Is the Audi A6 good for families? Here’s our verdict.

By Farzana Chaumoo

Pull up at the field in your Audi A6 to drop off the boys for soccer practice and everyone will think your kids arrived in an Uber Black. The A6 has one of the most spacious rear seats in the segment so kids can enjoy being stretched out. Not only is it filled with tech such as around-view camera, front auto braking, and lane keeping assist, it also is quite fun to drive.

 

2018 Best Cars for Families

Last March, Audi was awarded the title of "2018 Best Cars for Families” for its 2018 Audi Q5 and 2018 Audi A6, in their respective classes. The Q5 walked away with the Best Luxury Midsize SUV for Families, while the A6 took A6 the Best Luxury Midsize Car for Families. These were awarded by U.S. News & World Report at the New York International Auto Show.

Both vehicles won in large part due to the large size of the backseats when compared to rivals. The additional space makes installing car seats easy, kids in booster seats can't kick the front seats, and teens/elderly relatives have plenty of space to stretch out. It was also mentioned that both, the Q5 and A6, have plenty of driver assistance technology available which include popular systems like automatic braking, surround-view cameras and lane keeping assist.

 

Boot space

The latest Audi A6 offers 530 litres of boot space and 995 litres when the rear seat backrest is folded down. This is on par with the BMW 5 Series but falls short against the 540-litre capacity in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 

 

Practicality

The A6 competes well against rivals for practicality. The current model is more accommodating than any previous A6 models as the previous-generation Audi A6's cabin was never known to be especially accommodating inside. For those after more versatility, you should take a look at the Audi A6 Avant wagon. 

 

Interior space & storage

Unless you're accurate with a tape measure, the 7mm increase in length over the predecessor will not be apparent. But once you get into the A6, the difference is immediately noticeable. 

The A6 also got a 12mm longer wheelbase over the predecessor which has contributed to a 21mm overall increase in interior length, most apparent in the rear seats. There's also 17mm more rear legroom in the latest A6 and the subtly-lifted roofline allows for 10mm more of headroom for rear-seat passengers.

Front-seat occupants are also spoilt with space, seat adjustment options and a dashboard design that doesn't make you feel like you're confined in.

 

Safety

Driving in the Audi A6 has been made easier and safer as the car is awash with sensors and computers. Different packages feature different systems and by package, it means that much of this is optional equipment.

Though some of the safety tech is optional rather than standard, the A6 still scored a full 5 Stars for its Euro NCAP crash tests. It received 93% for adult impact protection, 85% for child impact protection, and 76% in the safety assist category.

 

Verdict

When looking for a family vehicle, you must consider things like, is there a place to stash a fruit snack or a juice box, are you looking at crash test scores and active safety features? Is there enough rear seat space so your kids are not in each other's face irritating one another?

The Audi A6 has what it takes to make family life easier and more pleasant. It has a good combination of passenger and cargo space, safety ratings, predicted reliability, and family-friendly features.