Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.2026 Audi A6 vs A4: ComparisonSo far, the all-new Audi A6 has been met with a good reception. Controversial interior aside, the car has been praised for its comfort and dynamics, as well as the new styling. It's possibly one of the best midsize executive sedans out there, serving as a great alternative to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.But say you have the current-generation A4 and are seriously considering leveling up. It's either that or you're deciding where to spend your money on either a used A4 or a brand-new A6. Of course, there's the allure of moving up a size class and a brand-new car, but a second-hand A4 still serves up an interesting value proposition nonetheless. Audi A4 vs A6? New versus used?View the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleSpace and Practicality: A Few SurprisesThe A4 may have a few inches more than most of its former rivals, but it's eclipsed by the redesigned A6. But even the prior generation of the A6 was a fairly large car among its peers, and Audi's tendency to make its cars larger than its competitors pays off in terms of practicality, and the A4 and A6 are no exception.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor a 'compact' executive, the A4 has a good amount of space. Its front legroom matches that of the modern A6 at 41.3 inches each. Rear headroom is almost identical, with 37.4 inches for the A4 and 37.8 inches for the A6. However, the A6 pulls ahead in several aspects, namely front headroom and rear legroom, as well as hip and shoulder room.The larger sedan offers about an inch or two of wiggle room in those respects compared to its smaller brother. Audi claims a cargo capacity of 13.5 cu-ft for the A6, which isn't a lot over the A4's 13 cu-ft trunk, but European literature for the A6 claims 17.8 cu-ft.View the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleInterior Design: Screens VS. ButtonsIf there's been one common sore point about the A6 from many reviews, it's the loss of physical controls. While the minor update did rectify some of that, the (valid) criticisms remain. Mind you, it's still usable and not as bad as the interface from VW models from earlier this decade, but it's hard to beat the simplicity and tactility of buttons and dials. Still, it's a new look that's in line with current trends, for better or worse. There are those who like it and those who don't.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd that's exactly what the A4 offers. Sure, it's the older model, but it's also the more familiar layout. We wouldn't call the cabin of the A4 outdated, either, even if some features are a generation behind now. It's not totally short on tech, either. Of course, there's still a good amount of physical controls here, which should be to the delight of some users. The difference between the Audi A4 and A6 is generational, and it'll all come down to how you want your interior.AudiView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articlePerformance and EconomyAudi A4 vs Audi A6 specs? Let's start with the new car first. For the A6, all trims have Quattro all-wheel drive standard, and the sole powertrain option is a 3.0-liter turbo V6 with mild-hybrid tech. It packs 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, and this isn't even the S6 – that one's coming a little bit later. Audi claims a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds and has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 MPG city / 29 MPG highway / 23 MPG combined. That said, some real-world tests have actually beaten the government ratings.Moving to the A4, it was offered with two powertrain options, but both come standard with all-wheel drive. The 40 TFSI Quattro made 201 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, while the 45 TFSI Quattro pumped those numbers up to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft. The 40 models did the 0-60 sprint in 6.3 seconds, while the 45 did the same task in 5.3 seconds. Both are 2.0-liter engines, with the 40 having EPA ratings of 26 MPG city / 35 MPG highway / 30 MPG combined, while the 45 did 24 MPG city / 32 MPG highway / 27 MPG combined.AudiView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articlePricing and TrimsWith the 2026 A6, there are three trims to choose from, namely Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. The Premium starts at $64,100, and moving up to the Premium Plus means $68,000. As for the top-spec Prestige, that one carries a base price of $72,200.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs for the A4, a fresh, well-cared-for post-facelift example goes for $38,600 and $40,900 (2024-2025 models). That's according to Kelley Blue Book, and it will still vary based on several factors, namely mileage and condition. For a pre-facelift model, you're looking somewhere in the $20,000 range, again depending on age, mileage, and condition. Also, never buy the cheapest one because that's just asking for trouble. You're looking for a bargain, not a headache.AudiView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleFinal ThoughtsOf course, buying a used version of anything will have its inherent risks. When shopping for a second-hand A4, do your research and homework; don't just hop into one and buy it, and choose one wisely. It's not exactly a rare car, so there's no need to rush the process here. But if you snag yourself a good one, keep it for a long time, as it's still a great car. Consumer Reports even rated its reliability as above average.But if you have money to burn, we say go right ahead and buy that brand-new A6. Buying or leasing one means you get Audi Signature Care, a complimentary scheduled maintenance plan. That should save you a fair bit in running costs, and you get free service at 10,000 miles, 20,000 miles, and 30,000 miles, or annually for the next three years, whichever comes first. You'll also be glad to know that it was awarded by the IIHS as one of its Top Safety Pick + winners. It's an upgrade from the old A4, and if you're already coming from that model, it might be worth moving up to this over the all-new A5.AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, the previous-generation A4 is a good buy if you can't stretch for that A6 just yet. Besides, you'll have all the buttons and dials the A6 can't have.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.