2017 Audi A6

large luxury car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2017 Audi A6 4-door sedan
2016 Audi A6 shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2016-18 models built after January 2015

Tested vehicle: 2016 Audi A6 2.0T Premium quattro 4-door 4wd

The Audi A6 was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Beginning with 2016 models built after January 2015, the front-end and occupant compartment structure was modified to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1508
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Footrest (cm) 9
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 5

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1508
Head
HIC-15 196
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.38
Right 0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.6
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 49
Right 48

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2012-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Audi A6 2.0 4-door 2wd

The Audi A6 was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen/Audi.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1023
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 2
Center (cm) 2
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 3
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1023
Head
HIC-15 266
Peak gs at hard contact 13
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.31
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.2
Femur force - right (kN) 1.4
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.36
Maximum tibia index - right 0.44
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 66
Right 93

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2012-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Audi A6 4-door 2wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Audi A6 was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen/Audi.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1016
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1016
Head HIC-15 614
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 40
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 45
Average deflection (mm) 41
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.19
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.69
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.0
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 3.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 34
A-P moment (Nm) 72

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1016
Head HIC-15 180
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.93
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.6
Combined force (kN) 2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 26
A-P moment (Nm) 46

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2012-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Audi A6 2.0 4-door 2wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,734 lbs
Peak force18,314 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.90

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 25
Distance below top of head (mm) 27
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.0
Head contact time (ms) 58
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 356

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Premium Plus trim equipped with LED Headlight and Driver Assistance packages
  • Prestige trim equipped with Driver Assistance package
  • Compitition trim equipped with Driver Assistance package
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premium Plus trim equipped with LED Headlight and Driver Assistance packages
  • Prestige trim equipped with Driver Assistance package
  • Compitition trim equipped with Driver Assistance package
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 74.6 m None
Straightaway left edge 35.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 35.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 154.0 m
Straightaway left edge 128.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 75.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 57.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.0 m

Trim level(s)

  • Premium Plus trim equipped with Driver Assistance package
Low-beam headlight typeHID projector
High-beam headlight typeHID projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on the gradual right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premium Plus trim equipped with Driver Assistance package
Low-beam headlight type HID projector
High-beam headlight type HID projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 86.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 44.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 54.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 45.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.6 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 40.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 158.5 m
Straightaway left edge 79.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 56.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 42.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • Premium trim
  • Premium Plus trim
Low-beam headlight typeHID projector
High-beam headlight typeHID projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premium trim
  • Premium Plus trim
Low-beam headlight type HID projector
High-beam headlight type HID projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 86.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 44.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 54.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 45.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.6 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 40.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 158.5 m
Straightaway left edge 79.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 56.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 42.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • Premium Plus trim equipped with LED Headlights package
  • Prestige trim
  • Compitition trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premium Plus trim equipped with LED Headlights package
  • Prestige trim
  • Compitition trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 74.6 m None
Straightaway left edge 35.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 35.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 154.0 m
Straightaway left edge 128.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 75.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 57.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.0 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Audi Pre Sense Front

Package name

  • Optional Driver Assistance Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2015-18 models

Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 1 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-18 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim3.0T Prestige
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim3.0T Prestige
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 82
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 80
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 86
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation