Audi A6 2007 $13,877

Vehicle Overview Audi redesigned its A6 in 2005, and the vehicle has changed little for 2007. The biggest change is the addition of the S-line series to the wagon (Avant) version. Other changes include things like new cupholders, redesigned wheels and MP3 playback capability for the CD changer. Audi's A6 sport sedan features a bold, squarish grille. Available with V-6 or V-8 power, this was the first Audi with optional adaptive headlights that swivel to improve night views on twisty roads. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard. Inside, the driver uses an electrohydraulic parking brake. The Multi Media Interface system features a 7-inch color display screen. Optional keyless entry provides electronic access, unlocking the door as it's pulled. Light and rain sensors and a tire pressure monitoring system are standard. Audi's multitronic continuously variable transmission returned for 2006 on the A6 3.2 FSI sedan with FrontTrak front-wheel drive. An Avant 3.2 wagon with a Tiptronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive is also available. S-line series sedans with a sport suspension and 18-inch wheels are available. Bose surround sound is standard on the A6 4.2 sedan. Heated front seats are standard on 3.2 Avant and 4.2 models. Adaptive Cruise Control and an adaptive air suspension are optional. Exterior People are likely to focus first on the A6's large trapezoidal grille. The sedan has an upswept shoulder line and what Audi calls a curved dome in the middle of the hood. Wraparound taillights and a horizontal chrome trunk strip are installed. Alloy wheels hold 16-inch tires on V-6 models and 17-inchers on cars equipped with quattro or the V-8 engine. Wagons can have a tailgate that opens at the push of a button. Interior Audi's A6 has a new cupholder similar to its smaller sibling, the A4. New metallic trim rings the instrument cluster, there's a new overhead center console and the CD changer now has MP3 playback capability. Each model holds five people on leather seating surfaces. Controls on the wide center console face slightly toward the driver. A large tachometer and speedometer are installed, and the four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel features a trapezoidal center design that mimics the grille. Automatic climate control is standard. Trunk volume totals 15.9 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded down, the wagon holds 58.6 cubic feet of cargo. Options include a DVD-based navigation system and a rearview camera. Under the Hood Audi's 4.2-liter V-8 produces 350 horsepower for 2007, thanks to direct fuel injection. Both engines team with a six-speed automatic transmission that incorporates Tiptronic for manually selected gear changes. Permanent quattro all-wheel drive is standard, except in the FrontTrak CVT sedan with front-wheel drive. Safety Sideguard head-curtain airbags and side-impact airbags are installed. Audi's Electronic Stability Program is standard. Antilock brakes include electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. Driving Impressions Confident handling and sure-footed all-wheel drive are the A6's strongest attributes. The car doesn't qualify as a powerhouse, but acceleration is quite satisfying with the V-6. Paying more for a V-8 permits full-bore takeoffs, accompanied by a richer exhaust note. The A6 is quiet, but not eerily silent. The automatic transmission responds promptly and effectively with either engine and delivers a civilized experience. The taut suspension reacts promptly but not excessively. It can cope with most road roughness, but the ride can become bouncy through harsher stretches. The supportive, firm seats are on the hard side, and visibility over the left shoulder is limited. Most controls are satisfactory, but Audi's MMI setup is still too complicated and the display screen isn't in the driver's line of sight.

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