Compare the2023 Audi A6VS 2022 Toyota Avalon

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The A6’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Avalon doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A6 and Avalon have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A6 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Avalon’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The A6 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the A6 and the Avalon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi A6 is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	A6	Avalon
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	35%
Leg Forces (l/r)	292/435 lbs.	499/567 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	263/331 lbs.	447/453 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A6 is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	A6	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	135	163
Hip Force	262 lbs.	318 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	135	266
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	514 lbs.	719 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the A6, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.6% less likely to roll over than the Avalon, which received a four-star rating.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 89 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The A6 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Avalon’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The A6’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Avalon’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Engine

The A6 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The A6 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (335 vs. 301) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the A6 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid is faster than the Toyota Avalon:

	A6	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	102.7 MPH	98.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the A6 gets better mileage than the Avalon:

			MPG
A6
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/31 hwy
Avalon
	FWD	XLE 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the A6’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The A6 has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The A6 has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 15.8 gallons).

Transmission

The A6 offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Avalon doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the A6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon:

	A6	Avalon
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11 inches

The A6’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Avalon are solid, not vented.

The A6 stops much shorter than the Avalon:

	A6	Avalon
60 to 0 MPH	107 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A6 has larger standard tires than the Avalon (245/45R19 vs. 215/55R17). The A6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Avalon (255/40R20 vs. 235/45R18).

The A6’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon XLE’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A6 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Avalon XLE. The A6’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Avalon Touring.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A6’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the Avalon (115.1 inches vs. 113 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the A6 is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Avalon.

The A6 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A6 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Avalon Touring (24.9 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The A6 has .6 inches more front headroom and .6 inches more rear headroom than the Avalon.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the A6 offers cargo security. The Avalon’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the A6. The Avalon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the A6’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The A6 (except Premium) also offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper. The Avalon doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Towing

The A6 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Avalon has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the A6 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Avalon Limited/Touring, the A6 offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The A6’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Avalon does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The A6’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The A6’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Avalon’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A6 Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Avalon doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Avalon Limited/Touring’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The A6 Prestige’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the A6 Prestige to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Avalon doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The A6 Prestige offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Avalon.

The A6 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the A6 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the A6 with a number “3” insurance rate while the Avalon is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the A6 is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because typical repairs cost much less on the A6 than the Avalon, including $905 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi A6 and the Toyota Avalon, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2019 issue and they ranked the Audi A6 Prestige higher than the Toyota Avalon Touring.