Audi’s Diesel Strategy: The 2014 A6 TDI, A7 TDI, and Q5 TDI – The Green Car Driver –

Our challenge car was white with black leather, and well equipped. The Black Optic package provided us with 20-inch wheels, a matte black grille, and the car certainly looked like it was ready to get us into a lot of trouble.

Driving the A6 was pleasant, but in the quest to drive efficiently and economically it could be characterized as boring, although the same could be said in trying to hypermile a Lamborghini. In the curves and in a situation where responsive acceleration was called for, the TDI responded quickly and with more than sufficient power.

I thought that the active cruise control would assure us victory in the mileage challenge, but turns out that active cruise isn’t really suited for fuel economy runs because it would accelerate until it was within the prescribed following distance and then brake.

The steering feel was outstanding and, although I was disappointed by the half a mile per gallon reduction in overall economy while in stop and go traffic, I was actually engaged and wanted to keep driving.

The EPA estimates the 2014 A6 TDI at 24 mpg (9.8 l/100 km) city, and 38 mpg (6.18 l/100 km) highway, 29 combined. Driving very conservatively, with the air conditioning on (air temperature was over 90º F the entire drive – as my partner tweeted, no challenge is worth THAT much), our mixed, 100 mile course into Washington, D.C., just as rush hour was beginning netted us 37.5, mpg (6.27 l/100 km) which proved to be the best for any group in the A6 that day. Other drivers managed between 33 and 36 MPG without too much effort.

2014 AUDI A7 TDI

The A7 sportback seems to be Audi’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz CLS class, and finds itself in a crowded segment. In the U.S., however, the A7 is the only four-door coupe to be offered with a diesel engine.

The A7’s interior is similar to the A6, and the tailored fit of its seats gives the distinct impression that it was ready to go have some fun in the curves. Once “Dynamic” mode was selected on the Audi Drive Select system, we were off.

Driving on the back roads was a great ride in the A7. The car was well balanced around corners, and the diesel’s low- and mid-range torque seduced us to pour it on as we realized we would not be winning any awards for fuel economy on this run, and decided to go all out for fun.

Despite being fantastic in the corners, the A7 TDI was almost somewhat disappointing. Of the three cars we drove, it was the most expensive and seemed to be the best provisioned for sporty driving, and it just felt that there wasn’t enough power. Sure, the A7 could handle high speeds with ease, and drag racing in traffic is both illegal and unrealistic – but the 240-horsepower powerplant just didn’t have that high-torque oomph that got me hooked on diesel. Subjectively, I think the far less powerful BMW 328d pushed me back in my seat far harder than the A7 did, and that really made me think while in the Audi.

Click here to continue to Page 3 – The 2014 Audi Q5 TDI

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