It's still classy but some rivals are even classier. (used)

You'll be surprised that not everyone will find the BMW 5-series entertaining and the Mercedes E-class a bit too boring for their taste. What else could one consider? Well the Audi A6 certainly has the looks and the charm, but is that enough of a reason to buy one?

The standard 2-liter turbo four-cylinder offers decent flexibility around town and on the highway. It never feels short on pull thanks to loads of torque at low revs. You can option for a 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder that has all-wheel-drive fitted standard. Pick of the range goes to the 2-liter turbo with all-wheel-drive. Audi is known for it's Quattro all-wheel-drive system so it only makes sense to option for one with it, and of course that 2-liter turbo does such a good job that the 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder seems a tad bit pointless in our books. However, if you are willing to pay the premium for it then by all means go ahead because it is such a lovely engine.

The A6 doesn't feel as sharp to drive as the 5-series. It does handle quite nicely but you're constantly reminded that this is a front-wheel-drive chassis unlike the 5-series and E-class. You won't be tossed about as much on rough surfaces as the A6 ride comfort is smooth, the only other car that has the A6 beat on that aspect is the S90. You won't have too much to complain about with wind and road noise, as both are well hushed thanks to a well insulated cabin.

The interior feels classy and well sorted. The only car that may have the Audi sleepless at night is the Volvo S90 which has a far classier approach to its overall interior layout. The infotainment screen swings out of the dashboard and all the controls and dials fall right into your hand. The quality of them are top notch. You shouldn't expect anything less from Audi, especially at this price point. The front seats are comfortable and offer plenty of support, while those in the back may feel a bit shortchanged on foot room due to the large transmission tunnel. The boot space is decent but nothing really compares to a traditional wagon when it comes to versatility.

Premium Trim gets a navigation system, rearview parking camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a 7-inch driver information system. You'll have to step up to the Premium Plus trim to get Full LED headlights, power tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column and four-zone automatic climate control. Top of the range Prestige gets the 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder engine, head-up display, power trunk open & close, and surround view parking camera. Our tester car was the middle of the range Premium Plus trim which had an amazing Bose surround sound system and also large 20-inch alloy wheels. The overall package did seem a tad bit expensive considering there are so many options that are more compelling to look at and to drive.

You'll love the A6 as it is comfortable to drive and easy to live with. The styling is a bit on the boring side and the interior is lavishly designed with top notch build quality. It's hard trying to find fault in the A6 but it certainly is hard to find anything to like about it, especially when you look at rivals from Volvo and Jaguar. The A6 is a good car but we just expected a little more from it considering how far ahead some of its keen rivals have leaped. It's still a great choice but for how much longer?

Likes: Both engines are silky smooth, and the all-wheel-drive helps the A6 live up to the reputation Audi is known for. The interior is top notch and elegant. We love those LED headlights.

Dislikes: You're constantly reminded that it's front-wheel-drive bias. The exterior styling is a tad bit too dull when you look at the Jaguar XF and Volvo S90.

Short drive review

Kia Niro

Likes: A hybrid crossover is definitely a smart move on Kia's part. Spacious interior for five with a decently sized boot.

Dislikes: Leisure-hybrid-acceleration. The auto gearbox can be jerky at low speeds.

Overall: It's the hybrid for those who aren't trying to appear snobby.



Land Rover Evoque

Likes: It's stylish and fully capable off-road. The convertible version makes no sense but it looks good.

Dislikes: It can get expensive quickly. Build quality is still iffy no matter how you look at it.

Overall: It's the smallest and the cutest Land Rover of the range.



Honda Accord

Likes: We personally love the way it looks. We love the way it drives and we love the new turbo engines.

Dislikes: Sleek styling makes visibility slightly compromised.

Overall: This maybe the best Accord, ever, and there's a hybrid available.



Alfa Romeo Giulia

Likes: No matter which engine you choose, both are up for the job. Dare we say more fun to drive than a BMW 3-series?

Dislikes: The interior build quality is iffy in build quality. Resale value is weak.

Overall: It's full of Italian flare and charm.



Jeep Compass

Likes: A handsome little thing with real off-road capabilities. The interior is much improved over previous generation.

Dislikes: Engine stop/start isn't very smooth. It needs a 2-liter turbo engine option.

Overall: A decent option in a very crowded segment.

Short drive in Tesla Model X

What’s the fastest accelerating crossover money can buy? Your first guess would most likely be a Bentley, BMW or even Porsche. However, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s none of the above. It’s actually the Tesla Model X, one crossover that’s worth buying if you have the means to keep it recharged.

There are three power outputs for the electric motor. The version we had for our test drive was the top of the range P100D which can accelerate from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. It doesn’t feel like it has all that power when you’re driving it less like a hooligan, but when you really put your foot down you’ll feel the torque push you into the back of your seat as the Model X accelerates as if it had a V12 under the hood. It actually is quite contagious actually and the Ludacris Mode is just that, you’ll have to have knuckles of steel to handle it. We didn’t get to really play around much in that mode nor drive it like a hooligan because the example we had was someone else’s and they were onboard with us. We limited our play to driving around on the highway and got to sneak in a few twisty roads. The steering feedback is good but the handling is what amazes us. The weight of the electric motors all sit between the front and  rear wheels so the center of gravity is much better than any mass production crossover today, in fact we think that it would be almost impossible to roll this thing over.

Driving around town is quite easy with the Model X, as the steering is precise and offers the feedback you desire. What we love the most about the Model X is the presence it has on the road. It quite literally looks like no other car and won’t be hard to find in a parking lot. The driving position is spot-on good and the overall visibility outwards is where it needs to be. The windshield and panoramic sunroof offer such an airy feeling cabin and of course the cool little features the Model X comes with are worth noting; when you sit side of the car and buckle your seatbelt, the driver’s side door automatically closes for you. You simply depress the brake pedal and the car automatically activates (of course you have to have the key inside the vehicle with you) and away you go.

You can choose from several different configurations. The version we had was the five-seat and would most likely be the version we would choose if we were looking to get a Model X. We’ve had the opportunity to sit in one with six and seven seats and both are actually quite roomy and the boot space isn’t severely compromised, although we do wish that there was an option for regular hinged doors instead of the Falcon Wing Doors. Don’t get us wrong here, we love how graceful they lift up and how they can be opened in the narrowest of parking spaces, but when it comes to practicality it really fails on that aspect. Please note: everyone will notice you when you open the rear door. Well, it’s hard not to notice anyone exiting a vehicle with doors that lift all the way up to the roof of the car.

The standard features list on the Model X is quite good considering this vehicle costs as much as it does, if have to ask you clearly can’t afford one. We clearly can’t afford one even in our wildest dreams. 22-inch alloy wheels are standard, as well as air-suspension, power-folding mirrors and three-position dynamic LED turn lights for nighttime visibility; LED fog lights, premium leather seats, 400kWh worth of free annual Supercharger credits and Bioweapon Defense Mode.

Despite what people will tell you, the Tesla Model X isn’t the cheapest of the bunch when it comes to purchase price but it certainly makes up for that with low running costs. It’s cheaper to tax than most crossovers due to the fact that it’s zero emissions and that tax credit should help take some sting out of the purchase price, don’t expect major discounts with Tesla but there may be some room for haggling.

Our time spent with the Model X was short, and we certainly do wish we could’ve spent more time with it. It’s fast, easy to live with and quite enjoyable to drive. The falcon doors are annoying and well that’s all we really have to complain about; like we said in the intro if you have the means to buy one and keep it recharged then we say it’s worth buying.

Likes: It’s insanely fast with running the running costs of a small hatchback. You can choose between 5-7 seats and the standard kit is generous.

Dislikes: It’s not cheap to buy. The falcon doors are annoying and are prone to reliability issues.

Our pick: The 70D makes the most sense for those who want a Model X and don’t really need the insanely fast trims.