Overview & Reviews

Fast four-door sedans have been around forever, but the Audi S6 provides an enticing mix of people-friendly room, blistering speed, all-weather traction and brand-name cachet. Four generations of the S6 have graced our shores to date, though their sporadic appearances and truncated lifespans sure bring new meaning to the term "limited edition."

From the start, the S6's mission has been to be an extra-special, high-performance version of Audi's already special A6. It was achieved with more power, a sportier suspension and upgraded tires and brakes. The S6 has always been generous with the luxury content expected of Audi, and its midsize dimensions make it one of the better Audis for seating multiple passengers. Just keep in mind that the S6 focuses on performance, and as such its ride quality is harder-edged than that of other Audi vehicles.

Current Audi S6
Front and center for the newest Audi S6 is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that's rated at 420 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. All of this is channeled through a seven-speed automated dual-clutch manual transmission and distributed to all four wheels. Audi estimates this midsize luxury sport sedan will sprint to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

As with any Audi, the S6's interior features the type of understated luxury that the brand is known for. With its uncluttered design aesthetic and top-notch materials, the cabin is as functional as it is attractive. On top of this, standard and optional features include a sport-tuned adaptive air suspension with variable damping, adaptive cruise control, various driver and safety assistants, night vision, carbon-ceramic brakes, adaptive LED headlights, mobile WiFi, massaging seats and a navigation system with touchpad and handwriting recognition.

Behind the wheel, the S6 effectively splits the difference between big-motor luxury sedans and maniacal ultra-performance models. In this way, it may not offer the sports car acceleration and handling of the latter, but it's also more comfortable and suitable for occasionally taking Mom out for a Sunday drive.

Used Audi S6 Models
After a one-year hiatus, the S6 returned for 2013. This represents the fourth generation of the performance-focused version of the A6. Compared to the previous, V10-powered S6, this one offers similar road-burning performance along with greater fuel efficiency and a less nose-heavy front end that contributes to improved handling. Other than lacking a standard blind-spot warning system and power-folding mirrors (which were optional), this S6 is identical to the current version.

The third-generation Audi S6 was produced from 2007-'11. Of all the iterations, this was perhaps the most maniacal, as it was powered by a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-liter V10. Although it was detuned, it still produced 425 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The sole transmission offered was a six-speed automatic. Despite this impressive-sounding pedigree, this S6 was unfortunately disappointing. In the end, it was slower than the supercharged V6-powered A6 3.0T, and lagged even further behind its contemporary rivals.

In the handling department, it didn't fare any better. With 59 percent of its weight up front, the car suffered from significant understeer. It wasn't particularly comfortable either, as standard 19-inch wheels and a stiffly calibrated sport suspension produced a bone-jarring ride. Overall, competitors such as the BMW M5 or Cadillac CTS-V would be a better choice for a midsize sport sedan. Over its four-year run, this S6 saw few changes. There were slight styling tweaks for '09, while the MMI electronics interface and navigation system were given a welcome upgrade for 2010.

Available only for 2002-'03, the second-generation S6 featured a torquey 4.2-liter V8 whose 340 horses were made more accessible by a five-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. Oddly, this edition of the S6 came as an Avant (Audi-speak for "station wagon") only, which was partly responsible for its 2-ton curb weight and scarce availability.

Zero-to-60-mph acceleration was in the low 6-second range, and the car's lowered and stiffened suspension and 17-inch wheels and tires made it a potent handler, with grip similar to that of the current S6. Other pluses included its opulent interior and ample standard features list; the wagon's big drawback was its unimpressive gas mileage. Though hard to find, a used second-generation Audi S6 wagon offers an intriguing blend of performance and utility.

Born at a time when Audi's model-naming system was in flux, the first-generation S6 officially came to life (and death) in 1995, though essentially the same car had been sold for a few years previous as the S4. Available as both a sedan and a wagon, the original Audi S6 offered an eccentric turbocharged, 227-hp five-cylinder engine, working through a manual transmission to drive all four wheels. While performance was decent for the day, this iteration of the S6 never made much of a mark on the history books.

User Reviews:

Showing 41 through 50 of 78.00

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  S6Avant - 2002 Audi S6
  By horch - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned a number of Audis over the last twenty years and this certainly has intended acceleration.

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  Audi S6 will spoil you for ever. Sorry! - 2003 Audi S6
  By expresso - December 6 - 2:00 am

  bought the beautiful wagon for my wifes birthday after 6 volvos.J ust bought a 2nd S6 because its comfortable, classy, very fast, fun like Nascar, and now i can drive my own. just plane sweet meat a treat for the feet and you wont get beat in the real racing seat. "Best car I have ever had" says the little woman. Very Reliable. Absolutely blow your kids hair and minds when you press the peddle on the way to school... but the cops think youre a little, albeit, cute wagon! Ha! Yeah, right! 340hp mama at 07:30 am dont need no starbucks to get a buzz.

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  Great family car with spunk. - 2003 Audi S6
  By irekski - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Weve owned the car for over a year, and we enjoy driving it very much. Its powerful, but also practical. Its great in snow, too, provided you get yourself some winter tires.

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  S6 Wagon - 1995 Audi S6
  By Maine-iac - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I just sold my 2002 S4 sedan so that I could get my not-so-new 1995.5 S6 Wagon with 99,000 miles on it. So far, I couldnt be happier with my decision. The wagon has tons of room, creature comforts, power and handling. It is also fantanstic in the snow, even with ordinary all-season tires. This car is faster than the 227 bhp figure suggests, partcularly when you figure in the massive torque available at full boost. My wagon dusts my fathers 2002 A6 2.7 bi-turbo every time. And, I think its a better looking and more useful vehicle.

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  S6 the amazing machine - 1995 Audi S6
  By dns s6 - July 18 - 2:00 am

  as a previous audi owner, I never imagined what the S6 would be like. My first audi was an A4 with a V6 and Tiptronic transmission, which performed very well, but nothing compared to the S6. The S6 is truly one of the best performing sedans on the road, given its Quattro AWD System and its 5 cylinder turbo and 5-speed transmission, as well as its looks and interior features, i.e. leather bucket seats. It is definetly a high quality well built machine.

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  Amazing - 1995 Audi S6
  By Skeptik - May 27 - 2:00 am

  Simply one of the best, most underestimated cars ever built.

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  Best in Class - 1995 Audi S6
  By love my S6 - May 26 - 2:00 am

  Best car Ive ever owned...incredible handling, and you get every one of the 227hp on demand - its much more powerful than other vehicles with similar hp ratings. It looks like a family sedan on the outside, but gives the driver a special thrill. Maintainence is expensive, although Ive only had a single repair in 121000 miles....

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  The do it all super car - 2003 Audi S6
  By bdaquila - May 19 - 2:00 am

  I have been searching for five years to find the ultimate combination of performance, practicality, luxury, and understated styling. This car has and does it all. While the RS6 beets this hands down, this car has more than enough oomph and rail-like handling to make me smile from ear to ear. Beside, have you tried stuffing a few kids and a few dogs with associated gear into your uber-sedan for a treck acroos the country? Also, exactly where do you live that the roads and the cops will let you test the limits of your double turbo Porsche?

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  S6 Avant - 1995 Audi S6
  By lemans - March 11 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding vehicle!! Safe, fast and usefull.

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  Audi doesnt get it yet - 2003 Audi S6
  By mountains - March 7 - 2:00 am

  The car is really fun to drive, but the front seats are not the Recaros with the adjustable thigh bolster that the manual shows and there is very little thigh support. The real problem is Audi dealers. They never tell the whole truth when you buy the car - every deal is a one- shot relationship. Until Audi gets its dealers to act like human beings, buying and owning an Audi will be a constant source of irritation and frustration. Is it worth it? With all the competing products on the market, I doubt it. Audi dealers are the worst I have ever encountered.