Safety is an important factor when deciding on a new car, and as expected, a premium product such as the 2019 Audi A6 can’t disappoint in this regard. The Euro NCAP tested the mid-size sedan to find out how the cookie crumbles, concluding that the four-ringed automaker did the best it could for both occupants and pedestrians.
The crash tests were carried out with the 40 TDI Sportline 4x2 LHD, tipping the scales at 1,682 kilograms. Even in this configuration, the A6 comes with mild-hybrid technology and lots of standard equipment, including MMI Navigation Plus and MMI Touch, Parking System Plus, rearview camera, and the 7.0-inch Driver Information System.
On the subject of adult occupant protection, the A6 scored 93 percent based on the performance in the frontal offset test, full-width rigid barrier test, side barrier test, and side pole impact. Even in a rear-end collision, the design of the seats and head restraints ensure “good protection against whiplash injuries.”
The autonomous emergency braking, which is standard on the A6, “performed well in tests of its functionalities are low speeds.” Child occupant protection is up there with the best of them, though the Euro NCAP has something to add in this regard. To the point, dummy readings indicate “marginal protection” of the neck of a 10-year-old child in the frontal offset test.
Pedestrian protection is another strong point, with Audi boasting a pop-up hood that activates when sensors detect a pedestrian has been hit. By providing greater clearance to the hard structures in the engine compartment, the active hood softens the impact. The bumper, believe it or not, scored maximum points for legs protection in all test locations.
Moving on to the AEB high-speed test, the system performed well even at highway speeds according to the Euro NCAP. Audi offers speed assistance as standard too, but as an optional extra, the more advanced alternative can read the speed limit by means of a video camera, presenting the information to the driver on the instrument cluster.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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