First Drive – Audi A6 2.0T quattro

Audi has updated the C7 A6 lineup for the 2016 model year, both cosmetically and technically. These changes appear very minor on the surface, but on taking a closer look, we find that there are some really nice upgrades to an already excellent package.

For starters, the standard (non-S line) A6 is fitted with a redesigned front fascia, which includes a new grille shape, new side grille designs, and the optional LED headlights have a new look as well. The rear of the car has a slightly redesigned valance, to accommodate the new trapezoidal exhaust outlets.

Inside, there are some mild changes that are obvious, such as a newly redesigned and very comfortable gear selector knob, and some that are not obvious, such as a beefed up MMI system with more processing power, and some updated features such as NAV maps being available in the center instrument cluster, as well as the ability to communicate with the Audi MMI connect app.

In all of the years since the C7 A6 has been on the roads, we’ve never had the pleasure of driving it with the excellent 2 liter 4 cylinder turbo engine. This wasn’t an intentional omission; it just happened that we always ended up in a V6 variant every time we’ve had the model in our possession.

We certainly are no strangers to the Audi 2.0TFSI engine in general, since it has been around since 2006 in the A4. However, the engine that purrs quietly beneath the A6’s aluminum bonnet is heavily updated for the 2016 year. Without getting too deep into the potentially boring technical aspects of the new engine, know that this engine is very smooth, and powerful, without sacrificing smoothness. Audi rates it at 252 hp, which is more than the original 2.7t V6 engine from the B5 S4 for those of you keeping score at home.

While the numbers on paper are impressive, it is how the car feels that is most impressive. The slightly buzzy nature of a 4 cylinder engine doesn’t take away from the comfortable and serene environment of the A6 cabin, and in calm to moderately aggressive driving, the 2.0TFSI has no problem propelling the A6 along with a satisfying push in the back. As with most smaller engines, once you run out of the sweet spot of torque from the turbo, the feeling of push in the back starts to wane, and you begin to feel like you’re asking it for too much. At the limit of power the engine remains smooth and relatively quiet, with no vibrations transmitted to the cabin.

Our initial experience with this lovely car had us taking the cars up into the canyon roads above Santa Monica and Malibu, California. These roads are incredibly fun, and very challenging if you want to push the limits of a car. We came away from this experience feeling that as long as you don’t expect this car to scare the hell out of you with brute force, it is a perfect drivetrain for day to day driving.

Driving up and down the tight twisty canyon roads, the A6 2.0TFSI had ample power to match the incredibly surefooted chassis that he A6 is so well known for. As is our normal way of driving Tiptronic equipped cars, we put the selector in the manual gate, which allowed us to keep the gears matched to our road speed, thereby keeping the engine in the proper range for power. If left in D, the car will tend to find its way to the highest gear it can, requiring downshifts and “hunting” for the best gear. This is not a knock on the engine/transmission combo, but rather just the way it is with most if not all automatic transmissions. Thankfully Tiptronic is VERY good and the steering wheel mounted paddles make it that much better.

Overall we were actually very impressed with the 2.0TFSI engine in the A6. For day to day driving, we can’t imagine why anyone would need more power, and the fuel economy benefit alone is worth the slight decrease in maximum thrust.