2022 Audi A6

A glance at the A6's significant dimensions may lead you to assume that it's not agile, but you'd be wrong. Could it feature in the 147th Fast and Furious installment as the main player in an elaborate highway heist? Probably not. But what it can do is approach a corner with enough stability to inspire confidence in its pilot. The sharp, responsive steering allows for quick changes of direction and the sedan feels buttoned-down through twists and turns. The Audi A6's quattro system is responsible for added eagerness off the line and allows for excellent capability in wetter weather. That being said, the A6 offers the same amount of connection with the driver as a spouse does after 20 years of marriage. It wasn't built to be a sports car but rather a smooth cruiser, and it does well at being the latter. Even on uneven surfaces, the A6 maintains its composure. It's on longer journeys that it really shines, though, with exemplary comfort that leaves you feeling more relaxed at arrival than you were at departure.

You'd be doing yourself an injustice by not giving the A6 the attention it deserves. It's an excellent car that has way more merits than it does flaws and it deserves to be in your top three options on your shortlist. Both engines do a fine job of getting the large sedan going and it will never feel jerky or unrefined. The base engine is highly fuel-efficient and the available V6 deploys more than enough performance than most buyers will ever need. It's immediately noticeable that the A6 was meant for hauling the well-to-do around in comfort, but if the exterior design doesn't give this away, the well-appointed cabin certainly will.

Premium materials swathe every component of the cabin and there's a screen nearly everywhere you look. Despite all of the tech in a small space, the interior doesn't come off as too busy. Beyond appearances, the A6 is a genuinely comfortable car to drive. We've mentioned before that it doesn't provide a strong connection between car and driver, but that is really just a small flaw. If you're looking for something relaxing, classy, and safe, they don't get much better than the A6.

The two sedans share a few similarities, which is no surprise as they come from the same family. The A6 is the bigger of the two and while you'll technically be able to fit the same number of people into both, the A6 provides far more interior room. The trunk of the A4 is also slightly smaller. For many, though, the small factor of there being a $16,000 discrepancy between these two in terms of price will also impact the decision. The A6 is more luxurious inside and offers far more standard convenience, along with the option of a V6 absent from the base A4 range. That being said, the A6 is a lot harder to park and maneuver thanks to its larger proportions. The A4 will likely appeal to those who simply want a practical luxury sedan to get around with, while the A6 is for those who appreciate the finer things in life and the added comfort a vehicle of this size brings to the table.

The competition between these two Germans is fierce and that's because they are both vying for the attention of exactly the same shoppers. They are also closely matched in terms of performance, but the BMW does more with less power, being more frugal and yet more dynamically talented. It's also available as a RWD model for those who like sharper handling dynamics. The A6 is arguably not as fun to drive as the 5 Series and the BMW's transmission is also a little smoother. The Audi does provide supreme levels of comfort though. Both sedans boast excellent interiors, but we feel the Audi pulls off the luxury sedan impression better, while the BMW's feels a little staid by comparison. Overall, it's a close call, but the BMW is a little more practical and dynamically gifted, which makes it our choice. However, if you value comfort over dynamic prowess, the A6 is stellar.