2011 Audi S6 Review
2011 Audi S6 Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Thrilling V10 sound
- strong brakes
- stylish interior
- all-wheel drive.
Cons
- Unimpressive performance
- stiff ride
- heavy.
What’s new
The 2011 Audi S6 is unchanged.
Edmunds says
Who wouldn't want a Lamborghini engine under the hood? Well, the 2011 Audi S6 may sound great at full throttle, but otherwise the S6 brings up the rear in the super-sedan segment.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2011 Audi S6 Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (5.2L 10cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$324/mo for S6 Prestige quattro
S6 Prestige quattro
vs
$184/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
Stuffing a V10 into a midsize luxury sedan sounds like the sort of bonkers thing a billionaire does just because he can -- like plating his refrigerator in platinum or buying Guam. And yet, that is just what has been done with the 2011 Audi S6, as a V10 shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo sports car has been stuffed under the hood of an A6 sedan. Sounds amazing in a nutty sort of way, but unfortunately, the 2011 Audi S6 just doesn't live up to the hype. It's just not quite nutty enough.
For starters, the S6's 5.2-liter V10 might be shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo, but like removing the horns from a bull, the S6 version has 127 fewer horses. It's also down by 100 horsepower compared to the Audi R8's V10. More importantly, though, the 435-hp V10 in the S6 is 75 hp down on the Jaguar XFR and 83 hp down on the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. The result is a sedan that gets thumped by its competition and one that barely manages to eke out a drag-race victory over its sibling, the supercharged Audi A6 3.0T.
The issue isn't wholly a lack of power; it's the abundance of weight. With 59 percent of this car's weight hanging over the front wheels, even the S6's all-wheel-drive system with its rear-biased torque split can't save the S6 from speed-scrubbing understeer in the corners. In other words, the sort of high-speed, tire-smoking hijinks that you can enjoy in other super sedans won't be had with an S6. Nor is there any payoff in terms of ride quality, because the S6's standard 19-inch wheels and sport suspension produce a bone-jarring ride.
We will point out that all this is tempered by the fact that the S6 is still powerful, stylish and indulgently luxurious. It is also about $10,000 cheaper than its fellow German super sedans and $3,000 less than the 2011 Jaguar XFR. But Audi's value proposition starts to fall apart when you consider that the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V is priced about $20,000 less.
Performance & mpg
The 2011 Audi S6 features a 5.2-liter V10 good for 435 hp and 398 pound-feet of torque. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard along with a six-speed automatic that features manual shift control. In Edmunds track testing, the S6 ran from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds -- barely quicker than the A6 3.0T and woefully slower than the Cadillac CTS-V, Jaguar XFR and Mercedes E63. EPA-estimated fuel economy for 2011 is 14 mpg city/21 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the Audi S6 includes antilock disc brakes, stability control, all-wheel drive, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Rear side airbags and a blind-spot warning system are options.
In crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Audi A6 (on which the S6 is based) scored the highest possible rating of "Good" in both frontal-offset and side-impact tests, but a second-best rating of "Average" in the roof strength test.
In Edmunds brake testing, the 2011 Audi S6 came to a stop in a fade-free 110 feet -- a good result for this type of car.
Driving
The 2011 Audi S6 handles well for a nose-heavy 4,500-pound AWD sedan, but it simply can't keep up with the quicker and better balanced competition around corners. It's just not as fun to drive and there's no payoff in terms of ride comfort, either -- the S6's suspension is sports-car stiff.
As good as the V10 sounds, it doesn't produce the thrust needed for the S6 to be competitive in this rarefied high-performance segment, and the six-speed automatic isn't as responsive as the dual-clutch automated manual gearbox found in the Audi S4.
Interior
Trimmed in leather and aluminum with birch wood accents, the S6's cabin carries on the Audi tradition of finely wrought interiors. The amply bolstered front sport seats provide good support during aggressive driving, though if you dislike that hugged feeling, the A6's normal seats are a no-cost option. Interior room is spacious, with plenty of room for four passengers to travel in long-distance comfort. The trunk offers 16 cubic feet of space, which is pretty good for this size of car.
The S6 comes with Audi's latest MMI, which controls entertainment, communication and optional navigation functions via the dash-mounted LCD screen and center console-mounted controls (a knob and buttons). Though there is still a bit of a learning curve involved in using it, MMI has been dramatically improved in recent years, especially in regards to navigation functionality.
2011 Audi S6 models
The 2011 Audi S6 is a high-performance midsize sedan available in a lone trim level known as Prestige.
Standard equipment includes 19-inch cast-aluminum wheels, performance tires, automatic and adaptive xenon headlights, LED running lights, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a sunroof, keyless ignition/entry, automatic wipers, auto-dimming and power-folding exterior mirrors, eight-way power front sport seats with driver memory functions and adjustable lumbar, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery and heated front and rear seats.
Also standard are Bluetooth, a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic, Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) and a 13-speaker Bose surround-sound system with six-disc CD changer, satellite radio and an iPod interface. Options include 18-inch wheels (no cost), non-sport seats (no cost), rear side airbags and a blind-spot warning system.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
2 out of 5 stars2/5Below Average
#43 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Audi S6 from 2008-2022.$1,061/yr
vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).2.11x/yr
vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).27.2%
vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2011 Audi S6.
5 star(90%)
4 star(10%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
21 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.88 out of 5 stars
Who writes these reviews?
nickp, 12/04/2010
2008 Audi S6 quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (5.2L 10cyl 6A)
I almost did not purchase this car after reading what Edmunds and alike had to say, but luckily did after driving both the E63 and M5. They are definitely fast but so is a ZR1 corvett or a mustang! Point being, Audi owners have more in mind than pure horsepower. It's the ability to have a car that handles under all conditions and environments, and do it in a way that doesn't say look at … me. And seriously, the engine is a thing of beauty! The M5 will take me out until it starts to rain..he'll be in the ditch and I'll be eating dinner! I have seriously considered getting an R8 but can't come to grips with giving up such an all around wonderful car.
4.88 out of 5 stars
Get it while you can!
anonimo, 02/22/2011
2011 Audi S6 Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (5.2L 10cyl 6A)
This is a very special car that will never exist in this form again since the Lambo/R8 V10 drivetrain will be replaced by a smaller, supercharged engine in the next iteration of the S6. And while it will no doubt outperform the current V10, it will be a much more generic experience. This car is simply a great overall value in this class all things considered (V10, AWD, Audi interior, … loaded with options). And you probably will never see yourself coming or going on the road.
5 out of 5 stars
Spectacular car, not cheap though.
C.J.S., 07/31/2015
2008 Audi S6 quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (5.2L 10cyl 6A)
Don't kid yourself, this car gets expensive fast, expect no more than 17mpg unless you do a ton of highway miles. Cheap repairs are 2k+ a set of tires is easily 1800. It really should be babied to keep up appearance and performance, plan for 400+/mo. If none of that makes you cringe, then I highly recommend it. It will keep pace with if not outright decimate most cars out there, and … happily put domestic upstarts to shame, while looking so much classier doing so. It handles beautifully, even performs drifts well, especially for a heavy luxury sedan. Every day with this car is a treat, it makes every mile so much more fun than my 08 S4. The onboard tech is very impressive, and for someone with back problems, it's extremely comfortable, even on very long drives (8+hrs). If you're considering this car and have the desire to spend the money on it that it deserves, just do it. Anyone who says the 3L turbo A6 is comparable is simply wrong. This is an entirely different beast.
5 out of 5 stars
There is no comparison
Audi4life, 12/24/2008
2008 Audi S6 quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (5.2L 10cyl 6A)
This is my 4th Audi and by far my favorite. You can't compare this car to the M5 or the E63, That's what the RS6 is for (We won't get the current 570bhp in the states) For those of us that know about Audis, this car will blow away any E500 or twin Turbo 550i and you will look better doing it. This is the best S I have owned. I had the 2001 S8 and that was a blast too.Until the 2011 RS6 … comes this is the next best thing or the 2003 RS6.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2011 Audi S6, so we've included reviews for other years of the S6 since its last redesign.
2011 S6 Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $76,100 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 16 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $324/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 15.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the S6 include:
- Back-up camera
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
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