2023 Audi S6 Sedan Review: Traditional Thrills

The sporting mid-size luxury sedan class is loyally supported by the German triumvirate but is shrinking in the USA, and the 2023 S6 is fighting for a slice of an ever-smaller pie. It's sporty and refined, with a strong 444-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and quattro all-wheel drive, but it has a tough time justifying its existence. The more stylish and practical A7 makes a better case for itself and Audi's SUVs and crossovers of every size and description sate the national appetite for high-riding cars. The fact that the S6 looks somewhat nondescript may appeal to people who want to fly incognito, but most people like to register more than a blip on the radar if they're going to spend more than $70k on a car - that Q8 driver might not even spot the S6 from their lofty perch. The top-dog A6 is the bahn-storming RS6 wagon that stands out for its supercar performance and body style, but the S6 offers neither of those distinctions. To be fair, the Audi S6's competitors fight a losing battle too; the Mercedes-AMG E53 and BMW M550i xDrive are the obvious ones, but there are also wild-card bit players like the high-value Genesis G80 3.5T Sport.

What's the Price of the 2023 Audi S6?

This segment is home to cars that can easily enter the six-figure range in terms of MSRPs, but the price of the Audi S6 is on par with its main competitors. The MSRP of the S6 in entry-level Premium guise is $73,700 while opting for the mid-range Premium Plus costs $78,400. The Prestige goes for $82,500, and all models require an additional $1,095 destination charge.

2023 Audi S6 Handling And Driving Impressions

Audi really has its chassis tuning down pat and you'll likely notice that every review of the Audi S6 remarks on how lovely a companion it is on a winding road. The suspension is expertly set up, making the new Audi S6 sedan feel light on its feet and smaller than it is, while still retaining a regal air and exemplary refinement. It's great out of the box, but the optional rear-axle steering does add an extra dimension of fleet-footedness. The charismatic V6 howls reservedly in the background and does a great job here, ably assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and developing a healthy 444 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. It makes a great dance partner for the smooth eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel-drive system and lobs the sedan down the road with conviction between corners. But while its 4.4-second sprint to 60 mph sounds impressive in isolation, the latest 523-hp BMW M550i xDrive is much faster and more powerful for less money than the S6 Prestige, the BMW is now the unassailed performance leader in this segment.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Audi S6 A Good Car?

Cars like the Audi S6 are losing ground on all sides and their market share is being eroded by both EVs and SUVs. The S6 is an excellent performance sedan, but it has been rendered obsolete in its class. The S7 is far prettier and more practical, and while an SQ5 plays in the very different compact crossover segment, it's both cheaper and nearly as quick. The competition is hotting up and in terms of performance, it's a no-brainer - the M550i xDrive is a lot faster and sportier for the same money. It's difficult to see who exactly will still opt for the S6 against these odds unless they're hellbent on a classic three-box sedan and will not drive anything else. Those who do will end up with a competent, top-quality sedan in the classic Audi tradition - and perhaps that's all they want.

What 2023 Audi S6 Model Should I Buy?

Money is clearly not an issue if you're considering anything in this segment to begin with, so we'd recommend going for the Prestige. It has the best standard safety features to begin with and you'll only need to add a package or two to make a wonderful all-rounder. First, we'd start with something understated like the Chronos Gray paint outside and Rotor Gray leather inside. Then, the most important package we'd spec is the S Sport package that will add a quattro sport rear differential, dynamic all-wheel steering and a sport exhaust system to really give the S6 an extra edge. This costs $4,000 extra, but it breathes new life into the full-size sedan. Of course, this brings the final asking price to over $88,190 including destination, but it gives you an almost perfect midsize performance sedan.