2012 Audi A6 Starts at $41,700 for the 2.0-liter 211 HP Version

Want a relatively fast, elegant and comfortable German saloon? A new BMW 5-Series will set you back $45,050 for the 528i, and you won’t exactly be scraping the bottom of the barrel either, as the Bavarians will provide you with about 240 hp for relaxed highway cruising or dynamic driving. Meanwhile, if you go for the Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse you’ll be paying $49,400 for the E350, which is fitted with a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 268 hp.

Audi has come up with the much more attractive base price of $41,700 (excluding a $875 destination charge) in the case of the 2012 Audi A6, which will arrive at dealerships later this year. However, in its efforts to undercut the opposition, the Ingolstadt carmaker is also giving you less. Both the Merc and the BMW have V6 engines, but the A6 only has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder churning out 211 horsepower. In addition, the base Audi has front-wheel drive chassis and a lack-luster yet efficient CVT transmission.

If you want your 2012 A6 to be a true match for BMW and Mercedes’ base model saloons, you’ll have to opt for the 3.0-liter turbocharged TFSI V6 that has an impressive 310 horsepower to offer. But you can expect to pay a smidgen under $50k for that - $49,900.

Unfortunately, if you want your great dane or saint bernard to also enjoy that 3.0-liter TFSI, we regret to inform you that Audi has no plans to bring the A6 Avant to the States any time soon. “We don’t have plans to bring the [new] A6 Avant to the U.S,” said Audi of America spokesman Andrew Lipman.