2026 Audi A6 Is A Satisfying Luxury Sedan, But You'll Want To Wait A Few Months To Get One

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These days Audi feels for illustration a confused brand, to opportunity nan least. It's nary longer nan creation and exertion leader that it was successful nan aughts, and it's felt for illustration nan institution doesn't person a clear guidance — and that's to opportunity thing of broader strategical and software problems wrong nan broader Volkswagen Group.

But Audi is starting to get backmost connected nan correct track. Some of its caller new models person been rather good, its clunky naming schemes are getting rectified, and judging by the Concept C that was shown past autumn successful Munich, a broad overhaul of Audi's styling, interiors and infotainment is connected nan horizon. Until those next-gen models travel out, though, Audi is moving connected its largest new-product motorboat cadence ever, pinch nan redesigned A6 sedan being nan latest exemplary to deed nan roads.

That's right, sedans are still important to nan Germans, and the 2026 A6 is very overmuch a sedan. It's a beautiful bully sedan, too, a marked betterment from nan outgoing model. It's besides a intelligibly chopped car from the afloat electrical liftback A6 E-Tron that rides connected a wholly different level (PPE versus PPC). That's not confusing astatine all, right? This caller A6 should entreaty to a broader scope of customers, but those group mightiness want to hold conscionable a fewer much months earlier buying one.

Full disclosure: Audi invited maine to thrust retired to Palm Springs for a nighttime truthful I could thrust a mates different versions of nan caller A6. I was put up successful a bully edifice and fed immoderate beautiful meals.

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For this caller procreation (the ninth, aliases 5th if you don't count nan Audi 100s), Audi dropped nan guidelines four-cylinder motor from nan A6 lineup successful nan U.S., contempt each of its awesome competitors offering one. The only powertrain is simply a revised turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, now making 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, increases of 27 hp and 37 lb-ft. Quattro all-wheel thrust is standard, of course, pinch torque fed to each 4 wheels done a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It's EPA rated astatine 20 mpg city, 29 mpg road and 23 mpg combined, somewhat worse than nan aged A6.

Audi's spokespeople are coy erstwhile asked astir nan imaginable for an S6 exemplary successful this generation; location mightiness not beryllium one, though location person been immoderate spy photos, but location will surely beryllium an RS6 utilizing a plug-in-hybrid setup. Because of that, Audi is talking up really nan caller A6 is fundamentally arsenic speedy arsenic nan aged S6, and really it offers a bunch of capacity tech antecedently relegated to its S models. Despite being 82 horses and 37 torques down from nan outgoing S6, nan caller A6 is only a tenth slower from 0-to-60 mph, needing only 4.5 seconds. (That's besides complete half a 2nd quicker than nan aged six-cylinder A6.)

On nan awesome upland roads conscionable extracurricular nan godforsaken nan A6 does consciousness decently quick, though not successful a very breathtaking way. This powertrain is much astir delivering bully surges of torque than punches of it. Acceleration is soft and effortless, arsenic is nan cognition of nan automatic transmission. There's a spot of a bully growl from nan motor erstwhile I really measurement connected it, but different it fades beautiful nicely into nan background, which is good — 1 of nan A6's champion attributes is really damn quiet it is inside. Audi says upgrades for illustration optimized transmission cogwheel teeth and caller bushings for nan motor and transmission mounts person reduced NVH by 30% compared to nan aged A6.

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I commencement retired nan time successful a apical Prestige trim level fitted pinch 20-inch wheels wearing Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires, an $800 action complete nan guidelines 19s. Going for nan Prestige gets you adaptive aerial suspension pinch electronically controlled dampers alternatively of nan guidelines alloy springs, providing a comfortable and serene thrust on pinch nan expertise to automatically raise nan assemblage by 0.8 inch aliases little it by 0.4 inch. The electromechanical steering has a fixed adaptable ratio that increases maneuverability astatine debased speeds, and while there's not overmuch feedback done nan steering wheel's bladed rim, it is astatine slightest nonstop and not excessively quick, a problem I've had pinch different caller Audis.

Available connected apical of nan Prestige trim is simply a caller Sport Plus package that brings those S exemplary elements I mentioned. In summation to a bunch of sportier exterior and interior quality items (including deleting nan A6 badging), it deletes nan aerial suspension and adaptive dampers successful favour of a alloy setup that's 0.8 inch lower, and adds 21-inch wheels pinch Michelin Pilot Sport 5 summertime tires, a athletics rear differential and rear-wheel steering that tin move up to 5 degrees. This fixed suspension setup isn't rather arsenic cushy arsenic nan aerial springs, but it's nan 1 I prefer. The thrust is patient but ne'er uncomfortable, and there's little assemblage roll. I'm not pushing it capable to really announcement nan differential working, but nan rear steer decidedly makes a quality successful tightening up nan handling and making nan car consciousness much precise and ray connected its feet — not that this is simply a ray car, mind, coming successful astatine 4,310 pounds. It besides cuts nan turning circle from 40.4 feet to 37.1 feet. The Sport Plus package doesn't move nan A6 into a due capacity car, but it's surely worthy nan $5,850 upcharge.

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Step wrong nan A6 and you'll consciousness correct astatine location if you've been wrong any different current-gen Audi. The wide creation is prettier and little angular than nan last-gen car, and it feels very good put together. The A-pillars are delightfully thin, arsenic are nan remainder of nan pillars, giving maine a awesome position out. Coming arsenic modular is simply a curved OLED show that combines an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit gauge cluster and 14.5-inch cardinal touchscreen, pinch nan portion angled toward nan driver successful nan perfect spot for nan curvature of your arm, truthful you don't person to scope to usage it. This caller MMI strategy is simply a awesome measurement up from nan aged dual-touchscreen setup successful my eyes, pinch better-looking graphics and improved usability and customization. You'll astir apt kick that each nan ambiance controls are successful an always-there statement astatine nan guidelines of nan screen, but I don't care.

Without a uncertainty nan champion portion of nan A6's interior are nan seats. Even nan guidelines models person 8-way power-adjustable beforehand athletics seats that modular pinch heating, ventilation and 4-way lumbar support. But spell for nan Sport Plus package aliases nan $9,400 Exclusive Design package and Audi fits nan A6 pinch moreover sportier beforehand seats that person integrated headrests, stronger bolsters, a massage usability and illuminated logos. They look awesome and are very supportive. More importantly, that Exclusive Design package gets you a two-tone colour strategy of Neodymium Gold (more of a subtle beige) and Baikal Blue that looks fantastic, pinch much surfaces getting nan colored leather and immoderate fancier materials. Regardless of which seats you get, nan A6 has a bully driving position pinch 2 inches much headroom than before.

But nan compartment feels a spot disjointed. In some cars I drove there's a bully operation of genuine materials for illustration open-pore wood, leather, aluminum and suede, but nan much absorbing materials are nan ones utilized nan least, for illustration nan wood that's relegated to mini sections of nan halfway console and doorway cards. There's still excessively overmuch shiny achromatic plastic, and nan optional rider show isn't good integrated. My biggest gripe is pinch nan bezels of nan main screen. Neither show follows nan curved contours of nan housing, arsenic successful cars for illustration nan Lucid Air and BMW iX3, alternatively being normal rectangles pinch a batch of achromatic abstraction astir them. It's good successful position of functionality, but it conscionable looks cheap. I'm fresh for the next-gen stuff.

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The A6 is decidedly a looker from nan outside, though. This latest loop of Audi's creation connection is good suited to bigger vehicles for illustration nan A6. Where the A4-replacing A5 sewage a sleeker roofline pinch a liftback rear end, nan A6 sticks pinch accepted three-box sedan proportions. (If only we sewage the astonishing Avant!) Its greenhouse is very good resolved, and nan precocious conception of trunk is nicely curved, presenting nan four-ring logo up astatine you. I particularly for illustration nan taillight setup. The brake lights and move signals are successful nan little sections that spear disconnected a bladed ray bar, while those larger precocious OLED units are each for style. Well, they're much than conscionable for style — for nan first clip successful nan U.S., nan 198 OLED segments successful each ray tin do things for illustration show hazard triangles aliases activate each sections astatine max brightness if nan car down gets excessively adjacent to you.

Similarly, nan headlights person configurable moving ray signatures down a mesh insert. Audi's single-frame grille has gotten particularly whale shark–like, but I deliberation it works. Going for nan S Line package darkens a batch of nan exterior trim, changes up nan grille mesh shape and makes nan triangular bumper intakes moreover bigger. One of nan champion creation elements are nan blistered fenders, which are particularly salient complete nan rear wheels and look awesome successful your rear-view mirrors. Best of all, location are immoderate existent colors. A agleam Grenadine Red, navy-ish Firmament Blue, ace heavy Midnight Green and lavender-tinged Madeira Brown are disposable connected each models, and S Line cars tin beryllium had successful electrical Ascari Blue.

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Even though nan A6 now starts retired pinch nan V6 engine, it's priced competitively against nan four-cylinder versions of its 2 closest competitors, nan BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The 2026 A6 starts astatine $65,395 including destination, versus $61,950 for the BMW 530i ($64,250 pinch AWD) and $65,250 for the Mercedes E350 ($67,750 pinch AWD). If you want either of nan different Germans pinch their disposable inline-6s, it'll costs you $69,150 for nan Bimmer and $73,650 for nan Benz, some of which person AWD standard. The caller A6 is only $1,500 much than nan outgoing V6 model.

Audi isn't stiffing you, either. The guidelines Premium trim has LED headlights and taillights, three-zone automatic ambiance control, heated auto-dimming mirrors, a powerfulness trunk, an unopenable panoramic sunroof pinch adaptable ray control, 30-color ambient interior lighting, heat-insulating model glass, a wireless telephone charger, integer cardinal connectivity, and an integrated toll reader. Audi has made fundamentally each driver-assist strategy standard, including adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, beforehand and rear cross-traffic assist, lane-departure warning, postulation motion recognition, automatic precocious beams, safe exit informing and more. A $750 Convenience package for nan Premium includes a heated steering wheel, a surround-view camera strategy and parking assist.

Spend $3,400 connected nan Premium Plus and you get those Convenience battalion features positive adaptive cruise assistance pinch lane centering, four-zone ambiance control, a 3D Bang & Olufsen sound system, headlight washers, matrix LED headlights pinch nan fancy DRLs, heated rear seats, rear model sunshades, stronger USB-C ports, a head-up show and Audi's move relationship ray astatine nan guidelines of nan windshield. Another $3,900 gets you to nan Prestige, which adds connected nan aerial suspension, OLED taillights, speakers successful nan beforehand headrests, dual-pane broadside windows, powerfulness soft-close doors and nan rider screen. Fully loaded, you're looking astatine astir $85,000.

Audi

I wouldn't bid 1 conscionable yet, though. Midway done nan 2026 exemplary year, starting pinch cars built successful May, Audi will beryllium giving nan A6 a big of updates that, while not drastic changes, are worthy waiting for — particularly because it's each hardware worldly that can't beryllium retrofitted to older A6s. Remote motor commencement will beryllium modular crossed nan board, a dashcam is optional connected nan Premium and modular connected nan rest, and nan B&O sound strategy is now disposable connected nan guidelines car. The Prestige trim gets a fewer much information features for illustration rear emergency braking, distant parking assistance and a 3D position for nan surround-view camera, positive a fancy Nappa leather option.

Surely nan biggest update for you folks reference this will beryllium nan somewhat redesigned steering instrumentality that gains 2 scroll wheels, alternatively of nan afloat touch-capacitive existent wheel. This portion will thankfully beryllium rolled retired crossed nan remainder of Audi's lineup. The MMI strategy is besides getting a redesign pinch a white-on-gray colour scheme, maps added backmost onto nan Virtual Cockpit, and much functionality.

The 2026 Audi A6 whitethorn not beryllium hitting nan segment arsenic an contiguous standout successful nan mid-size business sedan segment, but to maine it's a overmuch much appealing package than its predecessor. It's stylish, comfortable, quick, and afloat of tech that's little annoying to usage than it utilized to be. Most importantly, it's a motion of life from nan automaker — not conscionable life, but moreover a spot of joie de vivre.