Audi A6 Matrix

The new Audi A6 Matrix. An updated version of the luxury sedan, the new car gets more features and some design changes, all packed in a single fully-loaded diesel variant. This is ideally the last update for the current generation A6, before the new car is rolled out towards the end of 2016.

The design changes include a more ornate front grille, revised front and rear bumpers, new side skirts and dynamic side indicators. However, the most important change is the addition of the new Matrix headlamps, which is such a big deal that Audi has even added it to the nomenclature.

The Matrix headlamps offer better illumination than almost everything else on the road and yet without troubling the oncoming traffic. The technology uses multiple LED light sources that are intelligently controlled by a camera, so the headlamps self-adjust depending upon oncoming light, thereby providing maximum light without hampering the visibility of others on the road. Our short drive did not allow us to test the technology fully, but these are the most expensive headlamps available in India today and by that simple logic should also be one of the best.

The only problem in the new set up is that the DRLs are straight lines and the car loses the little bit of exclusivity that it had compared to the rest of the Audi range. The A6 by itself is a good looking car, but the design is now old and certainly not the most alluring in the segment. The facelift does bring in the novelty factor with the new headlamps, but that is the only difference that one can make out.

In terms of the design and layout there isn’t any difference in the interior compared to the predecessor. The colours are different and the interior quality has improved; the new lighter wooden-finish inserts look nice. The features list is largely updated; everything that was once part of the option-pack is now standard on the new car.

The four-zone AC allows the passengers at the back to individually set the temperature. And the person sitting behind the co-driver can increase the legroom by pushing the front seat. The rear armrest houses a remote to control the MMI, which is also updated with the latest interface along with voice recognition and touch pad.

The A6 Matrix uses same the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged TDI diesel engine, but the power has increased by seven per cent to 190bhp and 400Nm. The Multitronic CVT gearbox of the previous model has been replaced by the S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission, which powers the front wheels.

This is the only available engine option with the new A6 Matrix; the performance, seems acceptable. There is enough power to pull the car out of a tricky situation, but not enough to make the enthusiasts happy. The car is quick to get off the line with plenty of torque and gets to triple digit speeds easily, however, it is lethargic beyond 120kmph. That is not the case with the transmission though, the gear shifts are instant every time you pull the paddles.

The air suspension with dynamic damping is now a standard feature. The Drive Select has four modes, Comfort, Dynamic, Auto and Individual that change engine maps, gear shift points, steering and suspension. Like the name suggests, the ride is the best in the comfort mode, the engine and gearbox also feel lazy, while the steering is light to operate. The dynamic is exactly the opposite: the ride is stiffer, steering feels heavy and the engine immediately responds to even the slightest modulation in throttle input.

The simple answer for the above question will be, for the kind of value the new A6 Matrix has to offer. There is just one version, fully-loaded with all the features like the Matrix headlamps, dynamic damping and four-zone AC, priced competitively at Rs 49.50 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi and Mumbai).

Those are a lot of features at that price point, also the car looks nice despite the fact that it is now an old design. The only glitch is that this is a front-wheel drive car and not the best if ‘fun-to-drive’ is the most important aspect.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class diesel costs a lakh more (ex-showroom) while the Jaguar XF would set you back by two lakh. The only luxury sedan that is cheaper is the BMW 5 Series, but that is the Prestige version and hardly gets any features worth talking about. From this perspective, the A6 is the best package. However, in doing so, Audi has limited the focus on people looking for value, we will miss the petrol and more importantly the 3.0-litre V6 with AWD Quattro.