Vehicle: 2005 Audi A6 3.2 Quattro with premium package, convenience package, cold weather package, DVD navigation system, power rear windows + manual rear window sunshades and rear side airbags.
Price as tested: CDN$71700

Performance: With 255 horses and 243 lb/ft of torque, power is never an issue in this advanced 3.2L V6 DOHC 24-valver with Audi’s innovative direct-injection system. The throttle response is brisk and refined. The engine also exhibits a very high standards of refinement and flexability, thanks to its direct-injection technology. With maximum torque arrives at 3250 rpm, its also very docile in around-town driving. The 6-speed Tiptronic shifts exceptionally with crisp and refined characters although it doesn’t allow the driver to rev pass redline before upshifting. If there is one drawback, however, its the engine noise at high rpm. The engine noise sounds out of place in a luxury cruiser in A6. Given the tester remains at a pre run-in stage, this could be the reason of this noisy engine sound. Our future test drive of A4 3.2 should be able to testify whether this engine noise is common to all of this engine series or only in this particular car.

Handling: With a stiff chassis, a great Quattro AWD system and wonderfully tuned suspension. The A6 could well be the most capable car in its class. Gone is the featherweight steering of its predecessor. New A6’s steering provides decent weight at all speeds while its responsive and precise. The steering is sharp enough for aggressive driver without losing the comfort ability of A6’s target customers. In terms of ride comfort, it rates as well as in the more expensive A8 silibing. Even if our tester is standard suspension, the body rolls and undesteer are minimal. The ESP is uninstrusive regardless of how hard you want to push into corners. If there is one drawback, its the 16″ wheels which run out of grip too quickly long before the vehicle reaches its dynamic limitations. Given the dynamic capability of this standard car, a sports suspension with optional 17″ and 18″ wheels would handling amazingly.

Brakes: The brake pedal fares excellently thanks to its ease of modulation. The pedal feel is sharp and firm without fade after hard stops. Its ABS also kicks in when necessary.

Interior: In terms of build quality, A6’s interior has to be the best-in-class. Combine the ease of MMI multi-face media, analog instrumentation gauges, great use of soft-touch materials with supper leather seats. Tastefully done wood trim with aluminum trim pieces. The driving position is easily found with 12-way power adjustable seats and tilt/telescope steering column.

Rear seat is as comfortable with plenty of head and legrooms.

In terms of cargo space, its very well configurated given its large size and 60/40 split fold-down rear seats. The only drawback is the somewhat high trunk liftover.

Conclusion: The A6 has resetted the standard for mid-size luxury sedan. It has surpassed E-Class’s build quality while beating 5-Series’s driving dynamics with more style than the already bold outgoing A6.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2005 AUDI A6 3.2 QUATTRO
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4.5/5
Value-for-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 4.5/5