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There’s a sense of the engine having to turn back on, and there’s a noticeable hesitation when you step on the pedal. Anyhow, once you do get up to speed, the ride is solid and comfy, and braking is good if a touch soft right before the complete stop.

There are lots of nice materials, a great sound system, easy-to-use HVAC/nav/audio controls and good legroom, though I would have liked a bit more headroom. The back seat also offered good legroom, and the B-pillar-mounted vents were much appreciated by back-seat passengers on a super-warm weekend. The trunk provided good cargo space, and the backup camera was sharp and bright. And, the instant-read fuel-economy gauge showed I was getting about 28 mpg on the expressway. Nice.

The 3.0-liter supercharged V6 had plenty of power and was smooth while cruising on the highway.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This is the best midsize to large luxury car on the market today, in my opinion. The rest of the car is awesome.

This car is a rocket–a light-feeling, beautifully balanced rocket.

The ride felt perfect to me: controlled but not harsh, a buttoned-down body but plenty of suspension travel. I would happily drive this car to Yosemite National Park and back.

Base Price: $51,025

As-Tested Price: $57,525

Drivetrain: 3.0-liter supercharged V6; AWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 300 hp @ 5,100-6,800 rpm, 310 lb-ft @ 2,500-5,100 rpm

Curb Weight: 4,123 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 21/21.9 mpg

Options: Prestige model including premium sound, all-season tires, xenon-plus headlights, LED daytime running lights, adaptive headlights, self-leveling headlights, cornering lights, Audi advanced key, rearview parking camera, shift paddles, voice recognition, power adjustable steering column, driver’s-side seat memory, auto-dimming interior mirror with compass, heated auto-dimming exterior mirror with memory, trip computer in color ($5,000); 19-inch sport package including sport suspension, performance tires, 19-inch wheels, three-spoke steering wheel ($1,500)
While the 270-hp 3.2-liter FSI V6 remains in the base A6, and the optional 340-hp 4.2-liter FSI V8 is the hot-rod of the group, there’s now a new middle-of-the-road offering.
In reality, the new engine is significantly lighter than the old V8 – helping the middle model to weigh in some 200 lbs. less. Audi rates the car at 18-mpg city and 26-mpg highway.