First Drive Audi A6 Matrix – It Blew Past Its Merc and BMW Rivals
Audi launched the A6 Matrix at Rs 49.5 Lakh in India. Here is the first drive of the luxury car.
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Audi launched a facelift to their luxury sedan the A6 in India, and now they call it the A6 Matrix.
The A6 Matrix comes with a new engine, a new seven-speed S tronic transmission, Matrix LED headlights and an advanced infotainment system – at a price of Rs 49,50,000 (ex-showroom New Delhi and Mumbai).
This is the sixth launch for Audi this year after the launch of the Audi R8 LMX, Audi RS 7 Sportback, Audi TT Coupé, Audi RS 6 Avant and theAudi Q3.
We took the car out for a spin in Udaipur, Rajasthan and here is what we think about the car.
Watch: First Drive of Audi A6 Matrix
What’s Inside the Matrix?
For starters, there is just one car variant of the Audi A6 Matrix. No optionals, no non-sense. Just one fully loaded car.
Audi has adopted the trickle down philosophy really well on their cars. So the A6 Matrix shares a lot of features that were in the Audi A8.
The best one is the Matrix LED headlights on the car, that adapts to the terrain and driving conditions by itself.
Right now the A6 Matrix comes in only one engine option— the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine that churns out 190 bhp (140 kW). The engine is mated to a seven-speed S-tronic transmission.
The A6 Matrix can do a 0-100 kmph in 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 226 km/h. The car delivered us a fuel economy in the dynamic mode of 10.2 Km/l and Audi claims that the car is capable of delivering a fuel-efficiency of 18.53 km/l.
The company has improved the power output of the engine by 7% and fuel-efficiency by 5%, compared to the outgoing model. The car weighs 1,830 kg.
The A6 Matrix gets spacious and luxurious interiors. The quality of the four-zone automatic AC, sunroof and electrically-adjustable front seats with driver-side memory function all works well.
The Bose surround-sound system with a 600-watt output never disappoints you, irrespective of the music genre you like. The seats of the car are wrapped in high-quality Milano leather and the front passenger seat can be electrically adjustable from the rear for additional legroom.
In India like many of these big luxury sedans the A6 Matrix also would mostly be used by a chauffeur and yet you cannot recline the rear seats, which was a bit of a bummer.
The rear-seat passenger also gets a remote control, to tinker around with on-board goodies that are present in the car.
The Modular Infotainment Platform (MMI) on the A6 Matrix is a 8-inch monitor that can be operated using voice commands.
The next Gen MMI can do almost anything for you, and the best part is that integrates with Google Now and Siri on your Android smartphone or iPhone.
Apart from the cars own search option, you can now use your phones artificial assistants with ease on the car.
What we are waiting from Audi now is to see a touch screen MMI panel on one of their cars in this price range.
How Is It To Drive?
Like many Audi’s the A6 Matrix also comes with Audi Drive Select, which now has four modes—auto, comfort, dynamic and the new individual mode.
You can customise the cars characteristics as per your driving needs. It’s one great car to drive, and if you buy one, we request you not to give to your chauffeur.
The car has ample power to catapult you while overtaking high speed traffic on the highway. The cars gets anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution and the hydraulic brake assist are so responsive that you feel in control throughout the drive.
In city traffic the A6 Matrix is a very easy car to drive. The steering is quite responsive in the comfort mode and becomes heavy while in dynamic mode.
The instrument panel behind the wheel of the car also gives the driver loads of information that is sometimes unnecessary as well. But, what we liked was that the driver gets the navigation maps tight behind his steering.
To show-off the A6 Matrix can even do wheel-spins with the traction control on. That to us was impressive engineering.
The A6 Matrix also comes loaded with Hill-descent control, electronic stabilisation control and for passenger safety, there are as many as eight airbags in the car.
The best bit of the A6 Matrix is that it comes standard with adaptive air suspension. You don’t get cars in this price range from its competitors like BMW and Mercedes Benz with this feature.
Adaptive Air suspension not only does let you raise the car if you encounter a bad road, it also changes character depending on which mode you’ve chosen in the Drive Select menu.
Should You Buy it?
Audi A6 Matrix is one great luxury sedan and it’s not confusing at all. The company gives you just one variant, which comes at a great price point for Rs 49.50 lakhs.
For features like adaptive air suspension, voice-command, James Bond like blinds, a brilliant infotainment panel etc., you have to pay a bomb if you go for a BMW 5 series or a Mercedes Benz E class. But all of these are standard features on the A6 Matrix.
Audi just give you everything on the A6 matrix. Not to miss out on the luxurious cabin, striking looks and a decent fuel efficiency.
The A6 has been a success story for Audi in India, the A6 Matrix is going to be the best one till date.
If we had the money, we’ll pick this one up any-day over a BMW 5-Series or the Mercedes Benz E Class in India right away.
Key Specifications: Audi A6 Matrix
Engine: Inline four-cylinder diesel engine with VTG turbocharger, DOHC, TDI direct injection.
Transmission: 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission
Top Speed: 226 Km/h
Acceleration 0-100 Km/h: 8.5 Seconds
Power: 190 BHP
Torque: 400 Nm
Price: Rs 49,50,000 (ex-showroom New Delhi and Mumbai)
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