Audi A6 long-term test - Telegraph Audi really has got its interiors sorted, at least at the mid to top end of the range. Whereas Mercedes still seems to design cars for American geriatrics, and BMW is so spartan you feel rejected by the interior, our Audi has the warmest of welcomes, with yacht-like wooden decking on the dashboard and doors, luxurious cream and brown leather linings and soft lighting at night enveloping the footwells and pockets of space. The expansive centre console glows red, the metal on the pleasing automatic gear selector is softly brushed and moulded and the buttons and knobs click, slide and twirl with minimal effort. Stepping inside this car is like passing through revolving doors into the lobby of a six-star hotel; all is expensive calm inside, away from the hubbub of the street. On the go, the A6 is barely much louder. We've been impressed by the torquey V6 diesel engine, less so by the transmission which, despite being the S tronic, seven-speed auto gearbox, feels more like Audi's Multitronic, continuously variable box. It seems to slur indecisively between ratios sometimes, and the manual option, using the steering-wheel paddles, does not produce a quick enough reaction from the engine. It's a heavy car, so a firm right foot helps, but the large brake discs bring this boat to a stop well. It's an extremely long car to park, so the parking sensors are imperative, and it's been frustrating having to drive past spaces that, had I been in almost any other car, I could have fitted into. The self-parking system on the car is quite useful but frankly, I'm a good parker and the system would be more handy if it could point out a space within five streets that the Avant will fit into. And what of all the options we've had? The boot sensor, which is activated by waving your foot under the bumper (£1,180), is actually very handy when you've got your arms full, as is the keyless entry. The night vision assistant (£2,100), which highlights the presence of pedestrians and deer on your screen at night using infrared technology is distracting, although worth considering if you drive at high speeds down deer-infested lanes on a nightly basis, I suppose. The wing mirrors, which, for £515, come heated, and are electrically adjustable and folding, and auto-dimming, also contain a blind-spot warning system which flashes a yellow warning light in your wing mirror when a car is alongside you. This is a useful safety aid but, like all warning systems on cars, shouldn't take the place of looking yourself. The head-up display (£1,450), which can show you your speed, the road's speed limit and satnav directions, is also enormously helpful and well worth the money. In contrast, the biggest disappointment has been the Bang and Olufsen £6,300 stereo system. Not enough bass by far, and not really enough high-end clarity either. Give it a miss. At its heart this is a capable estate car. But with all the bells and whistles on board it goes beyond that to become a fabulous, luxurious vehicle. Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI Quattro Price: £78,745