A6 3.0 TDI

Audi’s new-generation 3.0 TDI is nothing short of a gem. A thoroughly reworked motor that now has vastly reduced levels of internal friction, this V6 diesel is so good that it could be a game-changer for Audi.

For a start it rarely ever feels like a hulking big diesel, either in the manner in which it revs or even how it performs under load. It may not rev as enthusiastically as a BMW straight six nor have a pleasing snarl but apart from this, Audi’s V6 has the BMW licked.

First of all, idle is super smooth. There is no diesel clatter, only the faintest of vibrations filters through the bulkhead and this motor feels so smooth when you tap the accelerator that it all but purrs. And it’s very responsive as well. Accelerate away from a standstill and it responds almost petrol-like but with plenty of additional torque tossed in for good measure. Progress is pretty linear too. This motor makes an impressive 51kgm of torque from just 1400rpm, so even at 1200rpm, there’s a huge amount of pulling power ready to be tapped. At moderate revs there’s a quiet humming sound from under the hood and just punting the A6 around gives you the feeling you are driving a large-capacity V8.

Devastating is an overused word, but performance for the most part is just that. Once past 2000rpm, the motor just catapults you forward and the push in the back stays very firm all the way to 4000rpm, soon after which a quick upshift gets the whole process going again. And with approximately 245bhp being unleashed at this engine speed, the scenery comes flying at you with a vengeance. Zero to 100kph takes just 6.3 seconds, making this one of the fastest four-door cars in our market. Overtaking is merely a tap of the throttle away, and the massive bursts of power unleashed when you go full throttle are truly gratifying. This engine’s mid-range is its strength and the surge of power when you hit the sweet spot in the rev band is addictive. Get behind the wheel on an open road, and all you want to do is drive, drive and drive and when you get home here’s a motor you want to roll up, tuck under your arm and take with you.

Also well mated and well up to the task is Audi’s seven-speed twin-clutch automatic. Upshifts are a quick flick of the paddle-shift away and the gearbox shifts really well in manual mode too, increasing driving pleasure considerably. However, it does become a touch slow to downshift when cruising, and you can’t get away from the initial lag, typical of the twin-clutch system which you don’t experience in a conventional torque converter-equipped auto.

The new A6 is lighter, has more gears to play with and is also running an engine that boasts considerably reduced friction. So it’s no surprise that this car is much more efficient than the one it replaces. And that’s despite not having a fully integrated efficiency system similar to Merc’s BlueTEC or BMW’s Efficient Dynamics.
Our test showed that the A6 used a litre of diesel to travel 9.3km in city traffic conditions, and efficiency on the highway was 14.3kpl which is impressive for such a powerful saloon.