Which 2017 Audi A6 Is Right for You?
Last update:
January 29, 2019
The Audi A6 is like a well-tailored suit, with its sharp bodywork and refined cabin. It offers power, comfort, and control. But each trim offers better combinations of safety, power, comfort, and performance. Do you want power or more luxury? Why not both?
Premium
The Audi A6 Premium has a starting MSRP of $47,600. Since power is an important part of Audi’s brand, the A6 is equipped with a 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder engine that’s capable of producing 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It gets relatively good fuel economy, with the ability to get up to 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
It’s the least expensive, which means the A6 Premium doesn’t have the top-tier features you’ll find in the other trims, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t great. Some of best features include Bluetooth connectivity, HID xenon headlights, and heated exterior mirrors with turn signals. The inside is luxurious, with leather seating all around the cabin, heated front seating, and lumbar support for the driver.
Of course, safety is important to protect you and your investment. The A6 Premium has some pretty solid features in this regard, including a “safety unlock” that unlocks your doors if the airbags deploy. It also has “Audi pre sense basic,” which helps detect and prepare for impending collisions. If it senses an imminent crash, the car will close the windows and sunroof, tighten the seat belts, and prepare the brakes for quicker response.
Premium Plus
The A6 Premium Plus is the next trim, with a starting MSRP of $51,600. It has the same engine as the Premium, so drivers can expect the same capabilities regarding horsepower, torque, and mileage. So why the price hike, and is the upgrade worth it?
The Premium Plus has a much better audio system, with a 630-watt, 14-speaker Bose surround sound system. Safety improvements include rain-sensing windshield wipers and parking sensors in the front and back. It also comes with lane change assist and rear cross traffic alerts, which they call “Audi side assist with Audi pre-sense rear.”
The Premium Plus has an additional option to upgrade the engine to a 3.0 TFSI, which starts at $58,600. This motor produces up to 333 horsepower and 325 pound-foot of torque. The engine upgrade also means a shift to all-wheel drive, which gives the driver more control in inclement weather situations. However, the six-cylinder engine does drop the fuel economy to an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
Prestige
The A6 Prestige starts with an MSRP of $61,600 and is equipped with the 3.0 TFSI engine. Like the Premium Plus 3.0 TFSI, this is a four-wheel drive sedan that has plenty of power for most people and the additional features just seal the deal.
The inside of this trim sees huge upgrades with the addition of dark brown walnut wood around the cabin, touch and handwriting recognition for the multimedia interface, and ventilated front seating.
Competition
The Prestige seems like the best that Audi has to offer, but it gets even better with the Competition trim level. What makes the Competition trim stand out is the fact it’s designed for high speeds. It is capable of 340-hp so you can get the most out of your A6. It has sport-tuned suspension, a paddle-shift gearbox, and a limited-slip differential.
The Competition trim comes with all the same features and capabilities as the original Prestige. The only question you have to ask is whether the added sportiness is worth paying $67,600.
(Facts and figures from Audi and CarGurusFacebook.)