Ranked #98 car in the UK · Saloon · 4,367 units sold last year

Audi A6

The C8-generation Audi A6 (2018 on) is the big executive saloon at its most polished - acres of rear space, a serene motorway ride and a twin-touchscreen cabin that still looks modern. The 40 TDI diesel is the mile-muncher's choice, with petrol and a 50 TFSI e plug-in hybrid alongside. It trades the sharper handling of a 5 Series for outright comfort and one of the quietest interiors in the class.

Audi A6
Photo: Alexander-93 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
Saloon
Years
2018–2026
Fuel
Petrol / Diesel / Plug-in Hybrid
Range
51 mi

WLTP

Insurance
Group 32

The short version

28/100

Forecourt score

Value 32 · Reliability 31 · Insurance 16

The Audi A6 loses value faster than most cars and is dearer to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is average, 69 out of 100, ahead of 31% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 32% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20). Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Fuel

Diesel · 1968cc

Power

204 ps

Drivetrain

FWD

Cam drive

Dry belt

Quoted MPG

52 mpg

The fleet workhorse. 2.0L diesel with mHEV, 204 PS. C8: FWD or quattro. C9: quattro standard. 6.9s 0-62 on the C9 thanks to mHEV+ boost. The A6 most company-car drivers ordered.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182026
37,815 mi
0Expected: 37,815180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£23,850

Range £20,150£27,850

medium confidence

When new (2023)£56,000Age-based value£31,360Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region-£1Market calibration-£5,959Forecourt price£25,400Private sale£22,300Part-exchange£19,600
Holdthis 3-year-old

Fair value — the 4-year mark is the sweet spot.

At 37,815 miles it’s about the ~45,439 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Audi A6 loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 37,815 miles you entered above — worth about £23,850 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 12,605 miles a year.

5-year total

£26,935

Per year

£5,387

All-in per mile

£0.43

Fuel per mile

16.6p

If a company carAround £820/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£410/mo at 20%) — 37% band

Depreciation£5,775
Fuel / energy£10,455
Servicing£2,570
Road tax£975
Insurance£7,160

If you're a company-car driver

At 37% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £820/month in company-car tax (£410/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 3 years

A 3-year-old example loses roughly £6,000 a year — under half the £13,200 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 32%
Reliabilitybetter than 31%
Fuel economybetter than 43%
Cheap to insurebetter than 16%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

40 TFSI / 40 TDI (volume)

Best non-PHEV A6 for most. 40 TDI is the fleet workhorse; 40 TFSI for shorter commutes. C9 successor refines the package but adds significant price (£10k+ over C8). C8 used market is well-stocked and prices have cooled.

New price
£50,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,900
3-yr depreciation
53%

Watch for

  • ·MMI freezes on pre-MIB3 C8 (2018-2020 cars)
  • ·Adaptive cruise sensors fault on early C8s — usually warranty fix
  • ·Run-flat tyre harshness on UK roads (especially Vorsprung 21-inch)

50 TDI / V6 / S6 (six-cylinder)

The C8 V6 era is closing — C9 dropped non-PHEV V6 from the main range. 50 TDI and 55 TFSI used examples becoming more sought-after. S6 TDI is divisive but objectively quick. RS 6 Avant remains separate.

New price
£65,000
Annual fuel / energy
£2,100
3-yr depreciation
52%

Watch for

  • ·Air suspension compressor at 70k+ miles (Vorsprung trim)
  • ·12V battery drain on cars with all options
  • ·Used market thin — fewer V6 examples each year

50 TFSI e / e-hybrid (PHEV)

Best for company-car drivers — 5-8% BIK rates make it economically dominant. C9 e-hybrid (2025+) the better long-term choice with bigger battery. C8 PHEV used examples cheap but range limits utility.

New price
£65,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,450
3-yr depreciation
53%

Watch for

  • ·C8 PHEV electric range modest (41mi WLTP) — much better on C9 (60+ mi)
  • ·Charging caps at 11kW AC, no DC fast-charge
  • ·Boot space reduced vs non-PHEV

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 22/06/2026) · Petrol 153.3p/L, Diesel 172.5p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 32 of 50 (upper-mid — pricier to insure) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£1,432/ year

Roughly £119 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£3,265£4,081£5,306
Age 26-32£1,704£2,005£2,446
Age 33-39Selected£1,260£1,432£1,690
Age 40-49£1,070£1,189£1,379
Age 50+£954£1,060£1,250

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

12,605 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 12,60530,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£195

Standard rate, post year-one

Electricity

£920

3.7 mi/kWh, 27p blended

Insurance

£1,432

Age 33-39, group 32

Clean-air zones

ULEZ compliant
  • Plug-in Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.
  • All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.
  • All diesel variants meet Euro 6 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£3,117 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

205/60 R16 · 225/50 R17 · 245/40 R18

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Adaptive / matrix LED headlights

£900£40044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Advanced driver-assistance pack

£1,500£45030%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Premium sound system

£800£20025%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 37,815 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 6.8% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,811,960 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 8.0% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,811,960 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120medium severityParts high

Recorded in 6.8% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,811,960 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 5.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,811,960 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 2.4% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,811,960 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Identification & otherUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £20-£150low severityParts high

Recorded in 2.2% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 2,811,960 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the Audi A6, from its 2018 assessment.

5/5
TEST YEAR2018
Rating expired (test protocol superseded)

The passenger compartment of the A6 remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 2,841,233 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old A6 passes its MOT 87.7% of the time; by 25 years that has slipped to 73%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

1%of 32-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 2,169 vehicles registered in 1994.

Survival by registration year

25%50%75%100%19942026

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every A6 currently MOT’d in the UK. From 295,627 vehicles.

  • Diesel 76.3%
  • Petrol 21.0%
  • Hybrid 1.3%
  • Electric 1.3%

Common MOT failures by mileage

The defect categories this A6 fails on most often, and how the failure rate climbs as the miles add up — from the same DVSA test records.

Category0-30k30-60k60-100k100k+
Tyres & wheels5%5%6%7%
Suspension1%1%3%8%
Lighting & signalling1%1%3%7%
Brakes1%1%3%6%
Driver's view1%1%1%2%
Identification & other1%1%2%

Share of MOT tests in each mileage band with at least one defect in that category. The peak band for each is highlighted.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a A6 at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 0 yr12,273
  • 1 yr30,924
  • 2 yr42,490
  • 3 yr45,439
  • 4 yr57,820
  • 5 yr69,536
  • 6 yr80,918
  • 7 yr91,827
  • 8 yr102,324
  • 9 yr111,970
  • 10 yr121,094
  • 11 yr129,378

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records (ages with at least 10 tests shown).

Reliability

69/ 100

Average

Composite of MOT pass rate, defect prevalence and cohort survival from 2,811,960 tests — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

85%first-time pass rate

43th percentileBelow catalogue average

Based on 235,013 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01The 40 TDI is the long-haul default; the TFSI e PHEV makes sense only with regular charging.
  • 02The dual-touchscreen MMI looks great but is fingerprint-prone and fiddlier on the move than physical buttons.
  • 03Avant estate aside, the saloon's boot is shallow - check it swallows what you need before committing.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Audi A6, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Higher-value cars like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Audi A6 into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
GlasgowCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
EdinburghCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
AberdeenCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
DundeeCity centre
Likely exempt
Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • BathCity centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • BradfordOuter ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • SheffieldInside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & GatesheadCity centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • PortsmouthPart of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

UK charging network

119,080 public chargers across the UK

As of 2026-04-01, the UK has 119,080 publicly available EV chargers, up 12.6% on the prior year (13,281 added in 2025). 23% of those are rapid (50 kW+) or ultra-rapid (150 kW+), so the network can support both home and on-route charging.

3-8 kW

50%

Standard

8-50 kW

27%

Standard plus

50-150 kW

12%

Rapid

150 kW+

11%

Ultra-rapid

Source: Department for Transport / Zapmap · Released 2026-05-21 · DfT statistics

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this Audi A6 as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 164 g/km and a WLTP electric range of 51 miles, using £66,500 as the P11D value.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-2637%£4,921£9,842£410£820
2026-2737%£4,921£9,842£410£820
2027-2838%£5,054£10,108£421£842
2028-2939%£5,187£10,374£432£865
2029-3039%£5,187£10,374£432£865

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Audi is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~115

Large network

Premium mainstream

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Audi is 2.6% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

Length

4,700 mm

Width

1,840 mm

Height

1,450 mm

Kerb weight

1,550 kg

Boot

460–480 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

Of every Audi A6 ever registered in the UK, this is what's actively on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, or gone for good.

Total ever registered

164,606

Currently taxed & on road

129,635

79% of all registered

SORN (off road)

19,856

12% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

15,115

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

-2.9% vs 2024
136,728129,635

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Jul 2026

Common questions

Audi A6, answered

Is the Audi A6 ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol Audi A6s from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
What insurance group is the Audi A6 in?
The Audi A6 sits in insurance group 32 of 50. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.
Is the Audi A6 reliable?
Our reliability score for the Audi A6 is 69 out of 100 (about average), derived from DVSA MOT records, with a first-time MOT pass rate of about 85% at the reference age.
What economy does the Audi A6 get?
Expect roughly around 3.7 miles per kWh for a typical Audi A6, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.
What are the common problems on the Audi A6?
On the Audi A6, the issues that come up most by mileage include Tyres & wheels, Suspension and Lighting & signalling. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.
How many Audi A6s are on UK roads?
About 129,635 Audi A6s are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Same underpinnings

Built on the VW MLB Evo platform

Longitudinal-engine platform for larger premium cars and SUVs. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

Volkswagen Group Modularer Längsbaukasten Evo · Volkswagen Group

Common questions

Audi A6, answered from the data

Is the Audi A6 reliable?
The Audi A6 scores 69/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 43% of the cars we track. That is computed from 2,841,233 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used Audi A6 cost?
A 2023 Audi A6 with around 37,815 miles is worth roughly £23,850 today (typical range £21,550–£26,150). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Audi A6 depreciate?
A new Audi A6 typically loses about 44% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Audi A6?
The Audi A6 sits in insurance group 32 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Audi A6?
The most common age-related issues we track for the Audi A6 are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); lighting & signalling (typically around over 100k miles, £15-£120 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Audi A6 cost to run?
Expect around 42 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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