2018 Audi S6 Review
Price Range:Â $39,990 - $44,990





+12
Edmunds' Expert Review

by Calvin Kim
Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.Pros
- Turbocharged V8 provides plenty of smooth, easily accessible power
- Roomy interior is finished in top-shelf materials
Cons
- Doesn't handle as well as some rival sport sedans
What’s new
The 2018 Audi S6 is unchanged.
Vehicle overview
The 2018 Audi S6 is a car that pampers as well as it performs. On the inside, this midsize luxury sport sedan boasts a richly trimmed cabin fitted with front seats that can keep you perfectly comfortable for hours at a time. Or hit the gas and the S6's 450-horsepower turbocharged V8 will rocket this Audi to 60 mph in just 4 seconds flat.
For sale near Des Moines, IA
27 listings
- 68,882 miles
- 1 accident, 3 owners, personal use
- 8cyl automated manual
- Jim Butler Alfa Romeo (269 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Saint Louis, MO
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/24 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUFFAFC2JN019330
Stock: LT3465
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-08-2025- 52,832 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 8cyl automated manual
- Specialty Motors (299 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Gurnee, IL
** VEHICLE LOCATION MAY VARY BETWEEN OUT TWO DEALERSHIPS, PLEASE CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM LOCATION BEFORE VISITING ***2018 AUDI S6 PRESTIGE**GLACIER WHIT...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/24 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUHFAFC5JN046157
Stock: 046157
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 01-17-2025
If it's sophisticated entertainment and technology you're after, the S6's got you covered, too. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration lets you make the most of the S6's large and clear multimedia interface, and a bevy of optional features are available to crank up the luxury quotient ever further. Although the S6's handling abilities are a little underwhelming, the overall luxury sport sedan package is pretty compelling.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
7.5 / 10Normally, sleek lines and a powerful turbocharged V8 would be the calling cards for a sport coupe. But with the 2018 Audi S6, you get that plus four doors, standard all-wheel drive, a top-notch interior and the latest in driver safety features. It's a compelling pick for a luxury sport sedan.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2016 Audi S6 Premium Plus Quattro (turbo 4.0L V8 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).
NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current S6 has received only minor revisions. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's model.
Scorecard
Overall | 7.5 / 10 |
Driving | 7.0 |
Interior | 8.0 |
Utility | 8.0 |
Technology | 9.0 |
Driving
7.0This is a car that's more about refinement and daily driving than driving engagement. Rapid and undramatic acceleration, but frustrating steering and handling qualities when you get even modestly enthusiastic with it. Very smooth transmission. Great engine; mediocre chassis and tires.
Acceleration
8.5There's ample power available from the twin-turbo V8. Fast, undramatic power delivery. Mat the gas and the sprint to 60 mph comes in an incredibly quick 4 seconds. Shifts from the seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic are very smooth.
Braking
6.0Soft at initial jump-in during routine driving, which makes this car feel more unwieldy than it actually is. Noisy brakes on our test car. The car moves around during panic braking more than expected. Our measured 60-to-zero-mph stop in 113 feet is about average for the class.
Steering
5.5Steering is very quick around center. At low speeds, it is very light, too quick and feels very synthetic. At moderate speeds, the steering still feels nonlinear after turn-in and requires more input to achieve an equal amount of turning.
Handling
5.5Not an impressive-handling car even in moderately hard driving. The sport differential requires use of the throttle to counter this behavior, demanding a clunky driving style. Front-end grip relents easily. The tires howl at low cornering forces.
Drivability
8.0Very easy to live with in routine driving situations. The engine stop-start function could be better; restarts take a beat before thrust can be delivered. Very nicely rev-matched downshifts.
Interior
8.0The beautifully trimmed cabin has ample space for passengers. It's also easy to get in and out. There's enough adjustment that just about any driver should feel perfectly in control.
Ease of use
8.0Controls fall into reach easily and intuitively. It has knobs for temperature adjustment, buttons for fan speed. The multimedia system works well and stows in-dash, which is a nice touch. The flat-bottomed steering wheel looks neat but can feel odd in your hands.
Getting in/getting out
7.5The S6 is easy to get in and out of. It has a long enough wheelbase that rear access is unimpeded, more so than with its similarly priced competition. Doors open wide.
Driving position
With the driver seat offering 12-way adjustment and four-way lumbar adjustment, and a power steering wheel adjustments, finding a comfortable driving position is straightforward.
Roominess
7.5Good headroom in the front, even for 6-footers. The back seat is especially roomy with plenty of headroom, good shoulder room and knee clearance.
Visibility
6.0Good view forward and out the side glass. The view over the shoulder or out the back is more challenging, but it's no better or worse than in the competition. The backup camera is effective.
Quality
9.0Premium materials abound, including simulated suede, stitched leather, carbon fiber, diamond-patterned seats and brushed aluminum. Fit and finish is excellent. A finely executed sense of luxury that's cool and restrained.
Utility
8.0With a large trunk, ample small-item storage and, of course, large rear seat room, the S6 begs to be loaded up and taken on a long road trip.
Small-item storage
The cabin has a good amount of storage, with a two-tiered bin in the center console, a shallow bin in front of the shifter and average-size door pockets.
Cargo space
6.5The trunk has a low liftover height, soft opening and concealed hinges. The trunk is very deep but of average width and height. If you want a power trunklid, you'll have to get the Prestige trim.
Child safety seat accommodation
There are three upper latch points on the parcel shelf and four lower latch anchors. Access to all anchors is clear and easy. The ample rear door size means installation of the seat, and your child, is not murderous on your back. The front seats do not have to move for most applications.
Technology
9.0Audi's MMI infotainment system is excellent. We like the crisp graphics and simple menus as well as easy-to-learn controls. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more user-friendly interface or such a high-quality stereo.
Audio & navigation
9.0The quiet interior of the S6 offers a good soundstage for the Bose sound system. Navigation is a simple, guided structure of commands that eventually leads you to a crisp, easy-to-understand map with instructions doubled inside the instrument panel.
Smartphone integration
9.0Bluetooth connects easily, and Audi's Connect system is easy to learn. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, but Audi's systems are so logically designed that we used them most of the time instead. It's one of the best systems in the class.
Driver aids
9.0Standard equipment includes a rear camera, parking sensors, forward collision warning and automatic braking. Optional features include a crisp surround-view system, lane departure intervention and adaptive cruise. The S6's aids work well without intrusive interference during daily driving.
Voice control
Voice controls take clear, well-enunciated commands, but they don't like much outside their parameters. Learning or reading the commands you need to know is relatively easy, though, and the learning curve for new owners should be very gradual — especially buyers coming from other German makes.
Which S6 does Edmunds recommend?
Our choice would be the S6 in Premium Plus trim with the Sport package, which adds a dynamic steering map, sport differential, red brake calipers and black-tipped sport exhaust. If we had some extra dollars, we'd also opt for the Arras Red Valcona leather. Even if it's technically the base model, the Premium Plus has all the features you really need.
Compare 2018 Audi S6 trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
2018 Audi S6 models
The 2018 Audi S6 is offered in two trims: Premium Plus and Prestige. Both share the same powertrain, body and interior, and differ mainly in the details.
Standard exterior features for the Premium Plus trim include 20-inch wheels with summer tires, S-specific styling elements, xenon headlights, LED running lights and taillights, a sport-tuned adaptive air suspension, a sunroof, auto-dimming and power-folding side mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, a blind-spot warning system, and keyless ignition and entry.
Inside, you'll find diamond-stitched leather upholstery, selectable drive modes, eight-way power-adjustable front sport seats (with four-way driver power lumbar and heating), a power-adjustable steering wheel, driver-seat memory settings, four-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks.
Electronics highlights start with the MMI infotainment system, which includes a console-mounted control knob with a touchpad that can read your fingertip scribbles, a central 8-inch display, a navigation system with Google Earth maps, voice controls and Audi Connect (including enhanced web-based information services, 4G LTE data connectivity and mobile Wi-Fi capability). Also standard are a rearview camera, Bluetooth and a 14-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.
The Prestige trim adds LED headlights, a power trunklid, a head-up display, LED interior lighting and rear sunshades (manual for the side windows; power for the rear window).
From this point, most S6 additional features are organized into optional packages. The Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and intervention, a top-down parking camera system, a forward collision mitigation system with automatic braking, and automatic high beams.
The Comfort Seating package features upgraded front seats with ventilation and massage functions, front passenger memory settings, and upgraded leather upholstery (sans diamond stitching).
The S6 Sport package provides dynamic steering, a torque-vectoring rear differential and a sport exhaust. The Cold Weather package adds heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. The Black Optic package tacks on exclusive 20-inch wheels, body-color exterior mirrors (instead of the standard silver ones) and gloss-black exterior trim.
Notable stand-alone options include different 20-inch wheels, rear side airbags and, for the Prestige only, a night-vision system and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

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Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Audi S6 Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.70 per gallon for premium unleaded in Iowa.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Iowa
$236/mo  for S6 Premium Plus quattro
S6 Premium Plus quattro
vs
$150/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
See Edmunds pricing data
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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
2 out of 5 stars2/5Below Average
#43 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Audi S6 from 2008-2022.$1,061/yr
vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).2.11x/yr
vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).27.2%
vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Audi S6 Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(80%)
4(15%)
3(5%)
2(0%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
2017 S6 - super fun to drive!
5 out of 5 starshuntm2000, 08/08/2016
2017 Audi S6 Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM)
2017 S6 Prestige Mythos black, Cold weather, handling package, driver assistance, black optic pkg. I shopped around at BMW (550xi), Maserati (Ghibli), Mercedes (E400), and Jaguar before making my decision on the 2017 Audi S6. In comparison no other car felt as athletic, well grounded, and luxurious all in the same package as the S6. The S6 is awesome, by far the most enjoyable … Audi i have ever drove or owned. I am looking for reasons to take it out (grocery store, pick up fast food, run errands, etc). The engine gives you massive hp and torque at low rpms, and the exhaust note is intoxicating, but is not overstated. The S6 has plenty of room for both front and rear passengers, and has lots of tech upgrades such as bose audio system, apple car play, google based navigation, and tons of safety features. With configurable settings for ride height, transmission, and suspension the car can go from stiff and sporty, to comfort and luxurious for longer drives. I love this car!
A car with self-confidence
5 out of 5 starsGordon, 01/11/2018
2018 Audi S6 Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM)
Imagine spending 70k for a car and being glad you did. For the money, I think you would be hard pressed to beat the quality, functionality, and performance of this vehicle. The exterior is modest but handsome and understates what lies within. Most non-car people don't have any idea what this car is about. For me, that is appealing. I read all the reviews and most were spot on. … The only downside is having to constantly watch your speed (although there is an alarm for that), as the car demands to be driven fast. Running errands is no longer a chore. If you are considering this vehicle and need something luxurious, practical, and a thrill to drive, buy it as the possibility of buyer's remorse is non-existent. This car won't let you down.
Great car, horrendous repairs and maintenance
3 out of 5 starsJustin T, 05/05/2018
2013 Audi S6 Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM)
I purchased this car with approximately 40,000 miles on it and by 60,000 it needed over $4,000 dollars in repairs. At 50,000 miles the "check coolant" message appeared every day until a visit to the dealer revealed that a new water pump was needed at around $2,000 with labor. Not 5,000 miles later the engine developed a high pitch squeal at idle. The remedy for that was a costly repair … to the high pressure oil system. Throughout the ownership of the car a clunking noise could be heard from the passenger footwell over every bump. This was never actually solved but was believed to be the front drive shaft and was replaced. Granted the dealership sympathized with me over the problems I was having and had Audi cover the cost. The adaptive cruise control went out of calibration several times and disabled the cruise until a $400 calibration was completed. Besides from the mechanical issues several interior rattles showed up in quick succession. Maintenance costs were as expected for oil changes but in order to perform the 75,000 mile service the entire front end would have had to be disassembled adding up to a $2,000 plus charge. All that aside the car itself was fantastic. The engine sounded rich and the acceleration was insane. The interior looked premium and the quilted seats were gorgeous. The exterior of the car had just the right blend of sport and luxury. All in all the dealer was exceptional and I would recommend the car if you don't mind the high maintenance and repair costs.
Absolutely Fantastic
5 out of 5 starsP Rogers, 11/18/2016
2016 Audi S6 Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM)
This car is worth every dollar... and you will pay for the privilege. Extremely comfortable, fast, quiet inside, great exhaust note on the outside. Fully adjustable steering, transmission, engine response, exhaust volume, wonderful stereo. This thing is built like a tank, but dances like a ballerina. The unaware would be very unwise to challenge you at the stoplight. Update - Even … more impressed on long road trips and handling in the snow, including almost 30mpg at 70mph. Continues to be supremely fast, comfortable and capable.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Audi S6, so we've included reviews for other years of the S6 since its last redesign.
2018 S6 Highlights
Premium Plus quattro
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $71,900 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $236/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the S6 models:
- Audi Pre-Sense Plus
- Warns the driver of an impending forward collision, and can activate the brakes and adjust the front seat to maximize safety.
- Night Vision Assistant
- Alerts you of people near your path of travel. If a collision is possible, they will be highlighted in red and an alert will sound.
- Active Lane Assist
- Helps mitigate an accident by using cameras to help steer the car into the middle of the lane.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover5 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover9%
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