Compare the2025 Lexus ESVS 2024 Audi A6

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the ES are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The ES has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A6’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the ES has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A6.

The ES’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the ES and the A6 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 and available 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 Lexus ES is safer than the Audi A6:

	ES	A6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	120	197
Neck Injury Risk	24%	30%
Neck Stress	239 lbs.	322 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	64 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	319	354
Neck Injury Risk	33%	41%
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	228 lbs.
Neck Compression	62 lbs.	98 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 Lexus ES is safer than the Audi A6:

	ES	A6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	135
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	160 lbs.	174 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	541 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	326	395
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	39 G’s

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

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A6 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

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 Lexus ES Hybrid’s reliability 27 points higher than the A6 and the Lexus ES is rated 29 points higher than the A6.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 68 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 140 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 19th.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
A6
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	22 city/30 hwy

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The A6 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A6 55 TFSI requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus ES, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6.

The ES 300h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A6 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Suspension and Handling

The ES offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The A6’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better maneuverability, the ES’ turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the A6’s (38 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

Chassis

The Lexus ES may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 550 pounds less than the Audi A6.

The ES F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A6 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The ES has 1.1 inches more front legroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the A6.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

Model Availability

The ES is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the ES owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ES will cost $3735 less than the A6 over a five-year period.

The ES will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the ES will retain 52.03% to 57.94% of its original price after five years, while the A6 only retains 41.11% to 42.12%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ES is less expensive to operate than the A6 because it costs $109 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the ES than the A6, including $270 less for a water pump, $175 less for a muffler, $68 less for front brake pads, $378 less for a starter, $1256 less for fuel injection and $111 less for a fuel pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lexus ES will be $26768 to $30082 less than for the Audi A6.

Recommendations

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

The Lexus ES outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by almost five to one during 2023.

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