2006 Audi A6 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

For a style that won't age, look no further than the Audi A6. It's nothing but clean, modern architecture. The roofline is almost a perfect half-circle and offers a graceful cover for this sedan's long wheelbase. There are few creases along the body. It's smooth and fluid. What comes across as staid on the small A4 looks upscale on this midsize A6. Sure, from behind it looks like a plainer Volkswagen Passat. In the details, though, the A6 looks like a true luxury car—and the same goes for the pretty station wagon, the A6 Avant.

The interior sparks the eye, too. A wraparound dash canted toward the driver, a slim center stack, and all matter of buttons and switches mean the business. You'll find pretty woods and soft-touch materials all over, including the firm leather seats. A large color screen in the dash announces Audi's intent to push the technological envelope, for better and worse. In terms of style and quality, the A6 is tops.

A larger car requires more power, so forget about Audi's 4-cylinder engines. Standard on the 3.2 is the A4's optional engine, a 3.1-liter V6 with 255 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is new for 2006 with the continuously variable transmission (CVT). Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional and comes with a 6-speed automatic and manual gear selection (paddle shifters are optional). The Avant wagon comes only in this configuration. The 4.2 model pairs Quattro with a 4.2-liter V8 that makes 335 hp and 310 lb-ft. That engine puts the A6 in an upper class of faster, effortless cars like the Mercedes-Benz E500. The V6 is enough for most drivers, though the throttle is not as smooth and easy to modulate around town as the V8's.

The A6 handles very well at the expense of a firmer ride. That's accentuated when ordering the lowered sport suspension or any of the larger wheel choices (16 to 18 inches in diameter). The cabin is quiet. Braking performance is also good, as is the steering response. An optional air suspension with adaptive dampers is also available.

Where the A4 remains simple and straightforward, the A6 is like operating a laptop. Audi's new MMI (Multi Media Interface) uses a rotary controller on the console surrounded by several shortcut buttons and more buttons that control submenus in the four corners of the screen, which change depending on what menu you're in. If that sounds confusing, of course, it is. At least the steering-wheel controls and monochrome screen in the instrument panel, which offers a trip computer, are more upfront.

Room is generous in all outboard seating positions. Trunk space measures 16 cubic feet on the sedan, while the Avant wagon increases space to 34 cubic feet (or 59 with the seats folded).