How much is car insurance for an Audi A6?

If you’re considering an Audi A6 as your next car purchase, it’s a great idea to research the vehicle’s total cost of ownership before you commit to financing.

Car ownership entails lots of hidden costs in addition to the sticker price like depreciation, financing, fuel costs, maintenance and car insurance.

These costs can all vary depending on factors like your location and credit rating, but car insurance premiums are perhaps the most unpredictable of all.

Car insurance companies can raise or lower your rates based on your gender, marital status, age and driving history, and even small changes in your driving record can have a huge influence on your rates.

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About the Audi A6

The A6 is Audi’s midsize executive car, and the first one rolled off of the assembly line in Neckarsulm, Germany, in 1994. This luxury vehicle is currently in its third generation, but a new generation will go on the market in early 2012.

Like the current generation, the new A6 will be assembled in factories the world over, including Germany, India, China, Mexico and Indonesia.

The Audi A6 has won a few awards over the years, including the 2005 “World Car of the Year” award and a place on Car and Driver’s “Ten Best” list in 2000 and 2001.

The current 2011 model holds a respectable third-place spot on U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the best large luxury cars on the U.S. market today.

The 2011 Audi A6 is outranked by the 2011 Infiniti M and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E Class, which tied for first place, but it earned a higher overall score than rivals like the 2010 Jaguar XF (#6) , the 2010 BMW 5 Series (#7) and the Lexus GS (#9).

Audi A6 Engines and Trims

Owners of the 2011 Audi A6 can choose from one of three trims. The 3.2 FSI trim is the base model, and it starts at $45,200.

This luxury sedan offers 265 horsepower and goes from 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds. It delivers an EPA-rated 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The Premium package includes 17 inch wheels, an MMI navigation system, leather 12-way power seats, SIRIUS Satellite Radio and iPod and Bluetooth compatibility. The Premium Plus package costs an additional $1,700, but it includes 18 inch wheels, xenon headlights and rear parking sensors.

The 3.0T engine is the second most powerful one available on the Audi A6. Starting at $50,200, it delivers 300 horsepower and beats the 3.2 engine to 60 mph by about one second. Its EPA-rated fuel economy is 18 city mpg and 26 highway mpg, so this extra power comes at a price.

The 3.0T Audi A6 can be purchased with the Premium or Premium Plus packages described earlier, or it can be further upgraded to a Prestige package that starts at $53,400.

Additional features at this price point include a backup camera, a Bose surround sound system and keyless start and entry.

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Generating 350 horsepower, the 4.2 FSI engine is the most powerful available on the Audi A6, which starts at $59,150.

This engine takes the vehicle from 0 to 60 in under six seconds, and delivers fuel economy of 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

Compared to the 3.0T, this represents an average fuel economy loss of two miles per gallon, and it represents a loss of five miles per gallon compared to the 3.2 FSI. The 4.2 FSI trim is only available with the luxurious Prestige package.

Audi A6 Performance

Audi’s signature Quattro All-Wheel-Drive comes standard on the A6 3.0T and 4.2 FSI, and it is an optional feature on the 3.2 FSI trim.

The base model Audi A6 without the Quattro system delivers adequate handling and V8 performance for V6 fuel efficiency, says U.S. News and World Report. However, add on the Quattro system and the vehicle becomes a different animal, offering “marvelous drivability,” raves U.S. News.

Audi A6 Safety Features and Ratings

Standard safety features on the Audi A6 are comprehensive, including electronic stability control, traction control, antilock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and active head restraints.

Side curtain, front-side and front air bags are standard, as are seatbelt pretensioners.

The 2011 model has not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the federal government’s ratings agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

However, the IIHS did rate the mechanically similar 2010 Audi A6 highly in front and side-impact crash tests, and the vehicle received a rating of “Acceptable” for protecting its occupants in rollovers.

Car Insurance for the Audi A6

The overall cost of owning an Audi A6 over five years is substantial, approximately $75,759 in addition to the vehicle’s sticker price.

Much of this cost comes in the form of depreciation, which Edmunds estimates will be just over $31,000 in the first five years that the car is on the road.

Other substantial contributing factors to this car’s high cost of ownership include taxes and fees, financing, fuel costs, maintenance and car insurance.

Maintenance and repair costs alone total nearly $9,000 over three years, since Audi does not offer free first-year maintenance like its rival BMW.

The average Audi A6 owner reports paying just under $7,750 for car insurance for the first five years, or about $1,550 per year.

Car insurance rates fluctuate quite a bit depending on the individual owner, though, so enter your zip code in the box to get the most accurate estimates.

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