2019 Audi A6

Is the Audi A6 a Good Car?

The fully redesigned 2019 A6 is a great car and earns a spot in the top half of the very competitive luxury midsize car segment. It may not be as athletic as some rivals, but its turbocharged base engine and available turbo V6 engine help boost its driving enjoyability. First-class materials adorn the cabin, and Audi offers some of the best in-car tech, from a dual-screen infotainment system to the available Virtual Cockpit interface. There's so much to like about the A6 that we named it a finalist for our 2019 Best Luxury Midsize Car for Families award. 

Should I Buy the Audi A6?

The 2019 A6 has a similar starting price to rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Anything you like about this Audi can probably be found in one of these very similar competitors, both of which rank slightly higher in the class.

Compare the A6, 5 Series, and E-Class »

Should I Buy a Used or New Audi A6?

Audi fully redesigned the A6 for the 2019 model year. In addition to updating interior and exterior styling, Audi made changes to both the features list and what comes under the hood. The new A6 powertrains consist of a turbocharged four-cylinder or V6 engine, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and standard all-wheel drive. The 2018 Audi A6 came standard with front-wheel drive, and its V6 option was supercharged. The other big change is the addition of a new dual-screen infotainment system that has been working its way into most new Audi vehicles. It eschews the central rotary controller that was a hallmark of earlier Audi systems, giving the A6's cabin a more high-tech and futuristic feel.

You can likely save thousands of dollars by going with a used Audi A6, especially if you’re willing to overlook the changes for the redesign. The 2019 A6's starting price is around $4,200 more than what the 2018 A6 retailed for when it was new.

Compare the 2017, 2018, and 2019 A6 »

We Did the Research for You: 16 Reviews Analyzed

We analyzed 16 Audi A6 reviews – along with performance specs, fuel economy estimates, and more – to help you decide if the 2019 A6 is the right new car for you.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain objective, we don't accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside team manages the advertising on our site.

How Much Does the Audi A6 Cost?

The 2019 Audi A6 starts at $54,100 which makes it one of the most expensive nonhybrid luxury midsize cars. That said, it’s only a few hundred dollars more expensive than close rivals like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the BMW 5 Series, which also have two of the highest starting MSRPs in the segment. There are two higher trim levels of the A6 that retail for $57,800 and $67,100. An A6 Prestige with most major options and packages comes in at around $79,000.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great deals at your local Audi dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Audi deals page.

Audi A6 Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Audi A6 or BMW 5 Series?

The 2019 BMW 5 Series is one of the highest rated luxury midsize cars. The 5 Series has dynamic handling, a comfortable ride, and a half-dozen engine options, including a few "M"-branded performance variants. The 5 Series has one of the biggest trunks in the segment and a long list of standard, user-friendly features. These rivals both offer top-notch interior quality and with ample passenger room, but the Bimmer has a higher predicted reliability rating. All of these traits help make the BMW the superior vehicle in this comparison.

Which Is Better: Audi A6 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class ranks near the A6 in this segment, and you can’t go wrong with either of these cars. There’s something for everyone in the E-Class lineup – it’s available as a sedan, coupe, convertible, or wagon. Both the A6 and E-Class sedans have similar starting prices, but the cost of high-performance E-Class AMG models can easily reach the $100,000 threshold. Both cars have ample engine power and a controlled, comfortable ride. The Mercedes has arguably the nicest interior in the segment, but that isn’t a knock against the high-class A6. Choosing between the A6 and the E-Class will come down to your personal preference.  

Compare the A6, 5 Series, and E-Class »

A6 Interior

How Many People Does the A6 Seat?

The Audi A6 seats five people. The rear seats have extended legroom over the outgoing model, and all the seats are supple and welcoming. It's easy to find a natural driving or riding position thanks to standard eight-way power-adjustable front seats. You can also opt for 12-way power-adjustable seats or 18-way power-adjustable seats with massage function. Heated front seats also come standard, while ventilation in the front and heating in the back are optional.

A6 and Car Seats

The A6 has two complete sets of second-row LATCH connections for the rear outboard seats and a dedicated tether anchor for the middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the A6's LATCH system the highest rating of Good for ease of use.

A6 Interior Quality

This new generation of the A6 manages to raise the high bar set by the previous generation for cabin quality. The A6 is decked out with standard wood and aluminum trim pieces, and you can customize your interior with different colors and types of wood. Unlike the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, the A6 features standard leather seats. Options include premium Valcona leather upholstery and full leather trimmings for the dashboard, door armrests, and a center console. The A6 shields its occupants from nearly all road and wind noise, even when you're cruising along on the highway. The result is a peaceful, serene cabin and ride.

A6 Cargo Space

You'll get 13.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the 2019 A6, which is less than what most other luxury midsize cars offer. A 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat is standard, so you won't have to sacrifice a full rear seat to haul long and skinny items. Optional is a hands-free power trunk that lets you open it simply by swinging your foot under the rear bumper when you have the proximity key on your person.

A6 Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The new infotainment setup is arguably the crown jewel of the redesigned A6. This system consists of a dual-display touch-screen setup that replaces the physical control knob of the old MMI system. In base models, the top screen measures 8.8 inches, while higher trims feature a 10.1-inch display. This screen is seamlessly embedded in the natural lines of the dash, directly to the right of the steering wheel and in your line of vision. Here you'll find typical functions like navigation and audio. An 8.6-inch touch screen sits below that as the transition into the center console and controls climate and comfort functions. It also offers handwriting recognition.

The touch screens utilize haptic and audio feedback, and the system generally processes your touch commands quickly. You might have a small learning curve as you go through the menu structure, which can make even simple adjustments for temperature a multi-step process. There's still an old-fashioned physical knob for audio controls, though. Smartphone integration features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. Optional amenities include one of two premium Bang & Olufsen stereos and the 12.3-inch virtual cockpit.

Read more about interior »

A6 Performance

A6 Engine: 2 Good Options

The redesigned 2019 A6 offers two powertrain options. The standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. You could instead opt for a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that makes 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This is the same engine found in the all-new 2019 Audi Q8 SUV.

Regardless of which engine you pick, you’ll get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The base turbo-four is capable, but the upgraded V6 feels even punchier, with strong and steady power throughout the rev range. The transmission rattles off timely and precise shifts as well.

A6 Gas Mileage: More With 4, Less With 6 but Good for Kicks

With its four-cylinder engine, this Audi gets EPA estimates of 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Those are good figures for the class. The V6 returns lower estimates of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

A6 Ride and Handling: Light on its Feet, but No Feel From the Street

The A6's handling is a bit muted. The steering is incredibly light, allowing you to quickly turn the wheel and maneuver the car in tight spots. That also means that you don't get a lot of feel or feedback from the road. Still, the A6 takes corners with poise and feels planted to the road. The car soaks ups most imperfections from rough pavement, keeping the ride plush and comfortable. Available performance upgrades include a lowered sport suspension or an adaptive damping suspension.

Read more about performance »

A6 Reliability

Is the Audi A6 Reliable?

J.D. Power gives the 2019 Audi A6 a predicted reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average.

Audi A6 Warranty

Audi covers the A6 with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty.

Read more about reliability »

A6 Safety

A6 Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Audi A6 a Top Safety Pick+, giving it the highest ratings of Good in six crash tests and Superior in front crash prevention testing. The base Premium trim’s headlights earned the second-lowest rating of Marginal for outward visibility, but the other two trims earned the highest rating of Good.

A6 Safety Features

All 2019 A6 models come with a rearview camera as well as front and rear parking sensors. Standard Audi pre sense basic detects an impending collision and pretensions the seatbelts and closes the windows and sunroof. Also standard is Audi pre sense city, which includes forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking.

Optional driver assistance features include a 360-degree camera, a head-up display, automatic high beams, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, intersection crossing assist, and a night vision assistant with pedestrian detection.

Read more about safety »

A6 Dimensions and Weight

The A6 measures about 16.2 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 4,101 to 4,266 pounds.

Where is the 2019 Audi A6 Built?

Audi builds the A6 in Germany.

Which Audi A6 Model Is Right for Me?

The 2019 Audi A6 comes in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels. The Premium and Premium Plus trims come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, with the option to upgrade to a turbocharged V6. The Prestige trim comes standard with the V6. All-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission are standard throughout the lineup.

The midrange Premium Plus model gives you the most bang for your buck. It has an upgraded infotainment system with a larger upper screen, and it comes with the Virtual Cockpit feature, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, wireless device charging, proximity keyless entry, rear cross traffic alert, and a 360-degree parking camera system. This trim also offers many option packages, so you can add the features you want without breaking your budget.

Audi A6 Premium

The 2019 A6 Premium starts at $54,100. Standard features include leather upholstery, heated and eight-way power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a panoramic sunroof. The A6's infotainment system features a dual-display touch-screen interface with an 8.8-inch upper screen and an 8.6-inch display beneath it. It also has Bluetooth, three USB ports, a 10-speaker stereo, HD Radio, satellite radio, voice-control navigation, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Standard driver assistance features include a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking.  

You can upgrade to the V6 engine for $4,800, and there are several other options as well. For $1,300, you can get the Convenience package, giving you wireless device charging, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and Audi pre sense rear. Another package includes larger wheels and a sport suspension for $1,050. Models with the V6 engine are available with the Cold Weather package, which adds heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel for $600.

Audi A6 Premium Plus

The Premium Plus trim retails for $57,800. It adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, a 10.1-inch upper infotainment screen, a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, wireless device charging, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and a 360-degree parking camera system.

The V6 is available for $4,900 in this trim. There are no packages with the four-cylinder Premium Plus, but models with the V6 are available with a host of packages. The Warm Weather package ($1,800) comes with quad-zone automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, a power rear-window sunshade, and manual rear-side-window sunshades. The Driver Assistance package ($2,750) includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and intersection crossing assist. The Individual Contour Seating package adds Valcona leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped dashboard, armrests, a center console, and heated and ventilated 18-way power-adjustable front seats. The Cold Weather package and the Sport package are also available.

Audi A6 Prestige

The Audi A6 Prestige costs $67,100 and comes standard with the V6 engine. You also get ventilated and 12-way power-adjustable front seats, quad-zone climate control, rear sunshades, power soft-closing doors, a power trunk, a head-up display, and automatic high beams.

Options in the A6 Prestige include a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system ($4,900) and a night vision assistant with pedestrian detection ($2,500). The Adaptive Chassis package includes an adaptive suspension and all-wheel steering.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Audi dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Audi deals page.

See 2019 Audi A6 specs and trims »

The Final Call

The redesigned 2019 Audi A6 offers nearly everything buyers expect from a luxury sedan: solid performance, first-rate materials, cutting-edge tech features, and lots of space. However, some rivals are more fun to drive and have larger trunks. In this highly competitive class, the A6 is a solid pick, but it’s also worth exploring other options.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "Overall, the 2019 Audi A6 is a seriously good car. It is fast as all get-out, packed with state-of-the-art modern convenience and safety technology. It handles well and provides a comfortable, luxurious ride for driver and passengers alike without being ostentatious. Call it 'business class,' 'luxury class,' or anything else you like—as long as the A6 is around, the midsize luxury sedan won’t be ceding its place to SUVs quietly." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The eighth-generation Audi A6 is primed to be the technological powerhouse of the midsize luxury sedan segment. That it also boasts attractive sheetmetal, competent handling chops and the ability to deliver supreme ride comfort should definitely have the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class on notice." -- CNET
• "The 2019 Audi A6 is a car whose time, in the US at least, has come and gone. Still, this new version is compelling enough to make me care about it—and considering how little I expected when I first set out on this adventure, that’s saying a lot." -- Automobile Magazine