Audi A6

Audi A6

Recommended. As a painless method of getting from your office to the airport, the A6 is supremely accomplished. It's just a shame Audi forgot the fun.

Audi may have become prolific in almost every segment of the car industry in the last decade, but the new A6 remains as critical as ever.

Along with the A4, the executive saloon encapsulates much of the aspirational allure that has made Audi a sales powerhouse. But while the model may be a global bestseller, it continues to face stiff opposition from its premium rivals - particularly in the UK market.

The manufacturer has responded to the challenge by focusing its energy on meeting the demands of the middle-aged businessmen who purchase the vast majority of A6s. Thus the car is quieter, lighter, more spacious, more economical and better refined than its predecessor.

Predictably, few risks have been taken with the styling. This is a conservative class and the A6 is endowed with the anonymous elegance of a fitted dinner jacket. The car sits neatly between the largely identikit A4 and A8, and that's likely to be good enough for most.

Underneath and inside it's a different story. Audi has used new aluminium and steel composite construction techniques to save weight while simultaneously increasing the car's width and wheelbase for improved spaciousness.

The entry-level A6 is the lightest car in its segment and also, thanks to its 2.0-litre TDI engine, one of the most efficient. From launch the line-up will also include two 3.0-litre diesel units - also fuel economy class leaders - and a range-topping 3.0-litre TFSI petrol lump. All benefit from automatic start-stop and a brake energy recovery system.

The more powerful engines get the latest version of Audi's all-wheel drive system, as well as the new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The front-wheel drive models are mated to either a six-speed manual or the eight-speed multitronic CVT gearbox.

The manufacturer has also packed an awful lot of kit into the A6. The car will be available in SE and S Line trim, but even the cheapest model will get leather upholstery, satellite navigation via a retractable 6.5-inch display, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control, a 10-speaker sound system, cruise control, park assist and more.

All of this is packaged into one of the finest interiors currently on offer at any price. Audi has always prided itself on conjuring up an exclusive upmarket ambience, and with a combination of bold, sweeping lines and deft detailing, the A6 embodies the brand ethos quite brilliantly.

Cocooned in these surroundings it comes as little surprise that the car covers ground with the hushed detachment of a first class train carriage. Superior refinement, an improved snugly cushioned ride and the distant hum of each engine ensure the A6 is capable of taking the edge off even the most wearisome commute.

In fact, the saloon is so mollifying that its ultimate lack of dynamic flair won't become apparent until you opt to take the back way home. Audi has equipped every model with its Drive Select system, which offers the driver a choice of engine and suspension settings, but even the most aggressive is only a variation on the A6's unruffled theme and any attempt to take the car by the scruff of the neck is diluted by the easily fumbled artificial weight of the new electromagnetic power steering.

The lasting effect of this shortfall is that the buyers currently favouring the sharper BMW 5 Series are unlikely to be persuaded to make the switch to A6. Audi may consider that a disappointment, but buyers in the hunt for a quiet, dignified, well-equipped and beautifully appointed way of negotiating the motorway network are likely to buy it in droves.