An Audi That Pampers and Protects

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No monkeying around with kits to reinflate a flat tire or run-flat tires that only get you to the nearest garage!

Much has been written about how annoying it is to use the navigation system, trip computer, or and even tune the radio on German cars. In my view, luxury cars now have so many functions built into them that you have to break open the thick owner's manuals and study up before you can operate one.

SECURE FEELING.

That said, Audi's system for dealing with this complexity -- which combines a central control knob that manipulates commands on a seven-inch screen with old-fashioned manual buttons -- falls somewhere in the middle in its ease of use. It's less cumbersome than BMW's, and more cumbersome than the controls on Cadillacs and Japanese luxury cars. I figured out how to do a lot of basic things before I looked at the owner's manual.

The A6 is very safe. It comes loaded with airbags, including a side curtain system that reduces head injuries in side-impact collisions and active head-rests to reduce whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. Rear side airbags only cost an extra $350, and my advice is to definitely get them. The car's crash-test results are excellent.

Measured by overall performance, the A6 holds its own against all competing models. Indeed, Automobile magazine rated the A6 No. 1 in a face-off with the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans (the models it most directly competes against), as well as the Cadillac STS (see BW Online, 12/7/05, "Caddy's STS: From Zero to Wow!"), Infiniti M45 (see BW Online, 12/14/05, "Infiniti M45: Almost a Giant Killer"), Acura RL, Jaguar S-type, and the Lexus GS-430.

RELIABILITY ISSUE?

The A6 also earns a mid-range three-star quality rating from J.D. Power, though Consumer Reports rates its predicted reliability as ?disappointing.?

The A6 costs less than its German rivals, but it's far from cheap. The A6 Quattro with the big, 4.2-liter engine of my test car starts at $54,490, and the price rises fast as you start adding options. A technology package -- which includes a navigation system, satellite radio, parking assistance to keep you from running into things while backing up, voice-activated commands, and a push-button starter -- goes for $3,800.

Another package that includes wood interior trim, spoked wheels and performance tires, sport-tuned suspension and headlight washers costs another $2,800. Other options include adaptive cruise control ($2,100), heated rear seats and a ski sack ($400), a heated steering wheel ($200) ,and adaptive air suspension that slightly increases and decreases ground clearance according to speed and driving conditions ($2,300).

LUXURY ALTERNATIVE.

For those who want to pay less, the '06 model year offers a four-wheel drive A6 with a smaller, 3.2 liter six cylinder engine that comes in a sedan version. This car starts at $44,690, and a wagon has a starting price tag of $47,590 (see BW Online, 12/27/05, "2006 Audi A6 Avant 3.2 Quattro). If you don't live in an area with severe winters, the basic A6 front-wheel drive sedan with the smaller engine and standard traction control might do just fine for winter driving. It starts at just $41,540.

The bottom line is that with all-wheel-drive, this car is a decent alternative to a luxury SUV. SUVs are "what if" purchases: What if I'm ferrying the kids to soccer practice and we get in an accident? What if we go skiing for the weekend and get caught in a snowstorm on the way up the mountain? The A6 handles all those what-ifs nearly as well as an SUV. And the other 95% of the time, it's a lot more fun to drive.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.