Again, there is a battle with BMW and Mercedes over this class of motoring, but in this instance, Audi is far closer to the top of the league. Not only has Audi produced an amazingly refined executive car, but they have given it performance to match many major sports cars.
Not to be considered if what you are after is a small little economic run around, the A6 is a beast. And a beast that won the world car of the year award when it was launched.
The thing is ushered along by a wide range of engines: a 2.4ltr V6 petrol engine, a 3.2ltr V6 and a strong 4.2ltr V8, without the 2.0ltr four-cylinder and the 2.7ltr and 3.0ltr V6 turbodiesels.
Audi have outdone themselves with build quality, with both external panels and interior trim of a standard to give you goose bumps. The body is extremely stiff and has become one of a small band of cars to manage five-stars in the crash tests. Lots of safety devices are standard and security is up there with the best.
The car is cavernous, with acres of passenger space, both head and leg, and a boot you could hold a conference in. Obviously, equipment levels are high, but peripheral devices are all controlled through a central control panel, so the more there is the harder it is to learn how to use them.
Insurance groups range from 13 to 20 with the monolithic S6 taking it to the top group.
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Audi A6.