The Essentials

• Price from £30,495
• What Car? says:
• Fuel economy: up to 57.6mpg
• What is it? A6 offers top executive style and comfort at lowly junior manager running costs

• Drive

  Thoroughly competent if not wildly exciting - but the commute to work is hardly the place for high jinks, is it?

• Inside

  Looks and feels suitably gorgeous; some of the control switches are confusingly similar, however

• Safety

  Standard stability control and six airbags helped the A6 score top marks in Euro NCAP crash tests. Optional extras available for the more cautious

• Reliability

  No doubt this is a premium quality product but too many Audi customers have grumbles about reliability for us to be completely happy

• Space

  Boardroom busy? Hold your next meeting in the A6 - ther'es plenty of space, just watch where you get the biscuit crumbs

• Standard and extras

  Luxuries in abundance, from climate control to automatic headlights

• What's it like to drive?

  If, like most buyers, you go for the entry-level 2.0-litre diesel you'll find its super-frugal and perfectly up to the job. For smarter performance we'd suggest looking to the 3.0-litre bi-turbo diesel and if you're after serious getaway car pace the 4.0-litre petrol S6 version - but they are a lot more expensive. The A6 feels light on its feet and there's a nice balance between taut body control and passenger comfort. Four-wheel drive models offer the kind of grip you'd expect from a crocodile's jaw.

• What's it like inside?

  Once you've settled comfortably into the luxurious leather seat you'll never want to get out. There's masses of space up front and a high-tech dial-operated control system organising all the major functions from stereo to sat-nav. We love the way you can write letters on the rotary dial with a finger to help navigate, but not the profusion of identical looking buttons on the dash itself. Two adults will be very happy stretching out in the back, a third will find their feet straddling the transmission tunnel. The boot pips a BMW 5 Series for space, and is just 10 litres smaller than that of a Mercedes E-Class.

• How reliable is it?

  Although the interior feels premium quality, owners haven't always rated Audi top of the pile for reliability or customer satisfaction. Safety kit is top-notch, however and standard stability control and six airbags helped the A6 score top marks in Euro NCAP crash tests.

• Should I buy one?

  We'd go for the 2.0-litre diesel - with very restrained fuel consumption of just 57.6mpg on average, and low down and clean emissions these are figures you can boast about. The car is generously equipped, too, and you can bet that resale values will be respectable.