Audi A6 review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

The Audi A6 has only grown in length by 7mm compared to the outgoing model, but by stretching the wheelbase by 12mm, greater gains have been achieved with regard to interior space.

Legroom, headroom and passenger space

Few complaints tend to be made about the environment offered in the front of large saloons, and that’s certainly the case in the A6. The driving position is excellent, the seats provide fine levels of leg and back support, while a large central storage cubby and a brace of cupholders reside in the centre console.

It’s in the rear where the greatest improvements have been made, though. Legroom in the back has increased by 17mm, while headroom is up by 10mm over the old A6. These sound like small numbers – and they are – but the overall impression is of a far more spacious car. 

Unless you’re sitting in the middle-rear seat, that is, where a significant transmission tunnel hump will force you to splay your legs in an ungainly and uncomfortable fashion – though this is something of a given in this class of car. 

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Boot

Something else that’s a given with large executive saloons is a decently-sized, if compromised in shape, boot. At 530 litres, the A6’s boot is competitive (and identical to the 5 Series’ volume), if not class leading (the Mercedes E-Class gets an extra 10 litres), but the prominent load lip and relatively small loading aperture are arguably two of the reasons why SUVs have become so popular in recent years. In fairness, Audi caters for those after more, and more accessible luggage space, with the A6 Avant. 

It’s important to stress the 530 litres boot capacity only applies to the petrol and diesel versions of the Audi A6. Because of the way the battery pack is positioned in the car, the plug-in hybrid Audi A6’s boot is even smaller at 360 litres. This means the petrol-electric Audi has less luggage space on offer than some rivals (the plug-in hybrid BMW 5 Series saloons have 410 litres), and has boot space on par with many family hatchbacks.

Towing 

No towing figures are available at present for the new A6 but, as is usually the case, the larger diesel engine should convey the car with a greater capacity, and a more relaxing towing experience.