Used Audi A6 for sale: everything you need to know
Now in its fifth generation, the latest model having launched in 2018, the Audi A6 remains one of the best executive cars you can buy. It has sophisticated styling inside and out and drives in the same manner, with a priority on comfort and refinement but a hint of sporty handling in the right specification.
Audi has kept pace with its rivals in terms of technology so while the A6 has been on sale for a few years now, even older models will still feel contemporary, and a choice of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powerplants gives you plenty of options to suit your needs. Audi of course also offers the A6 in Avant estate form, while for even more style, the Audi A7 is also available.
Should you buy an Audi A6?
The Audi A6 is one of the ‘big three’ German executive saloons, and it’s just as worthy of your attention as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Like its rivals the A6 feels like a product of continual evolution, getting more advanced and more refined with each iteration but keeping the same fundamental qualities - in Audi’s case, class-leading build quality and handsome, fairly understated styling.
The A6 was one of the first cars in Audi’s range to use a double touchscreen system for its infotainment, and despite being an early adopter, it’s really not a bad system to use - haptic feedback lets you know when you’ve adequately pressed one of the large, easy to find ‘buttons’ on the screen. The cabin still looks modern and fresh too despite this generation going on sale in 2018 - and the car’s substantial size means you get plenty of cabin space front and rear, and a usable 530 litre boot too.
On the road the A6 majors on refinement. You’ll get a slightly softer ride in an E-Class but at speed the A6 is whisper-quiet in all its forms, and higher-spec models with air suspension really do smooth out the road surface. This A6 drives better than ever too, with positive steering and good body control, while the brawny S6 TDI is even quite enjoyable to thread through a few twists and turns.
As well as the 5 Series and E-Class, multi-talented models in their own right, other cars to consider in this class are the Jaguar XF, which is great to drive and very handsome in the right colour and specification, and two Lexus models - the older, rear-wheel drive GS, and the newer, front-wheel drive ES, both of which have refinement and impeccable build quality on their side. The Volvo S90 is another fine choice.
What’s the best used Audi A6 model to buy?
Diesel power has been the go-to choice in big German executive saloons like this for quite some time, and that doesn’t change a great deal with the A6. Audi has even forced your hand with the S6 sports saloon, since that’s diesel only (a punch V6 unit), but even the four-cylinder 40 TDI makes a lot of sense thanks to its 50mpg economy and strong performance. Sport trim is also a wise pick, with a softer edge to its ride quality that the S Line models on larger wheels and sports suspension. Don’t overlook the plug-in 50 TFSI e if you have charging at home though - its 32-mile EV range isn’t much but could reduce your commuting fuel bills quite significantly.
Used Audi A6 fuel economy and performance
- Audi A6 40 TFSI: Audi’s familiar 2-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder gets 204PS in 40 TFSI form, with a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive. 0-62mph takes 7.3 seconds, and economy is 39.8mpg on average.
- Audi A6 45 TFSI quattro: The more powerful 2-litre gets quattro all-wheel drive and a 265PS output. 0-62mph drops to six seconds flat, while economy is 37.2mpg.
- Audi A6 40 TDI quattro: In 2.0-litre turbodiesel form you get 204PS, standard all-wheel drive, and a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 0-62mph takes 7.4 seconds, while economy is just over 50mpg.
- Audi S6 TDI quattro: S6 models used to be petrol, but 40.4mpg combined with a five-second 0-62mph time illustrate the benefits of the 344PS, 3-litre V6 turbocharged diesel.
- Audi A6 50 TFSI e quattro: The plug-in hybrid A6 uses a 2-litre petrol turbo engine with hybrid assistance, thanks to a 14.4kWh battery pack capable of 32 miles on a charge. Total system output is 299PS, and 0-62mph takes 6.2 seconds.
What used Audi A6 trim levels are available?
- The Audi A6 Sport comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights and tail lights, leather trim, and heated front seats.
- The Audi A6 S Line upgrades to 19-inch alloy wheels and rides on sports suspension, and there’s S Line exterior and interior styling too.
- The Audi A6 Black Edition is very similar to the S Line in terms of specification, but swaps brighter exterior trim for gloss black highlights, and it also gets 20-inch titanium-finish alloy wheels.
- The Audi A6 Vorsprung is the A6 at its best-equipped, featuring many standard items usually found on the options list. That means 21-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel steering, and Bang & Olufsen audio, among other things.
- The Audi S6 is the first of two performance models in the range (the other being the RS6, which we’ve covered separately). Trim is similar to the S Line but you get the V6 diesel engine, aluminium door mirror caps, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
- The Audi S6 Black Edition is as to the S6 what the regular Black Edition is to an S Line, with plenty of dark details and carbon interior trim.
- The Audi S6 Vorsprung once again basically fills out all the option boxes for you, so for the S6 you get adaptive air suspension, a panoramic glass roof, matrix LED headlights, a head-up display, and power-closing doors.
Used Audi A6 dimensions and boot size
The Audi A6’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,939mm
- Width: 2,110mm (including door mirrors)
- Height: 1,457mm
- Ground clearance: 132mm
The Audi A6’s boot space is:
- 530 litres (S6: 520 litres)
Used Audi A6 road tax
Most Audi A6s get a tax surcharge since they cost more than £40,000 when brand new. This means the majority get a £600 bill each year (which drops to a lower rate from the car’s seventh year on the road), while the 50 TFSI e, thanks to being a plug-in hybrid and therefore classed as an ‘alternative fuel vehicle’, is £10 cheaper each year.
How much is it to insure an Audi A6?
Insurance groups for the Audi A6 rise from group 32 for a 40 TFSI in Sport trim and 35 for the 40 TDI quattro, to groups 43-47 for the Audi S6, depending on trim level. S Line models are typically a group or two higher than their Sport counterparts, while well-equipped Vorsprung models can be quite a jump. Ther A6’s insurance groups are similar to those of a BMW 5 Series, which spans groups 28-46.
