Audi’s A6 recently got a mid-generation facelift and is now called the A6 Matrix. The luxury sedan is one of the best-selling cars of the company after the A4.
It’s called the A6 Matrix because of its Martix LED headlamps, that are big on technology as well as safety.
Priced at Rs 49.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the car competes with the likes of BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The Looks
The Audi A6 Matrix just like its German rivals has an amazing road presence. The four rings on that big grille bring out the character and gives the car a subtle look.
The Matrix LEDs give the car cat-like feature. The LEDs use an adaptive high-beam assist that detects oncoming cars and shuts off individual LED diodes so as not to blind the driver.
This adds to the safety during night and highway driving.
At 4933 mm in length, it’s the longest car one can buy in its class. The new front and rear bumper design along with a twin rectangular exhausts give it some aggression. The 18-inch wheels also add a bit of muscle to the car.
Watch: First Drive of The Audi A6 Matrix
The Good
Unlike its competition, the Audi A6 Matrix comes in just one variant, diesel. And yes, you get the entire package. It’s a fully loaded car which comes with a customisation option to suit your taste.
It has a 2-litre diesel engine that churns out 190 bhp of power and 400 Nm of torque. The company has also got rid of the Multitronic CVT transmission and has opted for a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox on the A6 Matrix.
This has increased the fuel efficiency of the luxury sedan. The car on a 700 km highway and city run gave us a fuel efficiency of 13.2 km/l. That’s impressive for a luxury sedan with a 1968cc engine. It’s more powerful than the earlier version of the A6 and has the capability of doing a 0-100 km/h dash in just 8.5 seconds and can reach speeds up to 226 km/h.
The car is immensely comfortable and easy to drive and if you’re someone who prefers to be driven around, then, the backseat is just as good.
This is also largely due to the adaptive suspension that the A6 Matrix comes with, especially if you keep the car in Auto mode. It lets you raise the car if you encounter a bad road and also changes character depending on which mode you’ve chosen in the Drive Select menu.
Adaptive suspension is something that’s unique to Audi in this segment. The Bose sound system on the car delivers a balanced audio experience. There is almost zero road noise inside the cabin and the clarity of the infotainment unit did surprise us.
The Bad
The Audi A6 Matrix is a front wheel drive car. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive technology is missing from the new A6. That’s a bit of a bummer, you do expect the car to have it all at a price point of almost Rs 50 lakh.
It’s also not the most powerful luxury sedan in the segment. The Mercedes-Benz E- Class has 204 bhp of power, that’s 15 more than what you get on the A6 Matrix.
But, the E-Class won’t get you the kind of fuel efficiency that the A6 Matrix promises.
The Rivals
The Audi A6 Matrix goes up against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series. And it basically gives you everything that you’ll find in its competitors. The only advantage with an Audi A6 Matrix is that it’s competitively priced against its rivals at Rs 49.50 lakh.
Verdict
Audi has thoroughly done their homework with the A6 Matrix. They give you a complete package with luxury, style, performance, technology and fuel efficiency, all packed in one car. And coupled with the price, its great value for money.
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