Compared Model: A6 Sedan
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Comparative Automotive Research has identified no less than 54 advantages that the Volkswagen Passat Sedan has over the Audi A6 Sedan.
| MSRP Range | |
| Volkswagen Passat Sedan | |
| Audi A6 Sedan | |
Performance
Engine
The standard engine in the Passat Sedan is larger than the standard engine in the A6 Sedan, as detailed below by trim:
 | | | Standard Engine | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L S | | 2.5L I5 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L S w/Appearance | | 2.5L I5 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE | | 2.5L I5 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav | | 2.5L I5 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sunroof | | 2.5L I5 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SEL | | 2.5L I5 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SEL Premium | | 2.5L I5 | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof | | 3.6L V6 | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav | | 3.6L V6 | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SEL Premium | | 3.6L V6 | |
| A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic | | 2.0L I4 | |
| A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic | | 3.0L V6 | |
The Passat Sedan's engines reach maximum power at lower RPM's than the A6 Sedan's engines, as detailed below by trim and engine:
| | | RPM's to Peak Torque | | RPM's to Peak HP | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE 2.0L I4 | | - | | 4000 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav 2.0L I4 | | - | | 4000 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SEL Premium 2.0L I4 | | - | | 4000 | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof 3.6L V6 | | 2500 | | - | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav 3.6L V6 | | 2500 | | - | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SEL Premium 3.6L V6 | | 2500 | | - | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sunroof 2.0L I4 | | - | | 4000 | |
| A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic 2.0L I4 | | - | | 4300 | |
| A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic 3.0L V6 | | 2900 | | - | |
The Passat Sedan has a more effective fuel injection system than the A6 Sedan. The advanced fuel injection systems in the Passat Sedan allows for more precise control of the fuel mixture providing improved engine response, increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Details below:
| | | Fuel System | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L S | | multi-port fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L S w/Appearance | | multi-port fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE | | multi-port fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav | | multi-port fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sunroof | | multi-port fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SEL | | multi-port fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SEL Premium | | multi-port fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof | | sequential electronic fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav | | sequential electronic fuel injection | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SEL Premium | | sequential electronic fuel injection | |
| A6 Sedan | | electronic fuel injection | |
Power-to-weight ratio illustrates the relationship between curb weight and horsepower (Curb Weight / Horsepower). As a rule, the lower the ratio, the faster the vehicle. The Passat Sedan, has a lower power-to-weight ratio than the A6 Sedan, as detailed below by trim level and engine:
| | | Power To Weight Ratio | |
| Passat Sedan | | 12.3 | |
| A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic 2.0L I4 | | 17.5 | |
| A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic 3.0L V6 | | 13 | |
Reliability
The standard engine in the Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 has an larger displacement than the standard engine in the A6 Sedan 3.0L V6, 3597 cc vs. 2995 cc. Engines with larger displacements can produce more power, with less stress, reducing wear and prolonging engine life.
Transmission
The Passat Sedan (2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.0L TDI SE w/Sunroof, 2.0L TDI SEL Premium, 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof, 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav, 3.6L V6 SEL Premium) has a Standard manually interactive automatic transmission. This type of automatic transmission gives the driver complete gear control, like a manually-shifted transmission, but without the inconvenient clutch. The type of transmission is Not Available in the A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic.
WarrantyPowertrain Warranty
Volkswagen's powertrain warranty offers better coverage than the Audi's. This warranty covers most of the parts that make the car move such as the engine, transmission, and drive axles.
| | | Powertrain Warranty Months | | Powertrain Warranty Miles | |
| Passat Sedan | | 60 | | 60000 | |
| A6 Sedan | | 48 | | 50000 | |
Fuel Economy and Emissions
The Passat Sedan is more fuel efficient than the A6 Sedan. Superior fuel efficiency makes the Passat Sedan both more environmentally friendly and less expensive to operate than the A6 Sedan.
| | | Fuel Economy Hwy | | Fuel Economy City | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE 2.0L I4 | | 43 mpg. | | 31 mpg. | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav 2.0L I4 | | 40 mpg. | | 30 mpg. | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SEL Premium 2.0L I4 | | 40 mpg. | | 30 mpg. | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof 3.6L V6 | | - | | 20 mpg. | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav 3.6L V6 | | - | | 20 mpg. | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SEL Premium 3.6L V6 | | - | | 20 mpg. | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sunroof 2.0L I4 | | 40 mpg. | | 30 mpg. | |
| A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic 2.0L I4 | | 33 mpg. | | 25 mpg. | |
| A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic 3.0L V6 | | - | | 19 mpg. | |
*Mileage statistics shown are for each vehicle with its standard transmission. Fuel economy is only compared for like engines (i.e. 4 cyl. to 4 cyl.)
The Passat Sedan gets more miles from a tank of fuel than the A6 Sedan, as detailed below by trim and engine:
| | | Driving Distance | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE 2.0L I4 | | 647.5 mi. | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav 2.0L I4 | | 629 mi. | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sunroof 2.0L I4 | | 629 mi. | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SEL Premium 2.0L I4 | | 629 mi. | |
| A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic 2.0L I4 | | 554.4 mi. | |
Cost to Own
The base MSRP on the Passat Sedan is less than the base MSRP on the A6 Sedan as shown in the table below.
| | | Base Price MSRP | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L S | | 19,995 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L S w/Appearance | | 22,690 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE | | 23,725 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sunroof | | 25,625 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav | | 26,795 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SEL | | 28,395 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SEL Premium | | 29,895 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE | | 25,995 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav | | 29,495 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SEL Premium | | 32,195 | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof | | 28,995 | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav | | 30,595 | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SEL Premium | | 32,950 | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE w/Sunroof | | 27,895 | |
| A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic | | 41,700 | |
| A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic | | 49,900 | |
Airbags
Both the Passat Sedan and the A6 Sedan feature Standard driver and passenger air bags.
General Safety
The Passat Sedan is equipped with Standard FWD.
An anti-theft stereo is offered as a Standard feature on the Passat Sedan. This provides a strong theft deterrent, as the radio is disabled and rendered useless when removed from the vehicle. This anti-theft feature is Not Available in the A6 Sedan.
Wheel locks are special lug nuts that serve to deter wheel theft by requiring a 'key' for installation and removal. They are Optional equipment on the Passat Sedan but are Not Available on the A6 Sedan.
Cornering lights are activated with the vehicle's turn signal and provide additional lighting in the direction the vehicle is turning. These supplemental lights are more more commonly found on the Passat Sedan than the A6 Sedan, as shown below:
| | | Cornering Lights | |
| Passat Sedan | | Standard | |
| A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic | | Not Available | |
| A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic | | Optional | |
Interior Space
The Passat Sedan has more passenger volume than the A6 Sedan, 102.0 cu. ft. vs. 97.2 cu. ft.
The Passat Sedan has more interior space than the A6 Sedan in the following areas:
| | | Leg Room, Front | | Leg Room, Rear | | Shoulder Room, Rear | | Head Room, Front | |
| Passat Sedan | | 42.4 in. | | 39.1 in. | | 57 in. | | 38.3 in. | |
| A6 Sedan | | 41.3 in. | | 37.4 in. | | 56.3 in. | | 37.2 in. | |
Cargo Space
The Passat Sedan has 15.9 cu. ft. of cargo volume compared to 14.1 cu. ft. in the A6 Sedan. The additional cargo space means more room to store and transport packages, luggage, etc.
Suspension and HandlingChassis
The Passat Sedan, with its higher minimum ground clearance, 5.4 in. vs. 4.6 in., is more capable than the A6 Sedan of traversing rough terrain without problems.
The Passat Sedan is shorter than the A6 Sedan , 191.6 in. vs. 193.9 in., so it will be easier to handle and maneuver.
The Passat Sedan is narrower than the A6 Sedan, 72.2 in. vs. 73.8 in., so it will be easier to maneuver and park, especially in tight parking spaces.
Wheels and Tires
The Passat Sedan (2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.0L TDI SEL Premium, 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof, 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav, 3.6L V6 SEL Premium) comes standard with lower profile, 45 series tires (height to width ratio), which may provide better handling than the 55 series tires standard on the A6 Sedan.
Handling Tests
Emergency-avoidance maneuver tests evaluate vehicle to determine how well they perform when pushed to their limits. Measured is the maximum controlled speed a vehicle can attain while negotiating the test course. In tests conducted by Consumer Reports, the Passat Sedan (2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.5L SE w/Sunroof) outperformed the A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic, 53.0 MPH to 52.5 MPH.
AdvantagesAdditional Features
The Passat Sedan (2.0L TDI SEL Premium, 2.5L SEL Premium, 3.6L V6 SEL Premium) has a Standard front power memory seat. This feature allows the driver to store their customized seating position then conveniently activate it when they get into the vehicle. A front power memory seat is Not Available in the A6 Sedan.
A heated front seat is Standard in the Passat Sedan (2.0L TDI SE, 2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.0L TDI SE w/Sunroof, 2.0L TDI SEL Premium, 2.5L SE, 2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.5L SE w/Sunroof, 2.5L SEL, 2.5L SEL Premium, 3.6L V6 SEL Premium), providing additional comfort in very cold weather. This feature is Optional in the A6 Sedan 2.0T Premium FrontTrak Multitronic.
The Passat Sedan (2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.0L TDI SEL Premium, 2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.5L SEL, 2.5L SEL Premium, 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav, 3.6L V6 SEL Premium) features a Standard navigational aid system, providing maps, driving directions and location assistance. A navigation system is Optional in the A6 Sedan.
An integrated window antenna is Standard on the Passat Sedan (2.0L TDI SE, 2.0L TDI SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.0L TDI SE w/Sunroof, 2.0L TDI SEL Premium, 2.5L SE, 2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav, 2.5L SE w/Sunroof, 2.5L SEL, 2.5L SEL Premium, 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof, 3.6L V6 SE w/Sunroof/Nav, 3.6L V6 SEL Premium), providing both good reception and resistance to theft and damage. This type of antenna is Not Available on the A6 Sedan.
The Passat Sedan (2.0L TDI SEL Premium, 2.5L SEL, 2.5L SEL Premium, 3.6L V6 SEL Premium) features Standard genuine wood interior trim, made from real wood veneers. Real wood interior trim is Optional in the A6 Sedan.
Consumer Reports Ratings
Consumer Reports rated the Volkswagen Passat Sedan better than the Audi A6 Sedan as shown in the table below:
| Consumer Reports | ||||||
| | | Controls and Displays | | Headlights | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sunroof | | very good | | good | |
| Passat Sedan 2.5L SE w/Sun/Nav | | very good | | good | |
| Passat Sedan 2.0L TDI SE | | very good | | good | |
| Passat Sedan 3.6L V6 SEL Premium | | very good | | good | |
| A6 Sedan 3.0T Premium quattro Tiptronic | | good | | fair | |