Executive Car of the Year 2015: Audi A6
The Audi A6 is the 2015 Auto Express Executive Car of the Year, with the BMW 5 Series and Tesla Model S commended
Last year’s best executive car holds on to its crown for 2015. Small updates helped the Audi A6 to reclaim the title from the BMW 5 Series in 2014, but there have been even more revisions in the past 12 months to further strengthen the car’s appeal.
New headlights give it a more attractive look, but the biggest updates are under the skin, where Le Mans-winning diesel tech helps the A6 deliver low running costs.
Best of the bunch is the 2.0 TDI Ultra, with 64mpg and 114g/km, or 67.3mpg and 109g/km if you go for the seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch auto box. It’s impressive that such a big car as the A6 Ultra manages these figures, but even more appealing is that it demands no driving compromises. The 187bhp diesel is a punchy and refined performer, while the S tronic auto’s smooth shifts make the most of the power.
Want more muscle? The larger-capacity 3.0 TDI and 3.0 BiTDI pack plenty of punch, and both are offered with quattro four-wheel drive for added security in the wet. For even greater performance, the S6 and RS6 Avant deliver supercar-rivalling straight-line ability.
Whatever you go for, the A6 promises limo-style comfort with a sporty edge, so it’s a relaxing and refined executive, while Audi offers plenty of advanced safety kit and tech. It also feels like a car from the class above inside, thanks to its unrivalled style, top materials and flawless quality. A cut above the corporate competition.
Our choice
A6 2.0 TDI Ultra SE S tronic (£33,825)
ultra sub-brand showcases Audi’s cutting-edge fuel-saving tech, and while this model is the entry point to the A6 range, you won’t feel short-changed, either by the performance or the kit. There are plenty of options to choose from, too, to build your perfect exec saloon.
Commended
BMW 5 Series
If focused driving dynamics are your priority, then the 5 Series remains a top choice for executive travel. The BMW handles with the agility of a far smaller car, but it still has the equipment you’d expect from an executive saloon – and EfficientDynamics tech means the 520d is an efficient performer.
Tesla Model S
There’s nothing else like the Model S. Its hushed electric drive and spacious cabin mean it’s relaxed and refined, while searing straight-line acceleration will take passengers by surprise. Battery range shouldn’t be an issue for most journeys, and Tesla’s free Supercharger network means longer trips are possible, too.
Auto Express New Car Awards 2015
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