The A6 feels agile on the move, thanks to the extensive use of aluminium in its structure, while the nimbleness is aided further still with the optional four-wheel steering. That said, the steering can’t match that of the BMW 5 Series, but it remains a precise and good car to drive. The A6 is set to be replaced by the incoming electric Audi A6 e-tron, though, so the clock is ticking if you’re planning to buy one.
What is an executive car?
This was once a very straightforward question to answer. You had your executive saloons, such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, then you had your compact executive saloons, such as the BMW 3 Series. Today, the variety of options has multiplied.
Cars such as the Peugeot 508 and Skoda Superb all have aspirations of upsetting traditional executive car offerings such as the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series. The best of these models offer most of the necessary quality and tech, and only really lack the premium badge.
Even without dipping into the SUV class, where executive-car buyers will increasingly find tempting options, there are more body styles available to executive-car drivers than ever. As well as the traditional saloons, there are the usual estate versions on offer, and beyond that things start to get interesting.
Two-door coupés such as the BMW 4 Series offer similar engine ranges to their saloon counterparts for similar tax and running costs, while looking and driving that bit sharper. Many also come in convertible guise for open-air motoring. Then there’s the rise of the four or five-door coupé, typified by cars such as the Audi A7 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé.
The usual cohort of German executive-car manufacturers now has plenty of other challengers to face, especially the incoming wave of pure-electric models that qualify for executive-car status, such as the Tesla Model 3.
With the executive-car market so strongly reliant on business and company car buyers, EV powertrains are a huge draw because of the lower associated Benefit-in-Kind company car tax. Diesel and petrol powertrains are still popular for private buyers, but plug-in hybrid and electric sales are starting to really gain momentum. If you’re willing to take the plunge into EV territory, the BMW i4, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3 offer sports car-rivalling straight-line performance, acres of space and very low everyday running costs.
Searching for something a bit more special? Read our list of the best luxury cars…
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