Audi A6: 2019 Motor Trend Car of the Year Finalist

WE LIKE Class-leading interior, incredibly quiet cabin

WE DON’T LIKE Road noise from 21-inch tires, fake exhaust tips

The fifth-generation A6 moves to a new platform with a choice of suspensions that make for the best-riding A6 in a while, albeit one that’s a bit firm on uneven surfaces. Zach Gale said the A6’s excellence “sneaks up on you.”

The 3.0-liter V-6 replaces a supercharger with a turbo and is now a mild hybrid with a standard 48-volt system. Judges called it quiet, smooth, and capable. The ride is crisp and sharp, Frank Markus noted, but it was still possible to get a slide going on the handling course. It rides the big curves like a bobsled on a steel track. The transitions from one corner to the next are wonderfully precise.

Kudos to the acoustics team—the cabin is almost unnervingly quiet. “Breathtakingly clean and elegant,” Angus MacKenzie said. Chris Theodore called it a revelation that re-establishes Audi as the interior design leader. The matte wood trim, supple leather, and Alcantara marry well with the three screens of the optional Virtual Cockpit while keeping a redundant volume button. There was appreciation for the large back-seat area.

The exterior drew mixed reviews. It left Theodore cold, but others felt the conservative styling and surfacing were elegant and upscale—except for the fake exhaust tips.

The A6 is loaded with technology, including a lane centering system that was hit or miss. And there was love-hate (mostly hate) for its cruise control’s traffic-sign recognition, which lawfully follows the speed limit to the point of slamming on the brakes in a transition zone.

“This is really what a luxury car should feel like,” Mark Rechtin said. “Modern, forward thinking, plush, yet restrained.”

READ ABOUT 2019 CAR OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS:

• Buick Regal
• Ford Mustang
• Ford Transit Connect
• Hyundai Accent
• Hyundai Elantra
• Honda Clarity
• Kia Forte
• Lexus ES
• Lexus LS
• Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
• Nissan Altima
• Toyota Avalon
• Toyota Corolla Hatchback
• Volkswagen Jetta

READ ABOUT 2019 SUV OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS:

• BMW X2
• BMW X3
• BMW X4
• Cadillac XT4
• Ford EcoSport
• Ford Edge
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Infiniti QX50
• Jaguar E-Pace
• Jeep Cherokee
• Lexus RX L
• Mercedes-Benz G-Class
• Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
• Nissan Kicks
• Subaru Ascent

2019 Audi A6 3.0T Quattro
Base Price/As tested	$59,895/$76,695
Power (SAE net)	335 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net)	369 lb-ft @ 1,370 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph	5.0 sec
Quarter-mile	13.5 sec @ 102.7 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph	107 ft
Lateral Acceleration	0.93 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight	24.9 sec @ 0.75 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb	Not yet rated
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION	3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6 /7-speed twin-clutch auto
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4,329 lb (55/45%)
WHEELBASE	115.1 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	194.4 x 74.3 x 57.4 in
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	Not yet rated
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	Not yet rated

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