride comfort, and its interior is a more special place to sit in. Despite all the modern advantages the BMW holds over the Audi, you simply cannot get over the fact that you can get a fully loaded A6 in all its supercharged, Quattro-endowed fury for the same price as a less-powerful base model 540i xDrive. The BMW only manages to outgun the Audi in the tech department, but everywhere else the Audi is as good as the newer 5 Series.
2018 Audi A6 vs Genesis G80
The Genesis G80 is a relatively new kid on the block, but it takes the fight right up to the stalwarts of the luxury sedan segment. The Genesis offers a great load of luxury, performance, and safety at a price point that the German automaker can't compete with. The G80 also comes with a wider range of engine choices and scored higher than the Audi on the J.D Power score index. The Genesis has a roomier interior, but can't exactly match the Audi for build quality. Both come with a good amount of standard features, and the choice between the two will eventually boil down to a choice between premium brand recognition and price.