2023 Audi S6 Performance

We weren't kidding about power; that perfectly tailored metal suit hides a manic 444-hp six-cylinder inherited from corporate sibling, Porsche. Combine ample power with turbocharged torque and all-wheel drive and you have a recipe for a brisk launch from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and a top speed that's limited to 155 mph. This is by no means slow, but it falls noticeably behind the BMW M550i xDrive's achievement. The Bavarian bruiser manages a blistering 3.6-second run to 60 mph from a standstill, making it one of the fastest competitors against the S6. The Mercedes-AMG E53 Sedan is a closer match with 429 hp, matching the 4.4-second effort of the Audi. Audi's exec comes exclusively with its quattro all-wheel-drive system and it's definitely got ample power to offer.

The power-hungry sedan from Audi hides a secret beneath its modest snout. That secret is a twin-turbo 2.9-liter six-cylinder that is made even better by the aid of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The V6 engine sends 444 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Turbo lag is put on death row by the hybrid assistance and the transmission does really well with any task you request of it. It's as efficient at lower speeds as it is when your needle is tipping further to the right than an officer of the law would deem acceptable.

It pulls strongly whenever you ask it to jump into action, but it's also smooth and refined. More than this, the V6 has more aural character than most Audi six-cylinders, courtesy of its Porsche origins.

The S6 is not the lightest when it comes to its gas mileage, but it's not the worst of the bunch either. It'll return EPA estimates of 19/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined, falling behind the Mercedes-AMG E53's 21/29/24 mpg figures. That being said, the BMW M550i is the heaviest of them all with figures of 17/25/20 mpg - thank the big twin-turbo V8 for those figures. When the 19.3-gallon fuel tank is full, the S6 should achieve a range of 425 miles in mixed driving conditions.