Motor Trends Calls Audi A6: "The Car With No Personality"

They nailed it. Not a good design, Performance is bleh, and as usual with Audi it will cost more than cars that offer much more.

And the interior isn't even that nice. Just like every other car company out there, Audi builds some duds. Its just that Audi's duds cost more than the studs from other makes, and the Audi is always slower, heavier and doesn't handle as well.

I'd, for one, would take the new A6 over an E-Class...just sayin'
The E-Class interior is really cheap and the car is obviously more comfort oriented. And it'd be awfully tough choice compared to a 5-Series. The BMW engine is great (as expected) but it also doesn't have "character". The A6 has better design, the BMW better steering...I could go on all day.

My parents bought a used 2010 Mercedes E350 CGI a few months ago and there's nothing cheap about that interior at all. Mercedes interiors are conservative and maybe a bit bland, but they're not cheap.

Cigarguy: What about the American market where audi can barely sell half of what Mercedes and BMW sell. In China over the past year BMW has more or less caught up with Audi, and is still growing at twice the rate of audi.Last year Mercedes, BMW, and audi all grew at 15% globally to theoretically no one gained or lost ground to anyone. Not that sales really matter.
Audi sells the A1(a thinly disguised polo) which is considerably down market from anything with a BMW badge on it. I also read Audi is planning a jetta based car for the american market. The new 7 beat the all new A8 in two comparison test so far, and the M3 won virtually every comparison against the RS5.

one can view the world from a BMW, Mercedes, or lexus cave, as much as you enjoy the selective view of the world from your Audi cave

@Wimmer: The previous E-Class had a better interior than the current one: Just look how much leather you have in that car. Other than the steering, do you see leather on the armrest? The seats don't come with leather standard where the Lexus and Audi do. The wood trims are also minimal. It's all in the details...

I used to work at a Mercedes dealership in Munich, Germany. And what I learned there is that MOST Mercedes' customers prefer MB-Tex over real leather. This is true for Mercedes' customers globally, also in the US.

Advantages of MB-Tex:
-Durable
-Easier to clean
-High quality and upscale appearance

Advantages of real leather:
- "Hey, my car has LEATHER! Yes, LEATHER!"


Just because the current E-Class comes "with less leather" doesn't mean the interior is "cheap". Most customers couldn't be bothered to request real leather or they know of the advantages of MB-Tex. Have you seen how real leather looks after a few years? It's all wrinkled, even broken and looks awful. MB-Tex, or vinyl, on the other hand lasts a lifetime - literally.

Resistance is futile!

No, they didn't jump the shark, they simply made a Toyota!

To be fair to Audi, critics claimed the 1st water-cooled Porsche 911 also lost some of driving feel & dynamics.

For me it's the best one hands down out of all the big German luxury offerings in it's class. The article is a poor one at that. Typical jargon from a mainstream publication with too many mouths to feed. Automotive journalists nowadays are worse than a used car salesman of old.

lol.How is this MT article less credible than the one where the Q7 wins?

Sportsbike. This mantra of yours is getting old. Find something more original (and try credible as well) to post.

Everyone is so quick to bash on it, but this is the first negative article I've seen compared to three others I've read that basically say it's a game changer.
@LexSucks "the interior isn't even that nice"? have you seen pictures? What car in this class has a better interior? "Audi's duds cost more"? I'm sorry have they announced pricing? No. "Audi is always slower, heavier, and doesn't handle as well." If you read more about the new A6 you will see that weight has been reduced dramatically from the current model and Autospies has reported that handling is on par with BMW. So read more reviews before you start criticizing and don't just rely on the biased opinion of one article.
@sportsbike80. Of course it isn't a drastic design change, no new audi ever is. They have built a reputation of creating elegant cars and slowly evolving them with the times and to say that this idea is "not cutting it anymore" is absolutely ridiculous. Audi is the fastest growing luxury car brand and has completely flipped their reputation in the US over the past 5 years, clearly they are doing something right. Maybe the "gaudy lights and grills" aren't your style, but take a look at the competition and you'll notice how quick they were to add LED options to their lineup after Audi brought it to theirs.

Actually, here's another article from Edmunds that characterizes the Audi as "inoffensive", which to me means "bleh"

Here's the link:
http://www.insideline.com/audi/a6/2012/2012-audi-a6-first-drive.html

Ohh, buckets of chum for the fanbois!

It has not personality because it's trying to please everyone. Audis are built without any passion, they just want to sell big. That's why they never change their designs (fear of change), and that's why their driving dynamics is just confused. They are trying to fit in somewhere between Mercedes and BMW but ultimately pleasing no one. Again, look at the side of the car. The only car design more boring is the Corolla.

Audis are built without passion? How so? Do you mean to tell me that the guys who put together a BMW in the factory do this out of passion or something? Get real.

Audis are well-made cars that appeal to a certain demographic group. Their designs evolve slowly and safely because their target market is perhaps conservative and likes it that way.

Enthusiasts need to stop thinking the automotive world revolves around and exists solely to please them.

The only stock Audi that look good is the Audi R8 and RS5 and maybe the TT but the TT is a chick car.

This is at least the fourth article I have read stating the A6 lacks the dynamic depth of its competition. Im sure its still a good car that is quick, but wont win over may enthusiasts.

"Everyone is so quick to bash on it, but this is the first negative article I've seen compared to three others I've read that basically say it's a game changer"

Read AutoCar and CAR Magazine. They also said something very similar that the car lacks personality. Also complained about steering and optional air suspension. They liked the standard steel suspension more.
How can it be a game changer when newer rivals like Infiniti M and 5 series are as good and better in some departments.

Infiniti M and 5 Series are better looking, sportier and more desirable to me but A6 is not far behind. I would take new A6 over all other cars in it's group except the top 2 i mentioned earlier.

JUGNU

Is this the same Motor Trend magazine that is offering a 12 month subscription for $1.99?

BTW, of all the car magazines MT is the one I never bother with.

The wood inserts used in the rear seat is a deal breaker for me. It reminds me of previous gen E class. Otherwise it would have been a great car. Shame.

Still sand all, the best interior of any brand and fun to drive without being pegged as someone who knows just enough about cars to buy a bimmer. Some of us go out of our way not to be seen in the car that many equate with having arrived.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/road-tests/audi-a6-avant-30-tdi-se-quattro-511016.html

So, MT find the new A6 “metaphysically troubling”? Jesus wept. Someone as pretentious as that had better stick to the flash Mercs and Beemers. You buy the A6 when you have people in your life other than yourself to think about. Rear wheel drive, character, load of bollocks. Buy a 911 or Lotus and keep that for the weekend. Buy a Beemer for the golf club and the wine bar. Buy a Merc for the company car park. But the A6 is the car you get when you grow up.