Driving Impressions

We selected the base A6 for this review deliberately, not because we wanted the cheapest of Audi in this range, but to try out the nifty new continuously variable (CVT) multitronic transmission. I've driven CVT-equipped automobiles before, including the 3-cylinder Subaru Justy with a steel drive belt and several 2-cylinder DAF models that had rubber V-belts. These vehicles had several common features: they all had relatively low horsepower, and they all were primarily mechanically controlled. Step on the gas and the engine would rev up to its power peak and stay there while the car accelerated. To the driver, this felt at best like a speedboat or airplane or at worst like a slipping clutch. Despite their theoretical and practical advantages-better performance and fuel mileage, their odd driving characteristics as well as their small size prevented these vehicles from gaining popularity in the U.S. With that background, the multitronic-equipped A6 had one strike against it. The shift lever doesn't look unusual, however, with the PRND selector flanked by a Tiptronic "+" and "-" slot. Placed in "D," the A6 accelerates much like a car with a conventional transmission. Audi uses computer controls to set the ratios in the CVT, and whether at light or heavy throttle, the engine gains rpm satisfyingly as the car accelerates. It's not the one-to-one relationship that a conventional automatic provides, but the ear and eye agree that the engine and the car are both accelerating. The transmission never shifts gears, of course. However, it mimics a conventional automatic in feel. Slam the throttle down while cruising and the CVT feels like an automatic transmission downshifting, only quicker. If the driver wishes, the computer control of the CVT allows the driver to shift "gears" just as if it were a Tiptronic-equipped conventional transmission. Just move the lever into the "+" and "-" slot and the multitronic will fix the pulleys in five selected gear ratios, shifting up or down as the lever is moved forward or back. The shifts themselves are much quicker than a conventional automatic shifted with Tiptronic. Overall, the CVT is more responsive than a conventional automatic. It delivers marginally quicker acceleration performance, according to Audi. Because it lacks a traditional automatic's power-sapping torque converter, the CVT also delivers better fuel economy; EPA estimates 2 mpg better in city driving. That's all well and good, but the A6 is more than the new transmission. The new 3.0-liter V6 gives the base A6 energetic performance in just about any driving situation. We drove the A6 in the foothills of the Blue Ridge in northern Virginia, where the engine performed eagerly on uphill grades. Yet it was like a silent partner on the expressway. With the multitronic, the A6 3.0 was responsive to all merging and accelerating needs. The brakes were progressive and strong, and the steering crisp and accurate. The suspension was on the soft side of sporty, providing the comfort that most buyers of this four-door sedan desire, while still maintaining the driving control one would expect from a German car. We didn't have the opportunity to use the stability control, as the pavement was dry and there was no opportunity to devise an artificial test, but knowing it's there provides extra peace of mind. Nor did we have the heavy rain that often leaves deep puddles on the pavement that can give ordinary front-drive vehicles conniptions, but we know from earlier experience that Audi's complex front suspension yields absolute control in such situations. Indeed, even in dry conditions, the front-drive Audi A6 has none of the torque steer common with high-powered front-wheel-drive automobiles. The Audi A6 is peaceful at highway cruise, with only the slightest ruffle of wind noise around the A-pillars, noticeable only because the rest of the car was so quiet.

Final Word

The Audi A6 provides the ego enhancement one expects from driving a luxury car. Indeed, the average household income of the A6 buyer is expected to be about $150,000. It is a worthy reward for someone in that income bracket, and is not just another Benz or Bimmer. For those who want the advantages of all-wheel drive, multitronic is not yet available with quattro, though it can be expected in the future. The A6 is an exceedingly competent commuter and highway car for the professional or entrepreneur who doesn't lust after the speed of the performance-tuned A6 models, but relishes being a little different.