First Drive: 2026 Audi A6 Is a Powerful, Quiet Sedan for Gobbling Up Highway Miles

But with frustrating controls and poor fuel economy, it doesn’t feel special compared with its few competitors

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated February 20, 2026

The redesigned 2026 Audi A6 competes against what automakers call “executive” sedans: cars for people who may regularly carry four adults, are comfortable spending $70,000 or so, and enjoy driving. That final item may be most important. As a sedan, the A6 is meant to offer handling agility that buyers won’t get with a bulky SUV like Audi’s Q8.

But the decline of sedan purchases shows that these buyers are getting harder for automakers to find. Audi sold just 6,897 A6s in the U.S. in 2025, while it sold 10,881 Q8s and 18,381 of the three-row Q7. In addition, the automaker sold 17,207 Q6 E-Trons and 3,931 A6 Sportback E-Trons, indicating that buyers were willing to choose an electric SUV or hatchback over a traditional sedan.

In this article

2026 Audi A6: CR's Take What We Like What We Don't Like What We'll Keep an Eye On Safety and Driver Assistance Systems

In redesigning the A6 sedan (instead of killing it off, as Audi did with the A4), Audi also cut down on engine choices, at least for the first year or so. The only powertrain is a 362-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), driving all four wheels. Unlike its BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class competitors, as well as the previous-generation A6, U.S versions of the 2026 A6 aren’t available with a small, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Despite the extra cylinders, it still undercuts the base price of the four-cylinder BMW and Mercedes by a few thousand dollars.

The redesigned A6 and the newly redesigned Q5 SUV and A5 sedan are all based on a shared vehicle design platform for internal-combustion vehicles that Audi calls Premium Platform Combustion. (Premium Platform Electric is used for the A6 E-Tron and Q6 E-Tron.) All of them share the Digital Stage infotainment system, which consists of an 11.9-inch display in front of the driver and a 14.5-inch center-mounted touchscreen for infotainment, climate, navigation, and other controls. They’re combined into what appears to be a single display screen, with the right side curved toward the driver. Prestige trims also include a 10.9-inch screen for the front-seat passenger.

The 2026 A6 Allroad raised wagon and RS 6 Avant high-performance wagon remain on the previous-generation platform. There’s no indication that an S6 sedan with a gas engine will be available, although there’s an S6 E-Tron all-electric model.

For 2026, the A6 sedan is available in three trim levels:
Premium: Starting at $64,100, it features 19-inch wheels, heated/ventilated front seats, and adaptive cruise control.
Premium Plus: Starting at $67,500, this trim adds lane centering assistance, a surround view camera system, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system, among other options.
Prestige: Starting at $71,400, it adds an adaptive air suspension, OLED taillights, speakers in the front headrests, an infotainment display for the front-seat passenger, and power door closing.

All have a $1,295 destination charge.

2026 Audi A6 front driving — The 2026 Audi A6's styling is a conservative blend of the previous generation and elements from the A6 E-Tron.

For our test, Consumer Reports bought a Premium Plus trim in order to evaluate the Adaptive Cruise Assist system, which allows the A6 to accelerate, decelerate, and stay within the travel lane at both city and highway speeds, including in traffic jams. It’s not available on the Premium trim.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the 2026 Audi A6 is available to you below. Once we complete 2,000 break-in miles, we’ll put the A6 through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical measurements of acceleration, braking, handling, child car seat fit, and usability. CR members will have access to the full road-test results as soon as they’re available.

Sign up for CR’s Cars email newsletter to be notified when we post our latest road-test results.

What we bought: 2026 Audi A6 Quattro
Powertrain: 362-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine; 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $64,100
Options: Daytona Gray paint, $595; Premium Plus package (adaptive cruise assist, Bang & Olufsen sound system, four-zone climate control, head-up display, headlight washers, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, Matrix LED headlights, park assist plus, power rear window and manual side window shades, top view camera) $3,400; S line black optic package (20-inch wheels, all-season run-flat tires, black exterior trim, dark chrome exhaust tips), $2,450; Audi Guard protection kit, $380; Audi Beam rings, $300; wheel lock kit, $150.
Destination fee: $1,295
Total cost: $72,670

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.