Video: 2014 Audi A6 Review

But we're very curious to see if this 220 horsepower, four cylinder can handle the task of being in a luxury car that weighs 4,000 pounds. On paper, the turbocharged four cylinder in the A six doesn't compare that favorably compared to other turbocharged four cylinders, like the BMW 528, and the Cadillac CTS, which are more potent. This actually got a power boost for 2014. In 2013, it used to be 211 horsepower and that's, just did not look good at all. But specifications aren't everything. And in the A six, the four cylinder has perfectly adequate acceleration. You're not going to mistake it for a V6 and it's not going to be a performance car, but it's smooth, refined and powerful where it needs to be. The eight speed automatic transmission with this Quattro all wheel drive is an excellent transmission. It handles the power very, very smartly. You're never waiting for the downshift and it always picks the right gear. And that combination of engine and transmission really sell the 2.0 four cylinder as, you know, not being under powered and not coming up short in acceleration. The A six's seating comfort pairs perfectly with it's ride quality. You can drive this car all day, even with the sport package. It doesn't ride too firm and it's still fun to drive, but it's kind of a casual performance package. It's not as dedicated to carving corners as something like the BMW five series or even the new Cadillac CTS. There's a little bit of body motion and this car was equipped with winter tires that just gave up way too easily when you started pushing the car into the corner. The front end would slide out and under steer, and it was just a little sloppy, but I attribute that mostly to the winter tires that are on this car, instead of the all seasons that comes standard. Where the four cylinder isn't quite as impressive is the fuel economy gains compared to the V6. You're only gonna see one mile per gallon difference in combined ratings for a four cylinder all wheel drive versus a V6 with all wheel drive. But price is where it's at and that's a $10,000 difference between four cylinder all wheel drive, and a V6 with all wheel drive. 45,000 with destination compared with 55,000 with destination. As equipped, our four cylinder A six costs 53,800. And let's break down what those costs are. It starts with the premium plus package. Now that's front and rear parking sensors, a backup camera, navigation, and a driver information system. We have the sport package on this one, and that includes 19 inch wheels, sports suspension, and a new steering wheel. Individual options include the optional Bose stereo and a blind spot monitoring system. The sleek interior is helped by this retractable navigation screen. Now it's a very cool, you know, it's a nice gadget to show off, but when it's up, it doesn't look that well integrated with the rest of the interior. Seating comfort is great upfront. I spent a lot of time in the car and I didn't have any fatigue on longer drives, and I had the lower back support that I really like. The back seat though, it's larger than the A four, but it's not the biggest back seat that you'll find in the class. While I had enough room, there wasn't a whole lot of room to spare and overall, it just felt a little narrow, a little cramped. But there is a lot more overall passenger volume compared to the A four. The A six's 14.1 cubic feet of cargo volume may not seem like a lot on paper, but like the engine, it's going to surprise you once you get into it. The trunk is very wide and deep, and it's very easy to put items in because it has a very low load height. There aren't too many intrusions or curves in the trunk. It's all very rectangular and easy to use. The A six's turbocharged four cylinder does not take away any of the luxurious experience of the A six. It's ride quality is great, so is it's interior, but not a sports sedan. So if you're looking for a sports sedan, you should definitely check out the supercharged V6 offering, or even some of the more potent four cylinders on the market. (car revs)