While it's difficult not to get excited by new-generation cars, I'm far from enthusiastic when Audi launches something new. I understand the philosophy behind the "same sausage, different length," but this design approach doesn't do it for me. What's more, I think that Audi's current styling language is bland and boring. But that's not to say that the new generations do not bring significant improvements. The new A6, for instance, while still highly recognizable, it stands out inside and out thanks to numerous upgrades. It also boasts different figures when it comes to specs, dimensions, and performance. And we are going to discuss these changes in the comparison below.

Not surprisingly, the latest A6 is a tad bigger than its predecessor. It also offers a bit more room inside the cabin. The changes are far from impressive and barely hit an inch inside and out, but it proves that Audi is slowly but surely making its vehicles bigger. The new engines are also a bit more powerful, this time around by a more significant margin. Let's find out more about that below.

Continue reading for the full story.

2019 Audi A6 vs 2018 Audi A6 Exterior Specifications

New-generation cars are usually bigger than their predecessors. This is more than just a trend. It has become a rule in recent years and the new A6 is no exception. However, the latest sedan isn't significantly larger, with just a few mm added here and there.

Although longer, the new A6 gained only six extra mm from bumper to bumper. That's 0.23 inches and something you definitely won't notice while looking at the car's profile. But while the car is six mm longer overall, the wheelbase gained 12 mm, or nearly a half-inch. This is actually common nowadays, when automakers shorten both front and rear overhangs in order to obtain a longer wheelbase without making the car significantly longer.

As far width goes, the new A6 is 12 mm (0.47 inches) wider, which gives the car a slightly sportier stance. The new A6 is taller too, but this is noticeable only on paper, as Audi added just a couple of mm, or less than a tenth-inch. Some carmakers actually tend to make their vehicles flatter, but this increase here must have something to do with the extra comfort (mostly headroom) that Audi wanted for the new-generation sedan.

2018 Audi A6 vs 2019 Audi A6 Interior Specifications

A slightly longer wheels usually translates to improved legroom, but Audi has yet to release these specs for the latest A6. However, the sheet includes data about headroom, shoulder room, and elbow room, so we can get a good idea of the changes. The slightly taller roof and the lower seating position improve maximum headroom by eight mm (0.31 inches). This might not mean much as a figure, but it could make a big difference if you're not the world's tallest person. In the rear, Audi managed to add an extra eleven mm (0.43 inches) compared to the outgoing model. Of course, headroom isn't as generous here, with the coupe-style roof reducing it by 81 mm (3.18 inches) compared to the front compartment.

Although the car is slightly wider, elbow room remains unchanged up front. On the other hand, front shoulder room gained seven mm (0.27 inches). In the rear, there's an extra 10 mm (0.39 inches) of elbow room and an additional seven mm (0.27 inches) for shoulder room. The trunk is just as wide as the outgoing model, but you can now store luggage deeper toward the rear seats, with an extra 18 mm available (0.7 inches).

2018 Audi A6 vs 2019 Audi A6 Performance Specifications

U.S. drivetrain information is not yet available and European specifications aren’t complete as of this writing. Audi usually launches drivetrains over a few months so for the time being we only have info for two V-6 engines.

First up is the turbocharged 3.0-liter gasoline model, which delivers 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The sedan is fairly quick in this configuration, needing 5.1 seconds to hit 62 mph form a standing start. The top speed is electronically limited to the usual 155 mph. With the old gasoline V-6 no longer available in Europe, this engine will motivate the most powerful version of the A6 until the S6 variant is launched.

2019 Audi A6 - Drivetrain Specifications

The other engine unveiled for the European market is a 3.0-liter TDI diesel. A familiar unit offered in many forms in the outgoing model, it cranks out 268 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque with the latest revisions. The new ratings place it just below the old 3.0 TDI, which is rated at 272 horses, but above the 2.0-liter diesel with 190 horsepower. Audi says that the oil burner has similar performance to the new gasoline V-6, so expect it to hit 62 in less than 5.5 seconds. A twin-turbo model with more than 300 horses will follow soon.

The seven-speed S Tronic transmission and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system are standard on these V-6 models, just like on the previous model. The big change here is that the revised Quattro activates rear-wheel drive instantly when needed. The optional eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox adds a self-locking center differential.

2018 Audi A8 - Drivetrain Specifications

References

Audi A6

Read our full review on the 2019 Audi A8.

Read our full review on the 2018 Audi A8.

Read more Audi news.