What's New
The midsize 2021 Audi A6 gets more standard features. The base model now comes with 19-inch wheels, keyless entry, and an integrated toll payment module, while the Premium Plus trim gets adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. Lastly, there’s a new Black Optic Sport package that brings a sport suspension, 20-inch bi-color wheels, and black exterior accents.
Choosing Your Audi A6
The A6 is offered in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Pricing starts at $55,945 including destination for the base Premium and goes up to $70,545 for the Prestige.
There's also the A6 allroad wagon to choose, which comes in Premium Plus and Prestige guise.
Engine Choices
Audi offers two engines with the A6 lineup. The Premium and Premium Plus sedan come standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine Audi calls 45 TFSI. The Prestige sedan and both allroad models get the 55 TFSI 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder standard, while it's available on the lower two sedans for $4,900.
Engine Type | Horsepower | Torque | Fuel Economy (Combined) |
2.0L Turbo 4-Cylinder | 248 hp | 273 lb-ft | 26 mpg |
3.0L Turbo 6-Cylinder | 335 hp | 369 lb-ft | 24 mpg |
Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission are standard.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The A6 sedan can seat five passengers and offers a larger trunk than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series, capable of holding 13.7 cubic feet of cargo.
If you’re looking for more cargo capacity, the A6 allroad is the obvious choice, as it can hold 30 cubic feet of cargo behind the second row. Audi doesn’t offer a total cargo capacity figure for the A6 allroad.
Safety Features
Every A6 comes with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Audi’s pre sense front system that prepares the vehicle if a potential collision is imminent is also included.
The Premium Plus trim upgrades massively to include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available on the base model through the $1,500 Convenience package.
Strangely, the allroad Premium Plus doesn't get adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, or rear cross-traffic alert standard. They require the Executive package, which also includes many convenience features for $3,250, or the $500 Audi Side Assist Package.
Connectivity
A two-touchscreen layout in the A6 means an 8.8-inch upper display controls infotainment while the 8.6-inch lower unit handles other vehicle functions. A 7-inch digital gauge cluster, navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.
Moving up to the Premium Plus brings a 10.1-inch upper touchscreen, a wireless charging pad, a Bang and Olufsen surround sound audio system, and a 12.3-inch instrument cluster. The larger touchscreen and wireless charger are available on the Premium through the aforementioned Convenience package.
The Prestige trim brings a head-up display as standard.
The Premium may be the entry-level trim, but it’s hardly missing any major features. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and taillights, and 19-inch wheels are standard.
The $1,500 Convenience package is the major one available for the base trim, and it's certainly worth the upgrade. It adds the 10.1-inch touchscreen, surround-view camera, 12.3-inch gauge cluster, wireless phone charger, a heated steering wheel, and blind-spot monitoring.
The Premium Plus trim brings a high-end Bang and Olufsen audio system, Matrix-design LED headlights, and a headlight washer system as standard. This in addition to the adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, surround-view camera, 12.3-inch driver information display, 10.1-inch touchscreen, and wireless phone charger.
The available Executive package ($2,250) adds four-zone automatic climate control, a power trunk lid, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and ambient interior lighting.
The range-topping Prestige trim adds soft-closing doors, four-zone automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power open and close trunk, and the head-up display.
The Luxury package ($2,850) is unique to the Prestige trim, bringing Valcona and Milano leather upholstery, 18-way power front seats with massage functionality, and a power rear window sunshade.
Of the 2021 Audi A6 body styles, we prefer the allroad, though consumers aren’t very interested in wagons anymore. We recommend the Premium Plus trim with the available Executive package. Luxurious, high-tech, and supremely comfortable, that configuration should be the sweet spot for the majority of consumers.