Introduction
The Audi A6 is a midsize luxury sedan. It underwent a full redesign for 2012, and some options have been added for 2013. The A6 shares its interior, platform, and powertrain with the Audi A7, but has a more aggressive-looking front end. Originally based on the Volkswagen C5 platform, it's now based on the Volkswagen MLB platform. The A6 competes mainly with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series. It's offered in five trim levels: 2.0T Premium, 2.0T Premium Plus, 3.0T Premium, 3.0T Premium Plus, and 3.0T Prestige.
Exterior Features
Black and white are the 2013 A6's no-cost colors; 10 other colors are offered at an extra charge. The Premium (base) trim features rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, LED taillight technology, rear fog lights, power-adjustable heated side mirrors with memory, and built-in turn indicator lights, and 17-inch wheels, which can be upgraded to 18- and 19-inch designs. The Premium Plus trim includes 18-inch wheels, xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running light technology and upgraded exterior mirrors, plus the opportunity to upgrade to 20-inch wheels. The Prestige trim features adaptive headlights, cornering lights, and the Audi S line exterior appearance (S line front and rear bumpers and S line-specific Audi Singleframe grille).
Interior Features
The A6 features standard keyless entry and ignition, 3-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power front seats, lumbar adjustment, leather upholstery (in black, grey, beige, or brown), tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, 10-speaker sound system, satellite radio, and iPod interface. The Premium Plus trim includes upgraded lighting, Bluetooth connectivity, automated 3-zone climate control, and heated front seats. The Prestige trim includes Audi advanced key entry, and the Audi MMI Navigation Plus package, which features an 8-inch display, voice control, and a user-friendly touchpad that can recognize ordinary handwriting, according to Audi. The Prestige trim level includes ventilated front seats and 4-zone automatic climate control. The trunk provides 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space.
Optional Features
Many of the enhancements of the A6 Prestige trim are available to the lower trim levels as option packages or as individual features. The 19" Sport package (available on the Premium Plus and Prestige trims, replacing last year's 18" Sport package) includes a firmer suspension, sport seats with power lumbar support and a sport-derived steering wheel. The 19" Sport package offers the same sport suspension and 3-spoke, multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles as the 18" Sport package, but comes equipped with dynamically designed 19-inch 5-spoke-design alloy wheels equipped with summer performance tires. The Cold Weather package provides the driver, front passenger, and rear occupants with a multilevel seat heating system, which is designed to heat the entire surface of the seat. The package also includes a heated, 4-spoke, multifunction steering wheel, which provides easy access to volume control, radio station and CD track selection, navigation voice prompts, and telephone dialing. A power rear window sunshade with manual rear door shades is also available.
Under the Hood
Standard on the A6 is the Audi Drive Select package, which includes adjustable modes for steering, throttle, and transmission. The 2013 Audi A6 comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 211 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, front-wheel drive (FWD) (AWD is optional), and a continuously variable automatic transmission. Also available is a 3.0-liter, supercharged V-6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with AWD and an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2013 Audi A6 are:
- A6 with 2.0-liter engine and FWD: 25/33/28 mpg (city/highway/combined)
- A6 with 2.0-liter engine and AWD: 20/30/24 mpg
- A6 with 3.0-liter engine: 18/27/22 mpg
Safety
Standard safety features on the 2013 Audi A6 include anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, front-seat and rear-seat side air bags, front knee air bags, and side curtain air bags. Many other safety features are optional. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet rated the 2013 A6 for crashworthiness. In crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the A6 received a "Good" rating--the Institute's highest--in all safety tests.
Technology
Audi MMI Navigation Plus features an 8-inch screen, voice control, CD and DVD compatibility, and dual SD memory card slots. New features for 2013 include Bluetooth streaming audio and Audi Connect, which adds Google search and Google Earth map overlays. Audi's proprietary Quattro all-wheel-drive system combines with electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering.
