Compare the2024 Audi A6VS 2022 Genesis G90

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi A6 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Genesis G90 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the A6 and G90 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 G90’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 G90 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A6. But it costs extra on the G90.

Both the A6 and the G90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The A6’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the G90’s (12 vs. 7 years).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the A6’s reliability 20 points higher than the G90.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the A6 third among midsize premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The G90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Genesis.

As tested in Motor Trend the A6 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid is faster than the G90 5.0 5.0 DOHC V8:

On the EPA test cycle the A6 gets better mileage than the G90:

Regenerative brakes improve the A6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The G90 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 G90 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi A6 higher (5 out of 10) than the Genesis G90 (3 to 5). This means the A6 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the G90 every 15,000 miles.

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 G90 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A6 stops much shorter than the G90:

For better traction, the A6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the G90 (255/40R20 vs. 245/45R19).

The A6’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the G90’s 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A6 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The G90’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The A6 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the G90 3.3T 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 G90 3.3T AWD (24.9 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The Audi A6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 650 pounds less than the Genesis G90.

The A6 is 10.5 inches shorter than the G90, making the A6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the A6 easier. The A6’s trunk lift-over height is 27 inches, while the G90’s liftover is 28.3 inches.

The A6’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The G90 doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The A6 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The G90 has no towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Genesis. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 29% lower rating, Genesis is ranked 23rd.

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 G90 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the windows are left open on the A6 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the G90 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A6 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The G90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 G90 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 G90.

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 G90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

The Audi A6/S6/RS 6 outsold the Genesis G90 by over five to one during 2022.