The lower-powered, non-quattro V6 diesel A6 misses the 2.0-litre’s official average economy figure of 57.6mpg by just 3mpg, while slicing a second and a half from the 0-62mph time.
Whether that’s worth the extra price premium is a moot point; we don’t think so. The extra the Audi TDI quattro diesels cost over the 2.0-litre buys you a 0-62mph time of 6.1sec, while the official average mpg drops to 47.1mpg. That’s still 13mpg better than the 3.0-litre petrol, though. Topping the diesel range, the BiTDi achieves an official 44.1mpg, but is the most expensive car in the A6 line-up.
Pricey, yet tempting, options include an upgraded navigation system with Google mapping, an in-car wi-fi network and an excellent Bang & Olufsen stereo system.