Audi A6 review - Interior, design and technology

The first thing that strikes you as you climb into the Audi A6 is the sense of calm the cabin conveys. The overall design is largely borrowed from the big A8 saloon, so you get clean, unfussy lines, full-width air vents and a trio of information displays. 

You have to look really hard to find areas to complain about where quality is concerned. All the touchpoints are made from high quality leathers, plastics, or metals, and the gear selector operates with a satisfying sense of solidity. Dig deep and a few areas don’t stand up to quite such close scrutiny: the headliner, for instance, could be made from a nicer fabric – but we’re getting into the level of nit-picking here.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

There are three screens in the new A6, which will likely take time to get used to – not least because of how feature rich the car is.

The A6 is also offered with a vast amount of tech. This class of car means Bluetooth and a DAB radio are standard, while full LED Matrix headlights, and dynamic indicators, which sweep outwards as they illuminate, are available on higher trim levels. The back lights, meanwhile, can be upgraded so they comprise a single horizontal strip, spanning the length of the A6’s rear end. 

Audi also offers a number of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with the A6. The remote parking system, for example, allows you manoeuvre the A6 into and out of spaces via a smartphone app. The Technology package, meanwhile, bundles the Virtual Cockpit display with a larger touchscreen and a wireless charging tray for your smartphone. Other options include the Comfort and Sound pack, which brings a Bang and Olufsen stereo, ambient interior lighting and a 360-degree parking camera system.

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The top screen features smartphone-like tile apps, which can be dragged and dropped, allowing you to configure it as you wish. Both screens provide haptic and acoustic feedback, so they vibrate slightly and make a quiet click when you push them. The system is fast and lag-free in its operation, our experience is that pressing the screens requires a harder push than is ideal, while the touchscreen-based nature of the air conditioning, for example, requires more concentration than buttons and dials would. The voice-recognition software is so advanced, however, that you could do most tasks without using your fingers at all.

The A6 is also offered with a vast amount of tech. This class of car means Bluetooth and a DAB radio are standard, while full LED Matrix headlights, and dynamic indicators, which sweep outwards as they illuminate, are likely to be optional, though. The back lights, meanwhile, can be upgraded so they comprise a single horizontal strip, spanning the length of the A6’s rear end. 

Audi also offers a number of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with the A6. The remote parking system, for example, allows you manoeuvre the A6 into and out of spaces via a smartphone app. The Tour package, meanwhile, bundles adaptive cruise control with active lane-keeping assistance. Other options include the Comfort and Technology pack, which brings a Bang and Olufsen stereo, ambient interior lighting and a 360-degree parking camera system.