Review of the new Audi A6 Avant - Business Users View

There are several long-term vehicles sitting outside our offices but our Sales Director Graham Motuel chooses the Audi A6 every time. He understands that the 3.2-litre six cylinder petrol Avant version we have demands more than its fair share of fuel but there is something about it that he just can't tear himself away from. Slightly bewildered as to how this vehicle makes such an impact on people, I decided to borrow the A6 myself in a bid to find out.

Once I was inside the car I started to look around at the interior. Nice touches include the digital display in the centre of the instrument binnacle, which offers useful information from the car's various systems, eliminating the need to glance down at the centre console displays.

Graham admits that the Audi may seem confusing to the untrained eye and like me, he was initially puzzled over what all the buttons actually do. Having been driving the A6 for several months now, he is of course now fully conversant with them but still highly recommends reading the manual to take advantage of the full package that Audi have to offer. "Once you have mastered the MMi control system," he says, "you'll be amazed at how useful it is. You can control everything from the satellite navigation to the three heat settings on the seats all from the touch of a button, making things very accessible for the pushed business user." The A6 we have on test also offers a phone in which your SIM card can be placed to make hands free or regular calls.

"Once you have mastered the MMi Control system you'll be amazed at how useful it is"

Graham particularly likes the fact that Audi have added several thoughtful touches to the A6, giving it a special feeling of quality. There are several white lights to guide you to your seat as well as small red lights that shine to indicate where the door handles are located. If you have to open the tailgate at night, two white beams shine inside the car, allowing you to find your belongings rather than haphazardly rooting around in the darkness. It did however, take a long time for Graham to feel comfortable with the button you press to activate the handbrake. Drivers are used to the reassuring feeling of pulling up the handbrake to ensure that their car doesn't wander.

Audi have fitted an alarm to alert the driver when the fuel gauge reaches empty and it gives you a 25-mile grace period in which to fill up. "The first time that happened, it gave me a real shock!" said Graham, "I knew the gauge was getting low but the sound is enough to frighten even the most confident of drivers." The fuel gauge can be misleading if you haven't become used to it. When the tank is filled up or above the half-way line, it moves downwards at an acceptable speed. When the gauge falls below the half-way line it sinks faster than a lead balloon which is where the alarm comes in handy.

If you like your engines to be clever as well as powerful, the 3.2-litre FSI unit will be right up your street. The FSI set-up injects unleaded directly into the cylinders at a rate that's adapted According to the demands being placed on the engine by the driver. The engine actually generates 255bhp and 330Nm of torque, which helps to deliver 0-60mph acceleration of 6.9s along with an artificially-limited top speed of 155mph. On the road, it feels fast and responsive with a muffled growl growing in the engine bay as the revs rise higher but drive the car more sedately and you'd hardly know it's there. It's an impressive piece of work from Audi, all that complex technology combining to provide simple driver enjoyment.

The 3.2-litre FSI engine is the only one in the A6 Range that's available with either quattro four-wheel drive or standard front-wheel drive transmission. Both SE and S-Line trim levels are offered with both drive options so there are effectively four different A6 3.2 FSI models for buyers to decide between or eight if you allow for the saloon or Avant estate bodystyles. Quattro versions cost £1,600 in addition to the standard A6's price but it's a premium that many will want to scrape around for. With BMW and Mercedes sticking resolutely to rear wheel drive set-ups on all their models, front wheel-drive Audis can feel a little less composed on the road in comparison. The introduction of quattro all-wheel drive alters that balance with the permanent 4x4 set-up giving greater stability, better traction and an all-round boost to the car's driving dynamics. Quattro is always going to be the way for keen drivers to go if they can muster the requisite budget but even with just two wheels driven, there's plenty to enjoy about the A6.

Your choice of gearbox will have a lot to do with how you use the car: options extend to six speed manual, Tiptronic automatic and the Multitronic CVT. The manual set-up is one of Audi's next-generation Manual/Longitudinal or ML type and without going into the ins or outs of it, drivers can expect to experience a short throw action and a precise feel. If you must have an automatic with your A6 3.2 FSI, the one you get will depend on your preference for front or all wheel drive. The quattro models get a 6-speed Tiptronic set-up, with everyone else settling for the Multitronic CVT unit with its seven shift stages.

Graham would choose this Audi over many other vehicles coming and going from our offices, "The Audi A6 is so pleasant to drive and that outweighs the thirstiness by miles. I would much rather travel many miles in this Audi than in a more economical car."

The Audi A6 has to be one of the best cars in its class and I can see now why many buyers have snubbed its competitors in order to get behind the wheel of one. Searching for the perfect executive saloon? You have to try the A6 and see for yourself why so many drivers are turning Audi.

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