When I was considering the BMW 5 series I waited to drive the new 4 banger turbo engine they put into the 528 replacing the IL6. The automotive press were glowing about the car and the performance and thought it was the best thing since...OK, I thought the IL6 in the outgoing 528 was perfectly acceptable so I went to the test drive with an open mind. Short story made shorter, it was so poor I was back at the dealership in less then 5 minutes. Horrible. I hit the gas and counted to 2 Mississippi and there still wasn't any power. The look on the salesman's face was priceless as he knew he lost any hope of selling me a 5 series.

So keep your resolve and drive the 2.0T - maybe its great, maybe it sux but you decide for yourself. My last comment would be if it's marginal you might be able to get a Stasis ECU upgrade for $1500 that would greatly increase the performance, thus making the 2.0T a no brainer. Keep in mind there are equipment option limitations with the smaller engine, but as long as the 2.0T configuration meets your needs, then it's all good. Please report back after the test drive as we all anxious to hear your impressions.

 

I think the 2.0T is more than just adequate. It is more powerful than the previous V6. And the 2.0T/CVT is not "such a heavy" car at about 3680lbs. With the V6, Quattro+tip+bigger block add 400lbs, shooting the weight past two tons! I bet the 2.0T A6 feels more agile.

What gives pause to me is the CVT transmission. It is clearly less robust than the tip and Audi has had some reliability problems with in the past, although many CVT A4s are being sold now and I haven't seen many complaints about it.

If Audi offered a manual FWD A6 with the 2.0T, I might have considered sacrificing a quattro+sports A4 for the sake of more room for the family.

 

I had a 2008 Passat wagon with the (similar) 2.0T, tiptronic, FWD. It was a terrific engine, peppy, responsive, fuel-efficient, very well matched to the 6-sp tip.

The car was all I needed. What drove me nuts was the rough sound and feel of the engine when cold, especially in winter. It was very unrefined, and turned the Passat from a plain Audi into an econo-car. It really detracted from an otherwise satisfying experience.

So here's what I have to offer:

1- the 2.0T is a terrific engine, and in the A4 and A5 improves handling and balance because it is lighter than the (now discontinued) 3.2

2- the 2.0T is a fourbanger, and will detract from the whole A6 experience per the above.

3- the new Tiptronics and the S-tronic (DSG) are terrific transmissions, well matched to the engines. The CVT, not so much.

4- I drove the A4 2.0T but bought the S4. The 3.0T transforms a pleasant car into an exciting, powerful, satisfying driving machine. When I wrecked the S4 (the other car ran a red light) I tried a Q5 2.0T as well as a 3.2. Couldn't stand them in comparison to the 3.0T. I bought an A7, which is essentially an A6 with a hatchback, one less seat, and a bigger pricetag. The A7 feels and drives completely differently from the S4, but it is one sweet machine. The engine has no lag, has immediate power at stoplights and in emergencies. It is rich and fast and immensely satisfying.

5- Driving the same routes, I used to average 25.5mpg in my Passat, vs. 23.1 in the A7. If I drove the A7 as sedately as the Passat, I know I would average 24.5mpg (based on a couple of tanks when I tried it). I've been drivingthe A7 in dynamic mode a lot, and accelerating hard at stoplights. Just for the fun of it. The A6 is lighter than the A7, but even at a delta of 2mpg, the smaller engine wouldn't be worth it to me.

More than the looks, the cabin and the tech features, it's the 3.0T engine that makes the A6 a truly special car.

So I say: you owe it to yourself to drive both A6 versions. You may just find that the 3.0T + quattro + 8-sp Tip package transforms the car, and is well worth the upcharge.