It's a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing, the Audi A6 3.0 T quattro. Here you have a tidy, well-finished, mid-sized sedan of slightly conservative appearance doing a claimed 5.9sec sprint to 100km/h.
But then, is that really a surprise? I'd say not. These days it's expected of German premium mid-sized sedans. Audi's A6 is the more often forgotten member of its stable, like BMW's 5 Series, the Mercedes Benz E-Class and the Volvo S60.
People seem more interested in the top of the smaller ranges, such as the 3 Series, C-Class and A4. They come with all the bells and whistles, they're usually the performance units, and they have that "top of the range" image.
As a result, the slightly bigger mid-range is overlooked and the A4 is a more common sight than the A6. It's just not fair - and sometimes I think it's downright silly. Why buy a smaller car at a higher price if you can get the luxury of the mid-sized unit - such as this A6 3.0T in S-line trim - for less?
Tough question. Many people would equate a smaller car with frugality, economy and affordability but this particular A6 competes with its smaller siblings in those departments. Factor in that it's at least R10 000 cheaper than the latest S4 and you can't help but consider the two as competitors, in a funny sort of way.
The A6 is a brilliant, if understated, car and understatement is quite a good thing for most people.
I can't help thinking South African roads are overstocked with the obviously sporty, not only in body, but in mind. There are boy racers aplenty while elegance is often the more needed attribute.
I'm not going to say much about the Audi's interior at this point. Suffice to say it's class-leading in most respects - that's not news. The roominess of the A6 makes it even more pleasant. Leg, head and elbow room are all ample and comfort levels speak for themselves.
On-board gadgets are more varied than most average Joes and Janes would use. I, for one, only use satnav in extreme circumstances and that has nothing to do with a man not wanting to ask for directions. Most people drive their cars on very familiar routes most of the time. For the rest, a decent study of the map book might be enough.
What is important about this kind of car is ease of driving it, in terms of engine power and torque, ease of on-road handling, gearshift, steering and suspension.
First, the engine: no supercharged, three-litre V6 is never going to be short on power. The boost comes in very smoothly, allowing relatively low speeds in a high gear thanks to its positive influence on the torque curve. You can switch between the paddle-shift levers on the steering wheel and full automatic at will so the car is a pleasure to drive in peak-hour traffic.
BALANCE AND SECURITY
I liked the paddle-shift on the six-speed Tiptronic box so much, I used it the city centre almost without thinking about it, even though the shift doesn't always happen exactly when you pull the paddles.
The quattro system pushes power to all four wheels, with bias towards the rear under normal circumstances. But go into the twisties with some energy and you are rewarded with a fine sense of balance and security, even when you switch off the traction control. I often wondered why you need traction control on this car, it's so forgiving in corners.
Go to sport mode, however, and the car lets rip, its larger body forgotten as its shrinks around the driver. If sports driving is your cup of tea (as it is mine) and you are reasonably adept at it, you might even get to the point where this car is too easy to drive.
The low-profile tyres enhance handling, although they're a bit noisy, especially on roads where the tar looks like frozen black gravel, so the car doesn't come across as heavy - unless it's being thrown around corners, something A6 owners are not known for doing.
The steering is reasonably precise, except in certain corners when I found it a bit difficult to follow the line and had to adjust here and there.
LOOKS ITS PRICE
I certainly couldn't fault build quality. There was never a rattle or a squeak, no unseemly seams or gaping gaps.
This car's price, as standard, is R583 500, and it shows. Take a look at the A6 and you'll see your guess would have been in that ballpark. And that is one of the things I like about it - within context, it looks its price.