Audi A6 3.0T
Revisiting this car reminds me how well considered the design is. The sweeping arch of the dash’s upper section in particular, defines this car for me. It gives the A6 a sense of being something special, of the design being integrated. It is a particularly grand place to be. A little more so if you consider it is no flagship, but their mid-size sedan. Admittedly, it is probably a lot bigger than the grand saloons of yesteryear. The way it weeps around grandly into the doors unifying an already very holistic feeling space.
The subject of this test is the 3.0T FSI quattro S tronic, as opposed to the recently tested 3.0 TDi, everything else as standard being the same. They are even similar in price, the diesel being a fraction cheaper, leaving R10,000 in the bank. The petrol is quicker, 5.5 vs 6.1 seconds to 100 from a standstill. This is not a harmless difference, but hardly a purchasing decision, in and of itself. The diesel manages a mere 180kW while the petrol gives up 220kW, explaining the acceleration difference. Then again the diesel has 500Nm over the petrol’s mere 440. And, as is usual with a diesel, from far lower down to nearly as high up the rev range. This makes the car more tractable, more ready to surge from any speed. More, but not much more.
Both are in the excellent saloon range. Then there is fuel consumption, the petrol uses an achievable 8.2 claimed, where the diesel a more likely 6.0, and therein probably lies the answer between the two of them. If driven hard the diesel will remain closer to its frugal claims, whereas the petrol will shift further away faster. Burning oil on the freeway or petrol returns similar numbers, 6.6 vs 5.5 l/100km in the diesel’s favour. However the diesel does 7.2 in town, vs the petrol’s 10.8. Therein lies the rub. Do lots of long distance and relish an extra few ounces of power in otherwise dangerous overtaking sessions and the penalty at the fill ups may seem insignificant. Wage war in the cities at rush hour in stop start conditions, and the diesel ironically will be the better bet on almost all counts.
Both cars come with exactly the same standard configurations and identical options lists. Beware as always here. A nice Bose sound system will set you back a grand R12k, but venture to a B&O sound experience and prepare to part with a little more, an unbelievably and yes you read that correctly, it isn’t a typo, R77 230. That is Seventy Seven South African Rondt! It makes TV reception seem positively cheap at a mere seven grand. Maybe I am getting older but that all seems like rather a lot to me. The standard car is hardly lacking in creature comforts or safety or convenience features, but the siren call of those checkboxes isn’t easily avoided, it is so alluring.
At R655 000, you get a lot of Quattro for your buck, and the often underrated A6 model range is certainly worth a look in at. The A8 seems barely worth the extra space if you are going to buy it and sit in front. Ultimately this was a rather long winded way of saying that I can’t actually help you decide between the petrol and diesel. It is rare, but there isn’t that much between them.