There used to be a time when you could buy a small Audi, a medium one and a big one. But today, the brand is exploring every nice, which makes sedans seem rather boring. Not the all-new 2020 model year A6, which arrived in America to do battle with the Mercedes E-Class.
There's no question which is the underdog here, something this review somehow fails to mention. Since 2015, the E-Class has sold almost 50,000 units in America per year, but the Audi A6 only manages about a third of that. so can this all-new generation, the C8, spice things up a bit?
According to this review from Auto Guide, it can, with the A6 being superior in quite a few areas. But if you pay close enough attention, you'll notice everything is a trade.
One good example of this is the engine. The new A5 55 TFSI uses a 3-liter turbo what's got good low-end punch thanks to the 48V mild-hybrid system. It's also better on fuel by about 2mpg combined. Horsepower sits at 335 HP, which is actually a bit lower than the E 450 with 362 HP. Torque is the same for both of them (369 lb-ft), but the E-Class accelerates faster. So who do you give this point to?
Mercedes now has twin-turbocharged inline-6 mills with available hybrid technology. But the E 450 is a little old and uses a classy bi-turbo V6. But as in other models, the thing that's actually holding it back from feeling sporty is the 9-speed automatic which Mercedes developed.
Exterior styling should always favor the newest model, and we think it does in this case. The new A6 is sharper with more attention-grabbing headlights. However, some people will still think the E-Class is better... as the sales numbers already reveal.
As for the interior, Audi are said to be the masters. Like the bigger A7 and A8, this new A6 has twin screens in a futuristic layout. The digital dashboard is also better, more flexible than the one in the E-Class. But you can never accuse the Mercedes of not being luxurious. But it has fewer features at the moment, which is what the German uber experience is all about.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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