2022 Audi S6

　　

2022 Audi S6 Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar., rating written byJosh JacquotVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Think of the S6 as an A6 on steroids. Structurally the two cars are the same, but the S6 comes with only one high-performance engine option — a twin-turbocharged 444-hp 2.9-liter V6. Audi also upgrades the S6 with height-adjustable air suspension, though a conventional coil-spring suspension is optional. Every S6 is equipped with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Like its abridged-roof stablemate, the S7, the S6 comes outfitted with a pile of tech features. Most obvious are the twin screens that dominate its dashboard and control all the climate and infotainment functions. But it's the S6's design and materials that make it special. Supple leather in a variety of colors and striking wood inlays make for a modern and clean interior presentation that's distinctly Audi.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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) - $74,800 MSRPPrestige 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $81,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　BMW's M550i, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 and even Cadillac's CT5 V Blackwing are worth considering in this class. All of the German competitors are all-wheel-drive and offer similar if not slightly better performance. And they all cost about the same as the S6. So does the CT5-V Blackwing, but it's a rear-drive monster with 668 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8. Go, America! Read our Expert Rating for all the details on the 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 sportiness.

　　

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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below