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2008 Audi A6 Sedan
2008 Audi A6 Sedan
All-Around Overachiever
Audi's sophisticated A6 sedan provides a near ideal blend of comfort and sportiness.
The base, front-wheel-drive Audi A6 sedan features a V6 engine and a continuously variable transmission that uses belts and pulleys in place of traditional gears. Quattro all-wheel-drive versions get the same V6 engine, or enthusiasts can opt for a V8. Both quattro models of the Audi A6 sedan come with a more conventional Tiptronic six-speed automatic gearbox with manual-shift capability.
The Audi A6 Sedan has a richly appointed, bank-vault-quiet interior and a supple yet taut suspension. The car excels at isolating occupants from road irregularities while offering ample agility for more-aggressive driving. Quattro all-wheel drive offers superior grip on slick roads while improving handling and performance. Quattro's downside, as with any all-wheel-drive system, is reduced fuel economy.
Standard features on the Audi A6 sedan include front, front side and side-curtain airbags, electronic stability control, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution. Rear side airbags are optional.
Trimmed in high-quality leather, aluminum and wood veneer, the interior is roomy and comfortable for front- and rear-seat occupants. But the steeply raked windshield, high beltline and low roofline create a sense of claustrophobia because the side windows are relatively small.
A seven-inch Multi-Media Interface (MMI) display in the center of the dashboard incorporates navigation, audio, climate control and other systems. A large knob behind the gearshift lever governs most functions, but there are also redundant buttons and knobs for many things, such as the climate-control system and the stereo. This setup is more distracting and less intuitive to operate than traditional controls, but it’s easier to use than BMW's iDrive system, which relies heavily on one large knob and has fewer redundant controls than Audi’s MMI.
The number of switches in the cabin is staggering. The dash and instrument panel resemble a jet plane's cockpit, especially when they light up at night.
Is the Audi A6 Sedan for You?
| Buy the A6 Sedan if | You value a smooth and quiet highway ride as well as sporty handling; you need seating for five; you need the added traction of all-wheel drive for winter driving; you appreciate understated but refined design. |
| Keep Looking if | You prefer rear-wheel drive; a compact luxury sedan will suit your needs; you want more interior space, in which case a full-size sedan such as Audi's A8 is worth considering; you prefer a simpler instrument panel. |
| Who Fits? | Five adults fit in the Audi A6 Sedan comfortably, though taller rear occupants will find headroom lacking and the center passenger in the back might feel cramped. |
| Closest Competitors | |
| Did You Know? |
Audi is a Latin translation of founder August Horch's first name, which in German means "hark" or "listen." It wasn't his first choice. Horch settled on the name Audi (Audiwerke GmbH is the full German name) after losing a legal dispute over rights to the name Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH. |
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