2024 Audi S6 Sedan

　　

2024 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 A6 is Audi's midsize luxury sedan, making it a step up from the smaller A4 and A5 models but a slot below the larger A7. The 2024 Audi S6 is the sportier version of the A6, with more power and sharper handling. If that's still not enough, there's also the breathtaking RS 6 Avant, but it's only offered as a wagon and a prohibitively expensive one at that. This year, the S6 returns with only minor changes but remains a great choice in the class despite newer rivals.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 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) - $74,700 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $79,000 MSRPPrestige 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $82,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Performance and prestige

The Audi A6 makes between 261 horsepower and 335 horsepower, which is more than enough for most drivers. For the few who are seeking a noticeable jump in performance, the S6 increases output to 444 hp and adds a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, sticky summer tires and several other enhancements. This athleticism doesn't come at the expense of comfort, thankfully, as the S6 delivers a smooth ride, a quiet cabin, and all of the expected luxury accoutrements. Overall, it's just as scintillating as it is stately.

　　

Competitors to consider

The Audi S6 was last redesigned in 2020, and a string of updates in the intervening years has managed to keep it near the top of the midsize luxury sedan class. 2024 marks a big year for the class as Audi's most direct rivals have both come out with all-new models. The BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class have been completely overhauled, with more tech, performance and convenience than before. With this in mind, we suggest checking all three out to see which fits your needs best, as well as our Expert Rating below that offers even more detailed info.

　　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