Like a pair of hand-made shoes or a tailored suit, Audi's new A6 Quattro S-Line fits beautifully. There are no startling innovations or apparent leaps in design. The whole car just feels right.
I had been driving the A6 for a few days before it struck me that from the moment I was first handed the keys I simply plonked myself in front of the steering wheel and drove off every time I had to use the car.
Usually my time in test cars is spent re-adjusting seats, mirrors or otherwise my attention is distracted by a quirky speedometer or some redundant display telling me that, yes, all four wheels are in contact with the tar. Things I don't need to know or care about.
So when it came to the Audi A6 it quickly became apparent how much creative energy went into making this an almost perfect package.
It took me all of 15 seconds to work out where the control stalks were and what they did, how the parking brake operates (a neat, small toggle switch next to the gear selector) and how to get the most out of the entertainment and navigation system.
All of this is possible because Audi didn't try to re-invent any of the systems inside, or outside, the car. They made an incredible effort to ensure they all work seamlessly together, though.
It's a car that manages to show its size without being imposing. It's like its was carved from a block of granite - and the appearance was enhanced on the test car by its metallic charcoal paint. All that space has been put to good use.
The boot is deceptive. Viewed from the outside the lid looks enough for a compact sedan. Flip it open and a huge space is revealed. Enough to store two bodies comfortably, one of my friends remarked as she revealed a more twisted side to her nature.
The cabin is just as roomy. This is a true five-seater with luxurious leather upholstery and trim. My kids enjoyed it so much they volunteered to remain in the car when it was parked - even when that was just in our own driveway. Of course, the DVD player housed in the glove compartment may have also had something to do with that.
I was also pleased that all the other luxury touches, which the A6's appearance hints at, are there. Individual climate control for the front row. A top-of-the-range sound system (with surround sound, too). Cruise control, satnav, useful data displays. The list goes on.
NOW YOU SEE ME...
None of these features detracted from or distracted me from the driving experience, though. Audi's quattro technology came to the fore here, and the car felt fluid on the road. The sensation was only spoiled by speed bumps, where I was reminded that the suspension is hard and the body sits close to the tar.
Considering that the bonnet was packed with a 3-litre, V6 (which boasts 176kW and a whopping 500Nm of torque), I would have preferred a more aggressive note from the exhaust. Despite this, the performance took my breath away on many occasions.
Acceleration is phenomenal and the handling keeps up with the outpouring of power. I had to drive with plenty of restraint to stay on the right side of the law. Thankfully there was a speed warning system in the car in the form of my son, who at eleven years old is well on his way to becoming one of the most sedate drivers our roads will ever see.
The A6 proves that you can indeed have it all and that luxury vehicles don't have to be stately and stodgy. All this at a price that is very reasonable for a car packed with so much technology and good engineering.
Prices:
- A6 2.0T multitronic R381 000
- A6 2.7 TDI multitronic R472 500
- A6 2.8 FSI multitronic R478 000
- A6 3.0 TDI quattro Tiptronic R567 500
- A6 3.0T Tiptronic R583 500
- A6 4.2 FSI quattro Tiptronic R1 713 500