Skip advert
Advertisement
Road tests

New Audi A6 50 TFSI e 2020 review

The new Audi A6 50 TFSI e brings plug-in hybrid power to the A6 range for the first time

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Audi A6
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Verdict

The tax savings are hugely appealing on the Audi A6 50 TFSI e, but they’re similarly appealing on rivals that offer better value, a better drive and fewer compromises. Things are moving so fast on the electrification front, this new A6 already feels like it's been left behind a bit.

Advertisement - Article continues below

A plug-in hybrid is an essential in any car maker’s line-up these days, more so on models that appeal to company car drivers – the Benefit In Kind savings are too good to ignore. So it might come as a surprise that it’s taken Audi so long to offer an electrified A6, but the new 50 TFSI e has just arrived in the UK and we’ve driven it.

With an official CO2 emissions figure of 35g/km, you’ll pay company car tax at a BIK rate of just 10 per cent this tax year (11 per cent for 21/22), saving a 40 per cent rate tax payer over £4,000 in tax versus a slightly less powerful petrol equivalent A6. That’s why plug-in hybrids are so appealing right now.

But does that appeal extend to the car itself? This Audi plug-in takes the sleek and beautifully-built A6 with a 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged petrol engine and adds an electric motor, which is integrated into the transmission. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

A6

2021 Audi

A6

18,139 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £22,250
View A6
A6

2021 Audi

A6

35,186 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £19,999
View A6
A6

2021 Audi

A6

16,964 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £23,649
View A6
A6

2021 Audi

A6

43,136 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £25,995
View A6

A 14.1kWh battery pack sits under the boot floor and provides the power for the electric motor to run solo for a range of around 25 miles in the real world or to give an electric boost for added performance – leading to an impressive 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With 25 miles – give or take – being the average distance a UK driver travels every day, you should be able to use your A6 plug-in with electric power for most of the time, assuming you can plug it in every night like your mobile phone. And if your home charger is rated at 7.2kW, you’ll get a full charge in just a couple of hours.

But being aimed at higher-mileage company car drivers, you’ll have to make use of the petrol engine on board, too, or more likely a mix of the two.

In fully electric mode, the A6 is as quiet and smooth as you’d expect, resisting the temptation to fire up the petrol motor unless you’re heavy with your right foot. There are three settings to choose from EV, Auto, and Hold; the first runs in EV power solely for as long as possible, Auto does the hybrid job of mixing petrol and electric, and hold puts the engine to good use so you can use battery power for a later part of your journey, perhaps around town.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

However, one innovation we really didn’t get on with was Audi’s Active Accelerator Pedal. It provides rather odd-feeling haptic feedback with variable pressure points for driving in electric-only mode; it just feels like a sticky pedal to us. We don’t think other car makers will be rushing to copy this particular feature.

Advertisement - Article continues below

When the petrol engine does fire up, you might notice a very slight shiver, but it’s pretty unobtrusive. Only if you push hard on the throttle – overcoming the active pedal’s annoying feedback – do you get to hear the four-cylinder engine, but even then it’s not something that will have you reaching to turn up the volume on the audio system.

Another mild frustration is Audi’s continual reliance on its dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox – it’s never been the slickest shifter and nothing’s changed when it has hybrid power to deal with. 

Anyone switching out of a regular A6 into the plug-in model will notice two other things. Firstly, the extra weight of the batteries mean the reasonably supple ride of the A6 has moved up a notch on the firmness scale. It’s not uncomfortable, but nor is it as smooth as on other non-sporting models in the A6 range. The A6 remains less engaging or capable than a BMW 5 Series to drive, too, although that might not matter to many.

Then there’s the boot – down from 530 litres to just 360 litres thanks to the battery pack. That might make packing a family’s luggage a little tricky, which is a shame, because there’s plenty of space inside for four people – five if whoever’s in the centre seat doesn’t mind sitting astride the transmission tunnel.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Otherwise, inside is usual Audi fare – everything looks lovely, the twin screens offer haptic feedback that we actually like, and there’s Audi’s digital instruments, which have been updated with a power meter, range display and a graphic to show whether power’s coming from the engine, battery or both.

However, our car had a very un-Audi-like rattle coming from behind the top infotainment screen. We could stop it by pushing up from underneath, but as soon as you let go, it returned – and it was loud.

The tech extends to your Smartphone, though. Not only will the A6 wirelessly connect via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but you can use the myAudi app to activate climate functions including heating the seats, steering wheel, mirrors and windows.

All that doesn’t come cheap and the Sport trim of our car costs £54,025 rising to £78,285 for the all-singing, all-dancing (to a Bang and Olufsen hifi) Vorsprung model. You’ll have to check the equipment lists carefully, though – in spite of the price, there’s no no electric power on the seats of our Sport model, and while you might only have to press a button to start the car, you’ll have to take the key out of your pocket or bag to lock or unlock it.

Model:Audi A6 50 TFSI e quattro 299PS Sport S tronic
Price:£54,025
Engine:2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol plus 14.1kWh battery
Power/torque:295bhp/450Nm
Transmission:Seven-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
0-62mph:5.5 seconds
Top speed:155mph
Economy/CO2:188.3mpg/35g/km
On sale:Now
Skip advert
Advertisement

Steve Fowler has previously edited Auto Express, Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

New & used car deals

Audi A6

Audi A6

RRP £39,640Used from £16,495
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,321 off RRP*Used from £12,220
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £2,598 off RRP*Used from £7,649
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,510 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs
BYD Atto 3 - front cornering

EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs

Running costs for car share club EVs are £6k higher than ICE equivalents according to new data
News
8 May 2025
Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change
Protyre area manager Simon Hall inspecting a Vauxhall Corsa's tyre

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change

The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories
News
12 May 2025
Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future
Mazda MX-5 EV exclusive image - front

Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future

The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look
News
10 May 2025