First Drive: The 2026 Audi A6 TFSI 

by Victoria Roth

Elevating the Business Class Experience

Audi’s A6 has long occupied a quiet but confident space in the luxury sedan segment — never the loudest or flashiest, but consistently one of the most complete. For 2026, that philosophy remains intact, but nearly everything else is new. Now in its ninth generation, the A6 represents a meaningful reset: more standard technology, higher baseline performance, and — for the first time — access to S-model-inspired chassis hardware within an A model configuration.

Thanks to Audi of America, we recently spent time behind the wheel of the all-new 2026 A6 TFSI on the scenic desert highways and mountain roads surrounding Palm Springs, California. During the drive, we sampled two Prestige-trim A6 sedans, each configured to highlight a different side of the model’s personality. One was equipped with the Sport plus package, while the other featured the Audi exclusive design package. Together, they demonstrated how broadly the new A6 can stretch — from near S-like driving character to tailored executive luxury.

For this First Drive review, we’ll focus on our initial driving impressions and the most meaningful updates — which are plentiful — to Audi’s mid-size executive sedan, with a more comprehensive, in-depth review to come in the Q2 issue of quattro Magazine.

Exterior Design: Subtle Confidence

The new A6 strikes a refined balance between elegance and athleticism. While still understated and confident without feeling ostentatious, the body lines are beautifully executed and striking in person. There’s a clear sense of sophistication, with just enough edge to hint at the A6’s performance potential — a balance that feels very true to Audi’s design language.

Powertrain and Real-World Performance

For 2026, Audi raises the performance baseline. The A6 launches with a revised 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 7-speed S tronic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive.

Compared to the outgoing generation, this translates to noticeably stronger midrange acceleration and more immediate real-world response. On the road, power delivery feels effortless. Acceleration builds quickly but smoothly, often masking just how fast the car is traveling. Even when pushed, the experience remains composed and refined rather than dramatic.

The transmission is quick and precise, particularly in Dynamic mode, but never feels abrupt. It strikes an excellent balance between performance capability and everyday comfort.

Two Personalities: Sport Plus and Audi Exclusive

The most meaningful difference between the two cars we tested was overall character rather than appearance. Both are unmistakably A6 — but they express that identity differently.

Sport plus Package: Performance-Leaning A6

The Sport plus configuration replaces the comfort air suspension with a lowered sport steel suspension and pairs it with all-wheel steering, a quattro sport rear differential, and performance summer tires — effectively bringing elements traditionally reserved for S models into the A6.

Even with this more performance-focused setup, the car never feels demanding. Instead, it feels incredibly poised — the kind that encourages you to drive quickly without feeling like you’re working hard to do so.

Acceleration is deceptively quick, building speed with a smooth, effortless surge. Steering response is a defining characteristic. The combination of rear sport differential and all-wheel steering makes the front end feel immediate and precise, while steering weight builds naturally as cornering forces increase.

Through sweeping curves and tighter mountain transitions, grip levels feel tremendous. The chassis feels beautifully balanced, and transitions between inputs feel immediate yet smooth. Braking performance reinforces that confidence, delivering strong initial bite with predictable pedal feel.

You do feel slightly more road texture compared to the air suspension setup, but it never crosses into harshness — instead enhancing driver connection while remaining comfortable for long drives.

Audi Exclusive + Comfort-Focused Setup: Executive A6

The Audi exclusive interior-equipped car leans more toward the traditional A6 identity — refined, composed, and quietly confident.

With adaptive air suspension, the car continuously adjusts ride height and damping based on drive mode, prioritizing smoothness in Comfort while tightening control in Dynamic. The result is a drive that feels effortless over longer distances.

Compared to the Sport plus configuration, this setup absorbs surface imperfections with slightly more isolation while still maintaining impressive body control.

Both trims delivered exceptional ride quality, though the comfort air suspension-equipped car had a slight edge in overall smoothness and long-distance comfort.

Refinement: A Major Generational Step

One of the most noticeable generational changes is overall mechanical polish. Updates to drivetrain mounting, transmission refinement, and acoustic tire technology contribute to a meaningful reduction in vibration and harshness compared to the previous generation.

On the road, this translates into a cabin that feels calm and settled even in challenging conditions — enhancing both comfort and driver focus.

Technology That Supports the Drive

Inside, the new A6 feels noticeably more modern. Audi’s Digital Stage incorporates OLED driver and center displays, along with an available passenger display supporting independent navigation views, media playback, and app streaming — including YouTube — with available Bluetooth headphone connectivity. While designed to be visually shielded from the driver, we found it can still be partially visible, though it never felt intrusive.

Expanded driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise assist, help reduce fatigue during longer drives while maintaining strong road connection. Headrest-integrated speakers are a subtle but meaningful addition, allowing navigation prompts and communication audio to be localized to the driver.

Many of the comfort and technology features we experienced — including adaptive air suspension, the passenger display, headrest-integrated speakers, and dual-pane acoustic glass — are standard or primarily available on Premium Plus and Prestige trims. That said, the Premium trim also sees meaningful increases in standard technology and ADAS features versus the outgoing C8 generation.

Panoramic Roof and Cabin Atmosphere

The variable-light panoramic glass roof uses segmented technology to adjust light transmission across different sections, increasing perceived spaciousness while helping maintain temperature control and cabin isolation.

Some may view the lack of an opening glass panel as a downside; however, the execution is impressive. Adjustable opacity levels allow occupants to tailor light entry while maintaining comfort and cabin refinement.

Initial Impressions

So, given the breadth of changes, does the C9 A6 feel like a greater value as Audi claims? We would argue yes.

After a full day behind the wheel, the new A6 feels like a carefully considered evolution — still composed, subtly understated, and highly usable for daily driving or long-distance travel — but now offering a stronger performance baseline and a wider personality range depending on configuration.

Both trims we tested delivered one of the most refined and well-balanced driving experiences we’ve encountered in recent memory. The Sport plus configuration shows how far the A6 can stretch toward enthusiast territory, while the Audi exclusive example reinforces the model’s executive-class comfort and craftsmanship.

Perhaps most impressive is how effectively Audi has blended performance, engagement, and comfort by bringing traditionally S-model hardware into the A6 platform. While some may initially question the absence of a dedicated S6 in this lineup, the depth of chassis sophistication and configurability across the new A6 lineup makes it clear Audi hasn’t sacrificed driving character. If anything, it expands what the A6 is capable of delivering for a wider range of drivers.

For buyers seeking a mid-size luxury sedan that balances daily usability, modern technology, and genuine driving engagement, the 2026 A6 stands out as one of the most complete entries in the segment.

Stay tuned for a deeper dive into driving impressions, performance nuance, and technology updates to follow in the Q2 issue of quattro Magazine.

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