2015 Audi A6 Matrix 35 TDI review, test drive

What’s it like to drive?

The new engine first, and though it uses the same 1,968cc displacement and single-turbo layout as before, power is up from 174bhp to 188bhp and torque from 38.7kgm to 41kgm. And of course, there’s the new gearbox, but power on the four-cylinder car still goes to the front wheels only – there’s no Quattro AWD on the A6, and it will only likely return if and when Audi decides to launch V6 and V8-powered variants; shame. It does, however, get Audi Drive Select as standard, which means you can choose between Comfort, Dynamic, Auto and Individual driving modes, to alter engine, gearbox, steering and suspension behaviour.

The first impression you get when you put your foot down, however, is that it’s no more powerful than the last car; in fact it feels a little overwhelmed this time around. Look down at the rapidly building numbers on the speedometer, however, and you’ll realise that it really isn’t. The power is all there, but the character of this motor has completely changed. A strong mid-range punch is a characteristic of older, less powerful versions of this engine, but the new one is so smooth and linear that it just masks its power completely. I have no doubt it will turn out respectable acceleration times when we give it a proper test sometime in the future. While that might be a little disappointing for enthusiastic drivers, you have to admit it’s better suited to application in a luxury sedan. It also feels a lot more refined than before, and the loud clatter typical of this 2.0 TDI engine is only seriously audible outside the car.

Though the old Multitronic was one of the best CVTs around, there was still no escaping that annoying rubberband effect, especially when you wanted a quick burst of power, say, for overtaking. The new dual-clutch gearbox, then is a very welcome change, and though it can be a tad hesitant to respond to kickdowns, the shifts themselves are very quick; just try and use the paddles and you’ll know what I mean.

Standard on the car is adaptive air suspension, which is a unique feature in this segment. Not only does it let you raise the car if you encounter a bad road, but it also changes character depending on which mode you’ve chosen in the Drive Select menu. The differences don’t seem obvious at first and the ride overall is very compliant either way. It’s only when you go faster that you notice Dynamic mode offers a little bit of relief from the mild float you get from Comfort mode on the highway, or body roll in corners. Interestingly, the larger wheels don’t seem to have impacted the ride much at all. The steering, as ever, isn’t high on feedback, but the added weight in Dynamic mode, though a touch artificial, is certainly welcome.