2005-2008 Audi A6 and allroad quattro: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 2005-2008 Audi A6 and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Cargo room (wagon)
- Acceleration
- Steering/handling
Cons
- Audio/climate controls
- Trouble prone electronics
Vehicle Highlights
Audi redesigned its A6 sedan for 2005, giving it new styling, more room, and more power. Wheelbase grew by 3.2 inches compared to the 1998-2004 A6, but other dimensions were virtually unchanged. The sedan came as the 3.2 model with a 255-hp V6 and as the 4.2 with a 335-hp V8. Both had a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive. Also included were Audi's MMI operating system that uses one knob on the center console to take the place of conventional dashboard controls for many of the car's accessories. Sold alongside the redesigned sedan for 2005 was Audi's SUV-flavored allroad wagon, which retained a 1998-2004 design and is covered in a separate report. All A6s had front side airbags and curtain side airbags; rear side airbags were optional. Also standard were antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and an antiskid system. Xenon headlamps were standard for the 4.2 models and optional for the others. The 3.2 sedan was available with 16-, 17-, and 18-inch wheels. The 4.2 sedan was available with 17s or 18s. Available features included a navigation system, satellite radio, and, for sedans, steering-linked adaptive headlights.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Audi A6 3.2 sedan Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 7 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 8 | |
| Quietness | 8 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 9 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 7 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 7 | |
| Total Score: | 66 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 2005-2008 Audi A6. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 2005-2008 Audi A6.
Year to Year Changes
2006 Audi A6:
Audi expanded its A6 lineup for 2006 with a wagon body style called Avant and a front-wheel-drive sedan. The front-drive 3.2 sedan used a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) instead of the 6-speed automatic in the others. Sedans were also made available with Audi's S-line Package that included a sport suspension and special trim. The wagon offered a power tailgate. Available for 2006 on all A6s was a rear air suspension that could be adjusted for height and firmness. In addition, all models were given wood interior trim.
2007 Audi A6:
A high-performance sedan was new for 2007. The new S6 quattro sedan has a 435-hp V10 and specific suspension tuning and styling touches.
2008 Audi A6:
The 2008 Audi A6 got no major changes.
Our road test for the 2005-2008 Audi A6 includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 2005-2008 Audi A6 and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 2005-2008 Audi A6 is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
The 3.2 V6 provides strong pull from a stop and ample highway passing power, though around-town response is at the mercy of sometimes-tardy transmission downshifts. Potent 4.2 V8 quicker still, with satisfying power across the rev range. Some testers complain of imprecise throttle action away from a stop with both engines. Audi quotes 0-60 mph of 7.1 sec for 3.2, 6.0 for 4.2. All engines remarkably refined, though V8 snarls surprisingly at high rpm. In our experience, fuel economy was a bit disappointing. In an even mix of city/highway driving, test 3.2 averaged 16.1 mpg, test 4.2s averaged 14.7-16.3. Audi recommends premium-grade fuel for all models. The A6 strikes a fine ride/handling balance, though it is a bit firm for a luxury vehicle. Sharp bumps can jolt, especially with the 18-inch tires, and sometimes with the 17s. There is virtually no highway float or wallow. The handling is among best in the class. It exhibits impressive composure in corners and little body lean. Steering has satisfying weight and accuracy. Audi's AWD provides great grip and poise on all surfaces. The brakes deliver smooth, short stops. Inside, the A6 sports contemporary design with high-grade materials and assembly--the envy of many a luxury-car company. The MMI control system easier to use than BMW's complicated iDrive, but is still a distracting alternative to conventional switchgear. Other controls are logically placed, simple to use, but the CD changer is in glovebox, out of the driver's reach, and there is no slot in the dash. Cabin impressively absent of wind noise, even at high speed. Road noise is subdued. The front seat offers vast leg room and ample head room. The seats are comfortable, firm, and supportive. Visibility is excellent in all directions. The rear doors open wide to nicely contoured, not overly firm seats. Audi provides adequate knee room, even behind taller front passengers. Toe room is snug, and head clearance is good for those up to 6-ft-1. The sedan's trunk is long and fairly wide; the strut-type hinges don't intrude and there are handy grocery hooks. The rear seatbacks fold 60/40, providing greater utility. The wagon offers SUV-like room. All doors have generously sized map pockets, but interior storage is otherwise subpar.
Value for the Money
The A6's luxurious interior detailing, capable quattro AWD, overall refinement, and cool sophistication earn it a place on any luxury shopper's list. Negatives include the way the MMI system complicates some control functions, sometimes frustrating throttle response, and Audi's reputation for malfunctioning electronics.
The A6's luxurious interior detailing, capable quattro AWD, overall refinement, and cool sophistication earn it a place on any luxury shopper's list. Negatives include the way the MMI system complicates some control functions, sometimes frustrating throttle response, and Audi's reputation for malfunctioning electronics.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Audi A6 3.2 sedan Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 7 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 8 | |
| Quietness | 8 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 9 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 7 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 7 | |
| Total Score: | 66 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Audi A6 includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Audi A6 .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Air conditioner:
The air conditioning may not cool sufficiently and/or the outside temperature reading may be wrong due to a poor crimp connection or faulty outside temperature sensor. (2005)
Brakes:
The ABS (anti-lock brakes) may activate unnecessarily under normal to light application due to cracks in tone wheels. (1996-05)
Dashboard lights:
The "oil level" selection of the information center does not work because cars shipped to the US do not have this feature. (2005)
Fuel door:
The fuel door may not open because the release cable causes interference and must be routed out of the way. (2005)
Fuel gauge:
If the fuel gauge does not show full after filling up, the program for the instrument cluster must be updated. (2005)
Keys:
The key may not come out of the ignition switch because the system can't tell that the shift lever is in park. This requires replacement of the shift selector with redesigned part. (2005-06)
Keys:
The ignition key may not come out of the lock or the car may not lock due to trouble with the gear selector mechanism. (2005)
Oil leak:
Oil leaks may occur on the 3.2L engine at the timing chain upper covers requiring fresh sealant. Leaks from the camshaft sealing plugs require the old plugs to be removed (possibly from inside the engine) and redesigned plugs installed. (2005)
Oil leak:
Camshaft plugs in the cylinder heads of the 3.2L engine may come loose causing an oil leak. (2005)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $1,420 |
| Alternator | $930 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $4,130 |
| Brakes | $920 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $990 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $1,250 |
| Exhaust System | $1,540 |
| Radiator | $810 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $5,550 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $1,650 |
Our price chart for this generation Audi A6 details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 2008 | |||
| A6 3.2 | $33,500-40,000 | $31,200-37,200 | $23,800-28,400 |
| A6 4.2 | $42,500-46,500 | $40,000-43,700 | $31,000-33,900 |
| S6 | $59,000-63,000 | $56,100-59,900 | $44,300-47,300 |
| 2007 | |||
| A6 3.2 | $29,000-34,000 | $27,000-31,600 | $20,000-23,500 |
| A6 4.2 | $37,000-39,500 | $34,400-36,700 | $26,300-28,000 |
| S6 | $53,000-56,000 | $49,800-52,600 | $39,800-42,000 |
| 2006 | |||
| A6 3.2 | $26,000-29,500 | $24,200-27,400 | $17,200-19,500 |
| A6 4.2 | $32,500-35,000 | $30,200-32,600 | $22,800-24,500 |
| 2005 | |||
| A6 3.2 | $23,500-25,300 | $21,600-23,300 | $15,300-16,400 |
| A6 4.2 | $26,000-28,000 | $24,200-26,000 | $17,200-18,500 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Audi A6 include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door sedan | 4-door wagon |
| Wheelbase, in. | 111.9 | 111.9 |
| Overall Length, in. | 193.5 | 193.5 |
| Overall Width, in. | 79.2 | 79.2 |
| Overall Height, in. | 57.5 | 58.2 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3957 | 4167 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 15.9 | 58.6 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 21.1 | 21.1 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.6 | 37.6 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 41.3 | 41.3 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 37.7 | 38.0 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 36.9 | 36.9 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
The redesigned 2005 A6's base engine was a 3.2-liter V6 with 255 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. Buyers could also opt for a 4.2-liter V8 with 335 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came only with a 6-speed automatic for 2005. A continuously variable automatic transmission was added for 2006 on front-drive sedans. For 2007, the new S6 quattro sedan has a 435-hp V10 engine.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| dohc V6 | 3.2 / 191 | 255 | 243 | 6-speed automatic: 19/26 | 6-speed automatic: 16.1 |
| dohc V10 | 5.2 / 318 | 435 | 398 | 6-speed automatic: 15/21 | 6-speed automatic: -- |
| dohc V8 | 4.2 / 254 | 335 | 310 | 6-speed automatic: 19/26 | 6-speed automatic: 15.5 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Germany
Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Audi A6 include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
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