2012 Audi A6: Pleasantly practical

The 2012 Audi A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro sedan is a very pleasant car that has the misfortune to be sandwiched between a pair of terrific ones in Audi's own showroom: the less-expensive A4 and more exciting A7.

The conservative A6 is the midlevel executive's car in Audi's lineup: solid and practical, pretty but not showy. Expensive when well-equipped, the A6 sedan is relatively affordable in base trim. The A6 combines strong acceleration with good fuel economy.

While the flashy A7 sets itself apart from competitors like the BMW 535i, Cadillac CTS4 and Infiniti M35, the A6 runs with the pack. That's not a crime, but if you want to blend in, why not do it in a $20,000 Camry? People buy $50,000-plus sport sedans to make a statement, not to sit mum.

The A6 sedan introduces itself meekly. The middle child in Audi's lineup, it has neither the affordability and sporty profile of the smaller A4 sedan nor the high-end appeal of the avant-garde A7 and the plush A8.

A6 prices start at $41,700 for the front-wheel drive 2.0T model, which has a continuously variable automatic transmission and turbocharged 211-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. All prices exclude destination charges.

Audi expects most A6 sales to come from the all-wheel drive model, which features a supercharged 310-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission. Called the A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro Tiptronic, it starts at an appealing $49,900. A6 prices can escalate quickly, however.

I tested an A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro that stickered at $66,555 - coincidentally, the same price as the more appealing A7 I reviewed in the spring. A few features left off the order sheet could have added another $5,300 to the bill.

Audi's fetish with efficient powertrains and lightweight construction is on full display in the A6. The car is roomier and better equipped, but weighs 78 pounds less than its predecessor.

The A6 scored 19 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway and 22 combined in EPA tests. Among all-wheel drive sport sedans, the BMW 535i xDrive's fuel economy tops the A6.

The Cadillac CTS trails the Audi, but the EPA says the Cadillac's taste for less-expensive regular fuel will make it less costly to operate. The A6's fuel economy beats AWD models of the Lexus GS 350 and Mercedes-Benz E350 sedans.

The A6 held the road well through fast turns, but its 55 percent front, 45 percent rear weight distribution led to a nose-heavy feel.

The car I tested featured the Audi Select system to adjust its drivetrain, steering and seat-belt tensioners. I would have appreciated a setting to stiffen up the suspension and reduce the car's tendency to lean in tight turns.

The A6 has more passenger space than the A7, but it felt less roomy to me, perhaps because the A7's wider track provides more shoulder room. The CTS and GS have roomier passenger compartments.

The A6's 14.1-cubic-foot trunk is about average for its class. It doesn't hold a candle to the A7's enormous 24.5-cubic-foot luggage capacity.

The optional Bang & Olufsen sound system is magnificent. It costs an eye-watering $5,900.

Audi's voice-control system for hands-free phone calls and navigation is among the best. The commands are intuitive and easy to use. The system understood nearly every command the first time.

The iPod interface isn't as good. It occasionally dropped out of shuffle when I turned the car off. It took several steps to return to my preferred mode.

Its $25- to $30-a-month data subscription makes Audi's system less appealing than competitors' that use the owner's smartphone service.