2023 Audi S6 Sedan

　　

2023 Audi S6 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiVehicle 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.

　　The 2023 Audi S6 is the sportier version of the supporting A6 sedan. It produces a solid 444 horsepower compared to the A6's 261-hp four cylinder engine and 335-hp six-cylinder. Of course that added power requires greater control, so the S6 further benefits from a sport-tuned suspension and sticky summer performance tires. Not surprisingly, those improvements will cost you more in terms of finances, but not so much when it comes to comfort and luxury. The S6 remains almost as smooth and comfortable as the A6.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Audi S6 Premium 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

　　$213/mo  for S6 Premium

　　S6 Premium

　　Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $73,700 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $78,400 MSRPPrestige 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $82,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　For 2023, the S6 gains a new base Premium trim that drops its starting price by a few thousand compared to last year. Because of this addition, several features throughout the lineup have shuffled around, but these items are fairly minor and don't fundamentally change the look or feel of the higher trims. As a result, the S6 keeps its favorable position in its class of sporty luxury midsize sedans.

　　The 2023 Audi S6 finds a balance between the higher-performing BMW 5 Series and more luxurious Mercedes-Benz E-Class and could represent the just-right Goldilocks choice in the segment for shoppers who want a little of everything. There's a lot to like about the S6 and only a few drawbacks, all of which we cover in our detailed Expert Rating below.

　　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 on 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