Alternative review of Audi A6

My first instinct is that Audi's A6 is very much a masculine car. It reeks with gizmos and gadgets and understated luxury. When I was younger, I found executive saloons and estates like this a little intimidating, yet respected the strange sense of class they offered. This is not the kind of car you would want to try to beat at the lights. Especially not if the model in question has Audi's latest 3.0 TFSI petrol engine, a 286bhp powerhouse that was fitted to my test car.

My four-door test car was a lot more practical than I expected. The boot operates a rail system and fixing set, which means that loads can be fastened securely. There are also great storage solutions with everything from executive drinks holders to a compartment holding a comprehensive first aid kit. The A6 comes with a phone accessory kit and a detailed centre console with a mini-television screen for the SatNav. Audi likes to maintain a strong family resemblance across its model range and the latest A6 falls into line behind its stable mates. The single frame grille dominates the front end as before but the bumpers have been reshaped so that the line of the lower edge lifts up at the centre. At the back, the tail lights have been tweaked along with the bumper while the saloon model gets a more sculpted boot lid arrangement. The daytime running lights complete the imposing effect but they're only standard on the sporty S-Line models. The classy interior of the A6 left little room for improvement but Audi have upgraded some of the materials and increased the chrome detailing. The latest version of the excellent MMI infotainment system is also included.

It's smooth and very relaxed at the wheel - but then what else would you expect? The engine range used in the current version of the A6 is brimming with technology. Audi's latest units rely heavily on forced induction to achieve their blend of economy and power to the extent that there are only two units in the whole line-up that do without the services of a supercharger or a turbocharger. The diesels that will constitute the major part of A6 sales open with the 2.0-litre common-rail TDI unit with 134bhp but the engine is also available in 168bhp form. Then come the two V6 TDI options, a 2.7-litre with 187bhp and a 3.0-litre with 237bhp. The mainstream petrol range opens with the acclaimed 2.0-litre TFSI engine in 168bhp form and that is followed by the normally-aspirated 2.8-litre V6 unit with its 217bhp. The final piece in the jigsaw was the one I tried, a supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI engine with 286bhp at its disposal. This unit can launch the A6 through 62mph in 5.9s but it pails in comparison to the S6 with its 5.2-litre V10 developing 429bhp and looks ponderous next to the mighty RS6 which bolts twin turbochargers to a 5.0-litre version of that Lamborghini engine to produce an earth-shattering 572bhp.

Were I to be choosing between a Mercedes E-Class, a BMW 5 Series or an Audi A6 (as most potential buyers will be), then I could certainly make a strong case for the Audi, having spent some time with one. It has a cooler, more under-stated image than its German rivals and the most recent tweaks have given the car a little more identity. All of which could be enough to make the difference for a significant number of buyers.

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