Compare the2023 Audi A6VS 2023 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
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 TLX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A6 and TLX 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 TLX’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 a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The TLX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The A6 Prestige has standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A6. But it costs extra on the TLX.

Both the A6 and TLX offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the A6 has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The TLX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the A6 and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

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 Acura TLX:

	A6	TLX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	354	358
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	263/331 lbs.	416/473 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 Acura TLX:

	A6	TLX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	174 lbs.	188 lbs.
Hip Force	262 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	135	181
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	53 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	395	464

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

Warranty

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

There are over 12 percent more Audi dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the A6’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the A6’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the TLX’s camshafts. If the TLX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 12 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Audi higher than Acura.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 2 places higher in reliability than Acura.

Engine

The A6 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 354) than the TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the A6 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid is faster than the TLX Type S 3.0 turbo V6:

	A6	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	5.1 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	8.1 sec	8.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.8 sec	13.2 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	2.5 sec	2.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	13.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	102.7 MPH	101.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
A6
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/31 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	21 city/30 hwy
TLX
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
		A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
		Perf. Tire 3.0 turbo V6	19 city/24 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the A6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The TLX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The A6 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the TLX (19.3 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 TLX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	A6	TLX
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13 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 TLX are solid, not vented.

The A6 stops much shorter than the TLX:

	A6	TLX
60 to 0 MPH	107 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A6 has larger standard tires than the TLX (245/45R19 vs. 235/50R18).

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 TLX’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A6 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the TLX.

The A6 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the TLX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

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

The A6’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the TLX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the A6 more stable handling and braking.

The A6 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A6 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (24.9 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the A6’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the TLX’s (39.7 feet vs. 40.1 feet). The A6’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the TLX with 19/20-inch wheels’ (39.7 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the A6 a Mid-size car, while the TLX is rated a Compact.

The A6 has 5.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (99 vs. 93.4).

The A6 has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

Cargo Capacity

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 TLX doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Towing

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

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the TLX, 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 TLX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the A6 and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the A6 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The TLX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 TLX’s standard 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 TLX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the A6 Prestige has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 TLX doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The A6’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The TLX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 TLX.

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 TLX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A6, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Acura TLX isn't recommended.