The all-new Audi A6 3.0 turbo diesel wasout. There was no time to waste. We didwhat had to be done – pit it against its twovery close competitors in the luxury car segment
Story: Sarmad Kadiri
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN. WHENEVER ONE OFthe three German luxury car-makers introduces a new model, we cannot help comparing it with the other two. How then could we resist this temptation when we got our hands on the all-new Audi A6 3.0 turbo diesel? Sharing centre-stage with it are the popular BMW 530d and Mercedes Benz 350 CDI. However, writing this comparo is not an easy task. It wasn’t that complicated a few years ago, because each of the three brands used to have very distinctive characteristics. BMW was the obvious choice for a driving enthusiast, Mercedes-Benz for those who liked to be chauffeured in the lap of luxury and Audi for those who wanted a bit of both and some exclusivity. It’s not that easy any longer, as BMW has become softer to drive, Mercedes has become rather spry and Audi claims to be all that and some more. As they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. So let’s get going.
It’s interesting that we picked the diesel variants even though all these three cars also come with petrol motors that promise to be the epitome of refi nement and are, more often than not, quicker off the mark. This change of heart is also visible in the recent luxury car purchase trends. Let me clarify, more people nowadays prefer diesel luxury cars to petrol ones. This is not only due to the price difference of over Rs 25-30 per litre, but also because these oil-burners are now capable of staggering performance and yet are cleaner with low CO2 emissions. They are also unbelievably low on vibration and noise.
The top-of-the-line 3.0 TDI is not the only diesel variant, for Audi are planning to introduce a smaller 2.0 TDI version soon, which will cater, if I may say so, to the mass segment of the luxury range. But for now let’s stick to the Audi 3.0 that comes with all the boxes checked and its very competent rivals.
DESIGN AND STYLE
The Audi A6 is a spitting image of its elder sibling, the A8, albeit a size smaller. Now the A6 looks more aggressive, especially from the front. The large single-frame grille carries bevelled upper corners and the wide air intakes add to the effect. What make this car stand out are the optional LED headlights, which extend outwards and are placed in an angle to give the car a sporty stance. The strong shoulder-line runs through the side of the car, beginning at the headlights and meeting the trapezoidal tail-lights at the rear. These back-lights ably complement the LED headlamps and look great when they light up, specially after dark. The car runs on 225/55 R17 tyres, which may not make it as appealing as low-profile tyres, but we soon found out that it did amazing things to the ride quality and braking. The boot lid bears the outline of a spoiler lip, hinting at the car’s ability to reach high speeds. The Audi is the longest and wider than the other two cars under consideration here, but smart exterior design like its sleek pillars and coupé-like design help in disguising this virtue. Surprisingly, the 5-series appears to be the biggest in size, thanks to its muscular design and the long, countered bonnet. It also has the largest wheelbase of 2,968 millimetres, which is closely followed by the A6. The BMW also sticks to the family design as it resembles big brother 7-series quite a lot. Personally, I preferred the looks of the last generation five more than the current one. But with time the new 5-series grows on you. The bulging kidney grille and the bangle-eyed headlamps make a great pair. The sloping roof-line and the Hofmeister kink in the rear underscore BMW’s design philosophy.
Coming to the three-point star, even the E-Class carries some design highlights from the bigger S-Class. It has crisp lines and seems to be crafted like a business suit. It is the oldest design of the lot, yet it is ageing gracefully and still manages to hold your attention. In dimension, the E-Class is the tallest at 1,471 mm, but remains smaller in terms of length and breadth. This also translates into smaller cabin space. The 245/45 R17 tyres give it a nice proportion, but at the cost of the supple ride quality Mercedes-Benz are know for.
INTERIOR
The Audi’s interior is very futuristic, with a great combination of wood, chrome inserts, soft plastic and fine-grain leather. It maintains the plush feel with the right dash of sportiness. Push start the car and the large centre display swoops up in style. The high-resolution graphics the MMI display offers are unparalleled and far superior to Merc’s Command and BMW’s iDrive. The seats in the Audi are well padded, offer good lumbar support, look rather sporty and can be adjusted in various ways to suit the driver’s need. There are plenty of cubbyholes and the steering, like the other two cars’, has gear pedal-shifts. The rear seats are low and comfortable. The best part of the cabin is that even though it has a coupé-like roof, it feels airy, thanks to the sleek pillars and low dashboard. This makes driving and specially parking highly pleasurable.
The BMW interior design is very basic and lacks the flair of the new-age Audi design. The dashboard is split, distinguished by good quality black and beige plastic, but might feel high for an average Indian, hampering visibility. There is less clutter and it may appear to be bland to some. The iDrive also seems a little cumbersome to navigate through. The driving position is great. The seats are wide but firm and not as padded as the Audi’s. The BMW has recently received some technology upgrades such as a reverse camera to assist parking, a satellite navigation system and a heads-up display, to name a few. It also has two screens and plug-in sockets for the rear passengers who can plug their Xbox for games or even watch Hollywood blockbuster as the chauffeur struggles through the traffic. The build quality and material used is top-class, but appears bland in the face of competition.
The all-black dashboard on the Mercedes is very neatly stacked and allows extra elbow room because the gear-shift is placed on the steering column. The Mercedes’ build quality is unquestionable and in no way behind its rivals. The E-Class interior, until a couple of years ago, was the best in the segment. With time, however, it has started looking a bit dated. Even the equipment level is comparatively low with no reverse camera or no satellite navigation and limited controls on the Command system.
POWERTRAIN AND TECHNOLOGY
All these three cars have three-litre motors under their hoods,the Audi and Mercedes having the V6 arrangement and theBMW staying true to its tradition of in-line six. The A6 uses a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission, while BMW’s eight-speed and Mercedes’ seven-speed use the conventional torque converter. The Mercedes and BMW are rear wheel driven saloons and the Audi uses the quattro system to power all four wheels, endowing each car with a very different driving experience. The Audi has an advantage as the four-wheel drive system ensures that there is no front washout on loose gravel or wet roads. This gives the driver of the A6 supreme confidence while carving quick corners.
The Audi is powered by a very capable 2,967-cc turbo diesel engine, which is rather quiet for a diesel and which can churnout 248 PS of maximum power. Although its healthy 500 Nmof torque is 40 Nm lower than each of the other two cars, itspins into action at just 1,400 RPM, whereas the Mercedes and BMW have to wait until 1,600 and 1,750 revolutions, respectively, for the torque to kick in. Under the three-point star hood is a 2,987-cc, 229 PS, 540 Nm mill, which, on higher revolutions,can be heard inside the cabin. The BMW’s in-line six 2,993-cc motor is a delight for an enthusiast. The 0-100 km/h figures,like the power specs, do not vary much. It’s not just because of their flat-out performance that people buy these cars, but easeof use in the city. The linear fashion in which the Mercedes delivers power is what makes it special. It is not like theAudi’s free-revving and very peppy mill and lacks BMW’sstrong top end, but has sufficient power for daily use and one would hardly feel the difference in power unless one drives all three cars one after the other.
The Mercedes’ seven-speed gearbox also takes a fraction longer to react, but the gear shifts are smooth, though not as slick as DSG. The BMW, on the other hand, has a great ZF eight-speed transmission that’ll compliments the powerful motor, squeezing every ounce of juice from it. The gear shifts are quick and precise. Although the engine can rev up to the red line, it is not as refined and smooth as the A6’s. Inside the Audi, the driver is insulated from NVH 
– it hardly has any, comparatively speaking. The all-new 3.0 TDI has set a new benchmark in the segment. It feels happy to kiss the red line and is resilient even when pushed to the limit. We managed to take the car way past 200 km/h, yet there was no sign of strain whatever. The power-band is so well spread out that there is no sign of slack. It seems as comfortable crawling on the stop-start, chock-a-block city roads as on open highways. Its silk-smooth performance sets it in a class apart from the rivals.
RIDE AND HANDLING
This is one of the most interesting parts of this shootout. These German manufactures have blurred the distinctive traits they were known for until now. Take, for instance, the BMW. It has become softer. The Mercedes has moved towards the fi rmer side and the Audi lies somewhere in between. The A6 and 5-series feature adjustable air springs, while the E-Class features coil springs with variable dampers. One of the reasons for this sudden transformation is the tyre size. With time, BMW adapted to the Indian demands and, as I mentioned earlier, this car runs on 225/55 R17 rubber, like the Audi. This has improved the ride quality at low speeds and hardly feels like the older BMWs. When it gains momentum, though, a good amount of road bumps fi lter through the cabin, shaking up the car occupants and unsettling the car’s composure. Having said that, the new electronically assisted steering of the Six is comparatively heavy and seems to offer the quickest response. It does give good feedback, but is not as responsive as the previous Five’s.
The E-Class rides on low-profile tyres and, though not exactly unsettling, it is on the stiffer side, which is very unlike Mercedes. When you do the pedal-to-metal, the ride improves as the conventional frequency selective damper stiffens up to absorb the road irregularities, giving it an ideal high-speed ride quality. The steering is light and, like the car, feels a little laid-back and not as sharp as the Audi’s.
The A6 has adjusted the ‘Comfort’ and ‘Dynamic’ modes perfectly to the T. With its dual personality the Audi can take low speed and rubber-smoking speed in its stride equally well. The ‘Comfort’ mode makes the ride quality a posh experience at low speeds and, when you feel like pushing the envelope, all it takes is a push of a button and you feel as if you are riding on rails. There is hardly any body-roll. It remains comfortable throughout. On the steering front, the A6 again takes the lead by perfectly balancing its sporty yet comfortable characteristics. The perfectly weighed steering has a quick response and offers surgeon-like precision.
Verdict
the BMW has a stunning engine, but lacks refinement or performance of the Audi. It has adapted to the Indian buyers’ needs and has become softer than before, but still the ride quality remains harder than the Mercedes’ and Audi’s, because of the run-flat tyres which have harder side walls compared to normal tubeless tyres. It still does not offer a space-saver spare wheel and the overall design lacks zing.
While the Mercedes is about 100 kg heavier than the kerb weight of both the BMW and the Audi, the E-Class remains solidly built, evidenced by things like the thud made by its tank-like doors when they are shut. though it has a poor fuel economy and does not involve the driver as much, it remains one of the plushest rides in the business. In the last couple of years the Mercedes has aged gracefully. It is not as swank as the Audi. the three-point star comes with a long heritage that guarantees admiration.
Although Audi have not officially announced the price of the A6, it will be at par with the segment, which is about Rs 50 lakh. the A6 made things easy for us by staying ahead in all the parameters. It is the fastest, its 3.0 tDI is quiet, velvet-smooth and free from any clatter or vibration that diesel motors are known for. Its LED lights are a segment first, while the ride quality and handing have taken things to the next level. Its adaptability makes it extremely driver-friendly. stacked with technology, the interior is exceptionally well finished and has the right touch of sportiness. this offering from Ingolstadt has set a new benchmark in the luxury segment of cars and the competitors sure have some catching up to do.
