Interior
reviewed by
Audi obviously understands that luxury-car buyers like to indulge themselves. So, they offer three different interior "atmospheres." These design motifs -- dubbed "Ambition," "Ambiente" and "Advance" -- each offer distinct upholstery and wood or aluminum trim. Our test model came in Ambiente, featuring sycamore wood.
Everywhere you look in Audi's well-appointed cabin, you'll appreciate the attention to detail. The A6's leather-upholstered seats have a luxurious crinkled look and are among the most comfortable available. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat adapts to a wide range of body shapes and sizes. One neat touch for those with lower-back problems is the power lumbar support that can be fine-tuned to lend upper-, mid- or lower-lumbar support.
Other classy touches include map pockets that snap outward on hinges, then close with a smart click. Grab handles retract into little cubbies when not in use. The front and rear seats are heated, and the heating/cooling vents offer separate temperature controls for driver and passenger. The rear seat also is equipped with heating/cooling vents, cupholders and a cigarette lighter/power receptacle. The cold-weather package includes a heated steering wheel.
The stereo serves up top-drawer sound and the controls are well designed. Unfortunately, the trip computer is somewhat bewildering at first, requiring a trip to the owner's manual for guidance. Our favorite feature on the elegant dashboard is the unique red-on-black instrument lighting. At night they give the cabin a warm, high-tech glow. Though startling at first, once you've adjusted to them they offer reduced glare for improved night vision. Fighter pilots have used red gauges for years for this reason. Legibility suffers slightly, but you can fix this by adjusting the brightness down to about the halfway point.
Front-seat legroom is prodigious. The rear seat also offers plenty of knee- and legroom. At 38.5 inches, front headroom is ample. Furthermore, clever engineering has resulted in generous trunk space.
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