Compare the2026 Lexus ISVS 2025 Audi A6

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 IS 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 IS 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 IS 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.

Both the IS 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, available all wheel drive 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 Lexus IS is safer than the Audi A6:

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 IS is safer than the Audi A6:

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

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 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.

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 IS’ reliability 30 points higher than the A6.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The A6 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 103 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 133 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 13th.

The IS’ 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 50 more horsepower (311 vs. 261) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 273) than the A6 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

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

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 5.5 feet tighter than the A6’s (34.2 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the A6’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Lexus IS may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Audi A6.

The IS is 8.6 inches shorter than the A6, making the IS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The IS has .2 inches more front headroom and 3.5 inches more front legroom than the A6.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 30% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus IS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the A6.

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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS is less expensive to operate than the A6 because it costs $218 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the IS than the A6, including $119 less for a water pump, $245 less for a muffler, $106 less for front brake pads, $1028 less for fuel injection, $127 less for a fuel pump and $75 less for front struts.

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

The Lexus IS outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by 82% during 2025.