2026 Audi A6 Review
Our automotive expert shares opinions and new photos of the 2026 A6.
Tim Stevens
- Pros: Audi's new A6 dials up the performance with more power yet still offers a smooth ride on its optional air suspension.
- Cons: The stop-start feature on the 3.0-liter V6 feels unrefined, and the lack of a hybrid option may leave some buyers wanting.
- The Takeaway: A more engaging drive, an aggressive look, and a cushy ride mean the A6 should satisfy a broad spectrum of buyers.
Since its introduction for the 1995 model year, the Audi A6 has covered the middle ground between Audi's attainable A4 and its luxurious A8. The previous-generation A6 offered numerous trims and engines to satisfy buyers who fell between those models, but the 2026 A6 has just a single V6 powertrain (referred to as TFSI by Audi). Still, with more power and standard tech, the new A6 should please most buyers, even if some finer details are lacking.
QuickTakes:
What's New for the 2026 Audi A6
QuickTake: Audi's new A6 offers more performance, more tech, and far better standard equipment than before.
The 2026 Audi A6 is a wholly redesigned model, growing by 2.4 inches in length and weighing 44 pounds more than the outgoing V6-equipped sedan. Gone are the previous four- and six-cylinder turbo powertrains. In their place is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 making 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. That's 27 horsepower and 37 lb-ft more than the outgoing V6, making this new A6 0.6 seconds quicker to 60 mph.
Tim Stevens
About the 2026 Audi A6 Review Vehicle
QuickTake: The new A6 has fewer trims and a higher base price but better standard equipment.
The 2026 Audi A6 comes in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels, and base prices range from about $65,000 to around $73,000, including the destination charge to ship the car to a dealership from the Neckarsulm, Germany, assembly plant that builds it.
For this A6 review, I test-drove the Prestige trim in Palm Springs, California. Optional equipment highlights included the $9,400 Audi Exclusive Design Package, with massaging sports seats and upgraded interior trim, plus $800 for 20-inch wheels, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $83,490, including the $1,295 destination charge.
Additionally, I drove a Prestige model with the Sport Plus package. This car included 21-inch wheels, summer tires, and a sport suspension. It carried a $79,140 MSRP, including destination. Audi provided the vehicles for this A6 review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.
Tim Stevens
Design, Quality, and Interior Layout
QuickTake: Audi's new A6 has a more aggressive exterior to match its extra power, but it doesn't wow on the inside.
While I haven't loved many of Audi's recent designs, the pronounced air vents on the nose of the new A6 make for a purposeful first impression, while the classic Quattro fender flares definitely add personality to the profile.
On the inside, things are much in keeping with Audi's latest models, featuring a pair of OLED displays wedged into an unfortunately oversized panel standing awkwardly from the dashboard. I think it looks clumsy compared with the similar but far more elegant display configuration seen in recent BMWs such as the 5 Series. Otherwise, the materials are good, as is the fit and finish throughout.
Tim Stevens
Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space
QuickTake: With ultra-comfortable seats, the A6 is a great place to pile on the miles — just mind the storage space.
Up front, Audi's sport seats offer plenty of bolstering for better support in the corners. Those bolsters are plush and comfy, which makes sitting in the seats feel more like a gentle hug than the painful squeeze you get in some sportier sedans. They also feature standard heating and ventilation, plus a decent available massage function.
The rear seats are more basic but comfortable enough. The A6 has room for five people, and getting three across in the rear is a reasonable arrangement. I stand 6 feet tall, and there was just enough headroom back there. Legroom wasn't an issue either.
However, the lack of small-item storage is an issue. All you get is a little room under the armrest and a skinny glove box — even the openings in the door panels are slender. The trunk offers 13.5 cubic-feet of cargo space, down from 13.7 cu-ft in the outgoing model.
Tim Stevens
2026 Audi A6 Infotainment System Review
QuickTake: Audi's latest in-car technology offers seemingly acres of displays, but lacks some basic functions compared with the competition.
Audi offers its latest Multi Media Interface (MMI) across three screens, starting with an 11.9-inch OLED driver display and a 14.5-inch OLED infotainment display housed within the same panel. The panel's gentle curve keeps every inch within reach of  the driver seat.
If that's not enough, there's an optional 10.9-inch display on the far right that's exclusively for passenger use. If whoever's riding in the front starts doing anything distracting, such as watching YouTube, the display blacks out from the driver's perspective.
Standard features include:
- wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity
- wireless smartphone charging
- multicolor ambient lighting
As you move up the trim-level ladder, the Premium Plus trim adds:
- 16-speaker, 685-watt Bang & Olufsen premium sound system
- head-up display
Finally, on the Prestige trim, you get:
- 20-speaker, 810-watt Bang & Olufsen premium sound system
- 10.9-inch passenger display
Everything is straightforward to use. A basic voice assistant handles simple requests for points of interest without your having to speak like a robot. However, there's no provision for the integrated AI agents that are popping up in more cars, such as Google Gemini.
When it comes to the driver display, the A6's functionality feels frustratingly basic. There's minimal customization or personality. You can't even pull up a map display, but you will get turn prompts both there and in the optional head-up display.
Tim Stevens
Safety Features and Ratings
QuickTake: Audi's new A6 offers abundant driver-assistance features, but you'll need the top trim to get them all.
Audi equips the 2026 A6 with a collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) as standard equipment. They include:
- adaptive cruise control
- blind-spot monitoring
- rear cross-traffic alert
- lane-departure warning
- automatic emergency braking
In addition to those features, the Premium Plus and Prestige trims add:
- lane-centering assist
- parking assist
- rear automatic braking
While the lane-centering feature helps keep the car centered, in my testing, it occasionally exhibited ping-pong behavior, meandering back and forth between the lines rather than tracking true. Still, it identified the edge of the lane, even in the glare of the Palm Springs sun and when the road markings were well worn.
The Audi A6 also features driver-attention monitoring. If your eyes linger too long on a roadside distraction, the car will alert you to pay attention. Often, driver monitoring is paired with a hands-off driver-assistance system, but that's not the case here. Audi's system is strictly hands-on, but with a capacitive-touch steering wheel, you at least won't have to wiggle it to let the car know you're there. A simple touch will do.
Tim Stevens
2026 Audi A6 TFSI Specs and Fuel Economy
QuickTake: The 2026 A6 gains power and torque, but it proved thirsty.
The 2026 A6's 3.0-liter turbocharged TFSI V6 engine is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which sends power to all four wheels via Quattro all-wheel drive. Buyers who opt for the Prestige trim with the Sport Plus package will get a fancier torque-vectoring rear differential.
Audi claims the A6 is EPA rated for 23 mpg in combined city and highway driving. In my mixed testing loop, which mainly featured secondary roads, I came up just short of that combined figure, averaging 22 mpg.
Tim Stevens
2026 Audi A6 Test Drive
QuickTake: The new A6 isn't a sports sedan, but it does deliver both an engaging drive and a luxurious ride.
For now, Audi doesn't offer a sporty S6 or racy RS 6 as part of this new-generation A6 model's lineup. Thankfully, the A6's extra power and responsiveness help to fill the gap.
The engine is smooth and the power comes on rapidly. The dual-clutch transmission does a great job of cycling through gears quickly and without much fuss. However, I felt some occasional hesitation coming off the line, the transmission seemingly taking a moment to engage. The engine's auto stop/start function felt harsh, too, giving this sizable sedan a lurch whenever it fired up.Â
With the sport suspension, which lowers the car by 0.8 inches and includes rear-wheel steering and 21-inch wheels wrapped in summer tires, the A6 is reasonably engaging. The steering is direct and has good feedback, making the car easy and fun to blast through the corners. I found it could be harsh on rougher, torn-up roads, though.Â
The A6's available adaptive air suspension doesn't produce a markedly different driving experience, but it does make the car slightly less eager to dive into corners. In exchange, you get near-faultless ride quality, plus the ability to raise or lower the vehicle.
Whichever suspension you choose, you're getting a poised and comfortable machine. There's no sound from wind buffeting at speed, but certain asphalt surfaces can generate more road noise than I'd have expected.
Tim Stevens
Alternatives to the 2026 Audi A6
QuickTake: Audi's new A6 looks excellent and is fun to drive but lacks some of the refinement and advanced features of the competition.
Audi's latest A6 is genuinely engaging and well equipped, though the tech experience and refinement are lacking in a few areas. The air suspension also offers near-faultless poise, while the sport suspension adds dynamic engagement, though it's not a proper replacement for the previous S6.Â
Alternatives to the new A6 include the more tech-forward BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. You might also find the Genesis G80 appealing in the midsize luxury sedan segment.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Tim StevensTim is a freelance automotive and technology journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He is a frequent contributor to major domestic and international online, print, and broadcast news outlets, sharing his insights and perspectives on everything from cybersecurity to supercars. Tim also serves as a juror for the World Car Awards and regularly acts as speaker and moderator at major industry events such as CES, Web Summit, SXSW, NAIAS, and AutoMobility LA. He formerly served as editor-at-large and vice president of content at CNET. Before that he was editor-in-chief of Engadget and editorial director at AOL Tech.
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