Performance sedans are, for the most part, an endangered species. I'm not talking about friendly sports players like BMW 3 series or Genesis G70; I'm talking custom performance Cars and things you find with AMG, V-Series or M badging. Don't get me wrong, we love having them, but most people aren't crazy about them, and it becomes more difficult to justify sales of these things, especially mid-range models that aren't aimed at more hardcore buyers. That's why we're here to enjoy these cars while they still exist, and this is the prime example Fantastic Audi S6.
Full disclosure: Wanting to drive something nice when my mom came to visit, I reached out to Audi who gladly delivered an S6 with a full tank of gas. My mom and I zoomed everywhere we went, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The S6 has a long history in the Audi lineup, serving as a mid-level performance model for Audi's midsize sedans and wagons. It debuted on the C4 generation A6 in 1994, with the S6 introduced with each subsequent generation. The current S6 debuted in 2019 and is based on the C8-generation A6, and although it's a little quieter than previous S6 models if you look at the spec sheet, the latest S6 is no slouch.
Some may miss the old twin-turbo V8 from the previous generation S6 – or even V10 from S6 before that – But the new S6 engine is good. Power comes from a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 making 444 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. With Quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, this large sedan can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.
There is a duality in S6. When it's not sprinting from every stoplight, the S6 is a handsome luxury sedan. It's so quiet and quiet that it may leave uninformed passengers wondering why they bought it instead of the more expensive S8, or wondering if it's an S model at all. Put the adjustable suspension in Comfort mode and the S6 absorbs road imperfections with ease. Audi continues to offer excellent interiors and the S6 is no different. Everything feels high-quality, and combine that with features like soft multicolor ambient lighting and comfortable heated sports seats, and the S6 is comfortable enough to induce sleep.
This all changes when you put the S6 into Dynamic mode – everything gets grumpy in a good way. The suspension stiffens, the exhaust flaps open, the powertrain responds more, and the S6 turns into a car you want to throw into a corner. It handles with something half its size, with the Quattro system giving an extra layer of confidence. This doesn't mean to be stupid, though. My S6 was equipped with the $4,000 S Sport package, which adds great rear-wheel steering and a sport-tuned rear differential that makes a real difference, especially in turns. But push too hard and the S6 will remind you that it still weighs 4,486 pounds.
Going up to a turbocharged V6 means the S6 won't hurt your wallet as badly at the pump, but it's not a fuel miser. The S6 is rated by the EPA for 18 mpg city/28 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. I average just over 22 mpg in mixed driving, although I see it could drop to 17 mpg in sustained hard driving.
However, not everything with the S6 is rosy. The MMI infotainment system sounds great most of the time, but I ran into a few hiccups every so often, especially with the wired Apple CarPlay connection. It would also be nice to have some actual physical controls; Basically everything is controlled through the two central displays, even simple things like turning on the heated seats. There's also plenty of piano black trim inside. Aside from attracting dust and fingerprints, it looks cheap in some areas, especially in places that run across the dashboard. The design is too staid for my taste; I like a sleeper as much as the next person, but aside from the unique wheels, black trim, and quad exhausts, there's nothing in the design that matches the performance of a sedan.
Finally, the price is steep, and that mostly has to do with Audi assembly features that should be standard on more expensive packages. Want things like adaptive cruise control, side and rear cross-traffic sensing, and a head-up display? Audi makes you spend another $8k on the package to get it, though it also comes with other things you might not want. At this price point, nickel and dime buyers with expensive packaging are getting greedy.
The 2023 S6 starts at $74,795 (including destination) for the base Premium model, but my test car is the top-end Prestige model, which costs an additional $8,800. With extra features like the $595 Aviator Gray paint, the aforementioned S Sport package, the $2,500 Design Edition package, $475 Audi-branded puddle lights, and stickers for my S6 for $91,165 isn't cheap.
However, the Audi S6 remains a gem. In a segment that always seems to be on its last legs, the S6 is one of the best offerings despite the hefty price tag. If you have the means, try the S6. you will not regret it.
