The battle of the mid-size premium sedans may not be as pertinent as it once was with the rise in popularity of SUVs, but that does not take away the competence of the entrants in this segment. The question today is, is the Audi A6 cheaper to run than its competitors?
The market for premium mid-size sedans has been shrinking for over a decade now, with impressive products such as the Audi A6 which populate this segment not receiving the attention they perhaps deserve as consumers shift towards high-riding SUVs. The A6 has had fellow German rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, among others, for company in this segment for decades, meaning that with every passing generation, the competition heats up and the products get better. How do the running costs of the A6 compare with these two key rivals? Today we will compare the entry-level A6 with two similarly priced E-Class and 5 Series models.
The figures
Comparing the trio
Purchase price
The models we have chosen for this comparison are competitors from a pricing and body-style perspective. Monthly instalments are calculated throughout 72 months with a 10% deposit and no balloon or residual. The interest rate is set at 11%.
Audi A6 40TDI
With the instalment parameters in place, the A6 will work out at R17 833 per month over 72 months.
Mercedes-Benz E220d Avantgarde
With the instalment parameters in place, the E220d will work out at R18 184 per month over 72 months.
BMW 520d
With the instalment parameters in place, the 520d will work out at R18 096 per month over 72 months.
Fuel consumption
On paper, the three products are identical in terms of fuel consumption, and when looking at their powertrains and kerb weights, which are so similar, the real-world consumption of the three products should be similar too.
Service plans
All three models come with 5-year/100 000 maintenance plans, again meaning that there is no clear winner.
Verdict
Having looked at the data, in the first five years of ownership, there is very little to choose between the three models in this comparison, and we would be tempted to state that your brand preference would be the only way to choose between the three, however, there can only be one winner, and that is the Audi A6, thanks to its marginally lower list price.
Sean NurseWith a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Audi A6 vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs BMW 5 Series: Which one has the lowest running costs?