2021 Audi S6 Review

　　

2021 Audi S6 Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　To create its S6 midsize luxury sport sedan, Audi simply takes its A6 and adds more performance via a more powerful turbocharged V6 engine, sticky tires and a suspension tuned for better handling. The regular A6 comes with either a 261-horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 335-hp V6, but the S6's standard V6 trumps both with a muscular 444 hp. Pleasingly, Audi has made sure that no luxury has been lost with that extra performance, and the S6 has all the premium hallmarks that make the standard A6 sedan so comfortable.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi S6 Premium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$210/mo  for S6 Premium Plus

　　S6 Premium Plus

　　Premium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $74,400 MSRPPrestige 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $81,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　As you'd expect, the strongest competition for the S6 comes from other German manufacturers. BMW offers its potent M550i, while Mercedes-Benz matches the sporty AMG E 53 sedan against the Audi. For something similar but different, you could also check out Tesla's Model S. It offers even more performance plus the efficiencies of a fully electric drivetrain. Does the S6 hit your sweet spot for a luxury sport sedan? Read our Expert Rating below for an in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Audi S6.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the S6 drive? At the zzdcar test track, our test S6 sprinted to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. That's impressively quick for a midsize luxury sedan. The S6's turbocharged V6 has plenty of power for passing other cars or merging onto the highway. But from a dead stop it feels lazy. There seems to be nothing below 3,000 rpm. Rev past that, though, and you get a huge swell of power. The transmission's shifts are smooth and quick, but it sometimes upshifts too soon for our tastes.

　　Emergency braking performance is solid. It's not at the top of the class, but it's near it. Around town, the S6's brakes feel great, with a firm pedal that is easy to control. It's easy to come to a smooth stop.

　　The Audi handles well enough too. The steering is a touch light, but it's quick and direct, making it easy to maneuver the S6 in tight parking lots or winding back roads. The suspension strikes a good balance between comfort and sport.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the S6? This is where the S6 shines. It's the perfect midlevel performance sedan with just enough grunt and personality to let you know what's what. It's loud and sporty when you want it to be and quiet and reserved when you just want to cruise.

　　Our test S6 had the standard sport front seats. They don't offer as much adjustment as the optional luxury seats, but we found them comfortable enough even after several hundred miles of highway driving. But we wouldn't mind more bolstering to better keep you secure during cornering.

　　The ride is excellent thanks to the optional adaptive sport suspension. The S6 smooths out pavement without feeling light or overly soft. Our biggest complaint is with the climate control system. In full auto mode, it never seems to even out the temperature in the cabin.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? While we love the S6's interior design, we aren't completely won over by its layout. Some controls are needlessly hidden in on-screen menus. Otherwise, the controls for the media and climate systems are well placed and easy to reach.

　　As expected with a midsize luxury sedan, there's plenty of room for both front and rear passengers. The front seats are mounted low. It's a sporty driving position, but it might be hard for some people to get in and out. At least the door openings are big and wide. Visibility is decent, though a tall hood and window line make it a little difficult to see forward.

　　

Technology

9.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Audi's in-car tech features all the bells and whistles you might expect from a modern luxury automobile, though many of the higher-end features are optional rather than standard. When equipped, the systems work well, though they do require a bit of a learning curve to figure out.

　　The audio system is one of the best around, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make it easy to play music from your phone. Our test car had four USB ports, though none were the newest USB-C style. The S6's wireless charging pad doubles as a signal booster.

　　The driver aids work well, with no false readings or needless corrections. The adaptive cruise control maintained a close but reasonable gap in traffic.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Storage is one of the S6's weakest points. The 13.7 cubic feet of trunk space is near the bottom of the class numerically. In actual use you'll find the space is wide and deep enough to handle most daily errands. You can fold down the rear seats to help facilitate loading of long cargo items. A low liftover height means heavy items require less effort too.

　　In terms of interior storage, there doesn't seem to be any good place to place a pair of sunglasses that doesn't block a cupholder. The shallow center console is mostly taken up by the wireless charging spot. There's plenty of space in the rear for child seats, with easy-to-access anchors on the outboard seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The S6 is rated at 22 mpg combined (18 city/28 highway). That's typical fuel economy for a midsize luxury sedan with a six-cylinder engine. Our test S6 equaled the EPA's estimates during our testing, so it's fair to assume they're realistic.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the S6 a good value? Everything about the S6 looks and screams luxury. The design is clean and modern. Usually we dislike the use of glossy piano black trim, but Audi has managed to use it without making it look cheap or plasticky.

　　All the switches have weight and heft that make the S6 feel special. Fit and finish is excellent, with no squeaks or rattles to speak of. The S6 feels as good as or better than a BMW or Mercedes-Benz and better than some of the dated products from Lexus.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　Lots of subtle character here. The S6 offers a good bit of performance without being overly showy. If you want a fun-to-drive luxury sedan that doesn't announce its presence at every stoplight, the S6 is your kind of car.

　　

Which S6 does zzdcar recommend?

We don't always recommend the top trim levels, but with the S6 we think the Prestige represents the best value. It comes standard with most of the optional extras we think the S6 needs. We'd also spring for the S Sport package for the dynamic all-wheel steering and sport differential, and we'd get the S Sport adaptive steel suspension for better road feel.

　　

2021 Audi S6 models

The Audi S6 is a performance-oriented midsize luxury sedan based on the more sedate A6. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 (444 horsepower, 443 lb-ft of torque). Also standard are an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Two trims are available: the well-appointed Premium Plus and the loaded Prestige. Feature highlights include:

　　Premium Plus

　　Starts you off with:

　　21-inch wheels with summer performance tires Adaptive air suspension (can adjust the S6's ride height and enhances ride quality and handling) Sunroof Four-zone climate control Premium leather upholstery Heated front sport seatsStandard technology features include:

　　10.1-inch touchscreen Digital instrument panel (Audi's Virtual Cockpit) Navigation system 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto smartphone integration Wireless charging padThe S6 also comes loaded with safety features, such as:

　　Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the S6 begins to drift over the lane marker) Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front) Automatic front emergency braking (the car can automatically apply the brakes if forward collision sensors trigger) 360-degree parking camera (gives you a top-down view of the S6 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)An Executive package is optional for the S6 Premium Plus. It adds:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the S6 and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (automatically steers the car back into its lane if the S6 begins to drift over the lane marker) Additional leather interior trim Heated rear seats Adjustable ambient interior lighting Power trunklidPrestige

　　The range-topping Prestige includes:

　　The Executive package Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Automatic rear emergency braking (automatically applies the brakes if rear sensors detect an imminent collision and driver takes no action) Thicker window glass for reducing noise Air fragrance system Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Soft-closing doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)Other notable options for the S6 include:

　　Black Optic package 21-inch black-painted wheels Black-painted exterior trim S Sport package All-wheel steering Sport exhaust Sport rear differential Red brake calipers Luxury package Comfort-oriented front seats with ventilation and massage Additional leather interior trim Rear sunshades Sport-tuned adaptive suspension (replaces the air suspension) Night vision system 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system

　　

2021 S6 Highlights

Trim: Premium PlusPrestigePremium Plus

　　

Base MSRP	$74,400
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$210/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles