2011 Audi A6 vs. Its Competition

2011 Audi A6 4-door Sedan 3.2L FrontTrak Premium Plus Angular Front Exterior View
Bengt Halvorson Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

Among $50,000 luxury sedans, we’re most impressed by the 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56.

Formerly anonymous, the M&Ms have ripened into major sex objects this year; the cabin’s subtly gorgeous and the V-8 has thundering power.

So is the V-6, but it's noisier and harsher than you’d expect.

The Jaguar XF is utterly captivating, inside and out, but the backseat is the smallest of all these cars, and early reliability hasn’t been stellar.

Both the E-Class and the 5-Series are reinvented this year; the E-Class’ shape is controversial, but handling’s improved and so are fit and finish.

Meanwhile, the 5-Series gets a much cleaner set of lines and better interior space as BMW junks most of the excesses of the Bangle era of design.

The 5-Series GT is specifically aimed at the Audi A6 Avant; its flexible cargo space borders on brilliance, though there’s a visual penalty to be paid in the form of a tall, heavy rear end.

2011 Audi A6 4-door Sedan 3.2L FrontTrak Premium Plus Angular Front Exterior View2011 Audi A6
Browse Used Listings		2011 BMW 5-Series 4-door Sedan 535i RWD Angular Front Exterior View2011 BMW 5-Series
Browse Used Listings		2011 Jaguar XF 4-door Sedan XF Supercharged Angular Front Exterior View2011 Jaguar XF
Browse Used Listings		2011 Mercedes-Benz E Class 4-door Wagon Sport 3.5L 4MATIC Angular Front Exterior View2011 Mercedes-Benz E Class
Browse Used Listings
Quick Specs
8.4
The 2011 Audi A6 is elegant and agile, although its cabin design is looking somewhat dated.
8.8
The new 2011 BMW 5-Series might be a conservative evolution in terms of styling and design, but it’s a quite radical one with regard to how BMW’s most important model drives.
8.4
The 2011 Jaguar XF offers a compelling combination of fast, nimble performance and a classy, refined, and seductive interior; the only thing lacking is backseat space.
8.2
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan swings to the masculine side of the pendulum and sharpens its driving appeal in the process.
MSRP From   
$45,200$45,050$52,500$48,850
Gas Mileage   
14 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy15 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy15 MPG City / 23 MPG Hwy13 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy
Engine   
Gas V6Gas I6Gas V8Gas V6
EPA Class   
MidsizeMid-SizeMidsize CarSubcompact Cars
Style Name   
4-Door Sedan FrontTrak 3.2L Premium4-Door Sedan 528i RWD4-Door Sedan2-Door Coupe E 350 RWD
Drivetrain   
Front Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity   
5554
Passenger Doors   
N/A4N/AN/A
Body Style   
4 Door Sedan4dr Sedan4 Door Sedan2 Door Coupe
Transmission   
Continuously Variable RatioAutomatic w/manual shiftAutomatic w/ODAutomatic w/OD
Detailed Spec Comparison
 2011 Audi A6 vs. 2011 BMW 5-Series2011 Audi A6 vs. 2011 Jaguar XF2011 Audi A6 vs. 2011 Mercedes-Benz E Class