more about this model Even though it hasn't had a major update in five years, the 2017 Audi A6 remains near the top of its hotly contested class with a commendable blend of style, comfort and performance. Add in styling that is still attractive despite the model's age, a slew of the latest technology and a competitive base price, and it's no wonder the A6 has remained a steady seller in Audi's extensive lineup for many years.
After a minor update a year ago, and with a complete redesign coming next year, the A6 has only received a few minor changes for 2017. These include the addition of the S-line exterior style package as standard equipment, new wheel choices and exterior colors, LED ambient lighting and infotainment system upgrades. But perhaps the biggest news is the addition of the A6 Competition model, with a more powerful engine, sporty trim and a number of extra comfort and convenience features.
The roomy interior of the A6 surrounds occupants with a tasteful mix of quality leather, wood accents and metal trim. In addition to high-end materials, it boasts comfortable, supportive seats and a wide array of useful features, including an almost overwhelming complement of standard and available technology.
The powerplant for the base A6 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The standard transmission for the front-wheel-drive model is a seven-speed, dual-clutch automated manual, while the all-wheel-drive Quattro version comes with an eight-speed automatic. Move up to the A6 3.0 and you get a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that generates 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, or select the Competition model and that same V6 is tweaked to 340 hp.
Although the A6 is not small or light, it can hold its own against major competitors in the handling department. Even the standard setup provides enough cornering prowess to satisfy most drivers. But those looking for even more performance can choose a six-cylinder model, larger wheels and beefier suspension components. For the drivers who want a less equipped car but would like some suspension upgrades, a sport suspension and wheel package are available on lower trim models.
Fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive A6 with the four-cylinder engine is rated by the EPA at a combined 28 mpg (24 city/34 highway), while an all-wheel-drive model with the V6 gets a combined rating of 24 mpg (21 city/29 highway).
The base 2.0T Premium trim level already comes equipped well enough to rival pretty much anything in its class. The 2.0T Premium Plus model adds a number of comfort, convenience and technology features, and the 3.0T Premium Plus and 3.0T Prestige tack on those niceties, as well as the V6 engine. Finally, the new 3.0T Competition includes an even higher-powered V6 and an assortment of sporty touches. Whichever 2017 Audi A6 best meets your needs, let Edmunds help you find the perfect one for you.
2017 Audi A6 Overview
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Audi A6 and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 A6 featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Audi A6 and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 A6 4.6 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 A6.
Vehicle
3.0T Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A)
Review
There is no perfect car, but this one comes pretty close, with mostly "pluses" and just a few "cons." The only options I did not order on the Prestige Package were a Bang and Olufsen stereo, the $3300 comfort seat upgrade and night vision (The Prestige comes with 12-way ventilated seats). I also stuck with the stock 18" 245/45 all weather tires because of their higher profile. On the plus side are its stylish look in Florett Silver with Atlas Beige/Dark Walnut interior, great handling, extreme comfort, great temperature and direction controls, wonderful visibility, well-designed driver assistance, and great parking assist (easiest car I have ever parked beside the 2017 Q5). The virtual cockpit and heads up displays are easy to use, informative and very helpful. It's great having the Nav display directly in front of the driver. The transmission shifts smoothly, and for such a powerful car, it is surprisingly quiet when accelerating, and there is virtually no wind noise when cruising, The ECO start/stop was a little hard to get used to (abrupt stop), but I really like the fuel savings it affords around town. Speaking of fuel economy, I have been getting between 30-36 mpg on trips and averaging 25 mpg combined. FANTASTIC! I think the secret is that I allow the adaptive cruise to pretty much control the car on a trip. On the "con" side, the info system does take time to figure out. I spent over 2 hours with Audi Connect getting the AT&T SD card and navigation system reprogrammed, I am still learning the system. I wish all the information on the retractable Nav screen could be turned off so the entire screen displayed the route. I wish connection to the internet was included in the price like GM proposes to do on its new models. The garage door HomeLink was a bear to set. The salesman spent over an hour at my home setting it up, but it has worked well since being programmed. Dash glare is another "con." I had ordered the brown interior and dash trim with the expectation that dash glare would be reduced. NOT! My 2011 Volvo S80 had a similar colored dash that gave off almost no dash glare. Instead of using a grained glare-reducing material over the entire dash, Audi used hard plastic around the heads up display and other selected places which, in combination, produces a lot of reflection on the windshield. It apparently failed to engineer the windshield angle to reduce glare on the type of dash materials it chose to use. I also join others in expressing a desire that the car have a little more storage space in the front passenger compartment, but I have learned to do more with less junk in the cabin of the car. It is only these later "cons" that kept me from giving the car 5 stars overall. Its looks, its performance, its comfort, fuel economy, etc. all call for 5 stars. Because of some convenience issues, however, I could only give it 4 overall. (PS: The price for this category of car was in line with its competitors, and I thought the dealer treated me fairly considering the additional warranties that were included in the out-the-door price. Therefore, the price rating should be read as an N/A. It was not a factor in my ratings.)
See all consumer reviews and retings for the 2017 Audi A6
Edmunds Value
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color
The 2017 Audi A6 earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and "GOOD" ratings from the IIHS in the following caregories: Side Impact Test, Roof Strength Test, Rear Crash Protection/Head Restraint, IIHS Small Overlap Front Test Results, Moderate Overlap Front Test Results, and a JD POWER overall quality rating of 3.0 out of 5. Among Edmunds' many tools and resources for finding your perfect car are detailed safety ratings and analysis from NHTSA, IIHS, and JD Power, including overall ratings, frontal barrier crash ratings, side impact tests and crash ratings, rollover test results, roof strength tests, rear crash protection and head restraint ratings, side barrier ratings, combined side barrier and pole ratings, and more.
Available Audi A6 2017 Submodel Types: Sedan, Wagon, Diesel
Available Trims: 2.0T Premium Plus quattro, 3.0T Premium quattro, 3.2 quattro, 3.0T Premium Plus quattro, 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro, 2.0T Premium quattro, 3.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro, 3.0T Prestige quattro, 4.2 quattro, 2.0T Premium, 2.7T quattro, 3.0T quattro, 2.7T S-Line quattro, 2.8 quattro, 3.0 TFSI Prestige quattro, 3.0 quattro, 3.2, 2.0T Premium Plus, 3.2 Avant quattro, 4.2 Prestige quattro, 3.0, 3.2 Premium, TDI Premium Plus quattro
Exterior Colors: Brilliant Black, Moonlight Blue Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, Ibis White, Phantom Black Pearl Effect, Mythos Black Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic, Oolong Gray Metallic, Light Silver Metallic, Quartz Gray Metallic, Aviator Blue Metallic, Night Blue Pearl Effect, Oyster Gray Metallic, Florett Silver Metallic, Tornado Gray Metallic, Havanna Black Metallic, Aventurine Blue Pearl Effect, Arctic White, Dakota Gray Metallic, Garnet Red Pearl Effect, Matador Red Metallic, Condor Gray Metallic, Dakar Beige Metallic, Daytona Gray Pearl Effect, Santorin Blue PL Effect, Atlas Gray Metallic, Brilliant Black Clearcoat, Burgundy Red Pearl Effect, Casablanca White, Cashmere Gray PL Effect, Dolphin Gray Metallic, Ebony PL Effect, Ebony Pearl, Glacier White, Ming Blue Pearl, Royal Grey Metallic - Audi Exclusive, Stratos Blue Pearl Effect
Interior Colors: Black leather, Nougat Brown leather, Velvet Beige leather, Black premium leather, Ebony premium leather, Amaretto premium leather, Atlas Beige leather, Cardamom Beige leather, Beige, Ebony, Light Gray leather, Flint Gray leather, Titanium Gray leather, Cardamom Beige premium leather, Atlas Beige premium leather, Amaretto/Black leather, Beige premium leather, Black w/Korso Red Stitching premium leather, Havanna Brown premium leather, Light Gray premium leather, Amaretto, Black w/Black Stitching premium leather, Nougat Brown premium leather, Platinum premium leather, Tungsten Gray
Popular Features: Alarm, Auto Climate Control, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Power Driver Seat, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Leather Seats, AWD/4WD, Bluetooth, Tire Pressure Warning, Sunroof/Moonroof, Trip Computer, Heated seats, Post-collision safety system, Pre-collision safety system, Navigation, Upgraded Headlights, Parking sensors, Back-up camera, USB Inputs, Electronic Folding Mirrors, Blind Spot Monitoring, Keyless Entry/Start, Mobile Internet, Upgraded Stereo, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Cooled Seats, Heads up display, Power Liftgate/Trunk, 360-degree camera
Engine/Mechanics: 6, 4, 8 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC, AUTOMATED_MANUAL, MANUAL
Fuel Types: premium unleaded (required), premium unleaded (recommended), regular unleaded, diesel
Drivetrains: all wheel drive, front wheel drive
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
