Adaptive headlights are standard in the 4.2-liter A6. We like the way the hood meets the front fascia around the grille.

The roofline presents a nice curve, although rear seat headroom is compromised. Windows stretching behind the rear seat are a nice touch, letting in a little more light.

The 350 horsepower 4.2-liter V-8 gives the car lots of power, but only average fuel economy.

The cabin of the A6 feels very luxurious, with thick, solid materials used throughout.

The 4.2-liter version of the A6 comes with Quattro all-wheel-drive standard, giving the car excellent handling.

Audi keeps its steering wheel controls simple, so the driver isn't overwhelmed with buttons.

Audi uses a screen between the speedometer and tachometer to show useful information, such as navigation guidance, audio information, or cell phone status.

The six speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Its Sport setting downshifts aggressively, but its timing is too slow for real sport driving.

The hardware for Audi's MMI interface is easy to learn, and well-positioned in the car for effortless access.

The navigation system works reasonably well, but it isn't as advanced as others we've seen. For example, it won't offer multiple routes to a destination.

Entering addresses with the rotary controller can be very tedious.

The optional Audi Music Interface is a module in the glove compartment, with a connector for your iPod.

Selecting music from an iPod through the Audi's MMI is very easy.

The A6 gets Sirius satellite radio as part of its Technology package.

When playing CDs or satellite radio, you can use this screen to play, pause, and skip forward, but we didn't find it very useful, preferring the track list view.

The Bose system lets you use surround sound for the front or back, but not both at the same time. We generally preferred the non-surround setting.

The Bluetooth hands-free system in the Audi A6 works excellently, displaying your phone's address book without requiring you to copy it to the car. However, you can import it if you want.