If you’ve driven past the gleaming Audi showroom on EDSA lately, then you would have seen a large window decal that reads: 19 km/liter. Fuel economy is an unusual selling point for luxury sedans, but then nobody likes to be parted from money unnecessarily. As Europeans know all too well, the technology that makes it possible to combine high fuel economy and luxury-sedan performance is diesel propulsion. In the case of the Philippines, with a diesel pump at practically every street corner, the market is ripe for diesel-powered super-sedans. We sample Audi’s new entry to the field, the A6 midsize sedan powered by a 3.0 liter diesel V6.

Audi sedans have always been models of elegant understatement. The second-generation A6 in particular was a rolling minimalist sculpture, memorable for the way its fender, headlamp and bumper met up like a piece of Bauhaus furniture. The current model continues that theme, with its clean-cut lines and thin, coupe-like roof. Despite the corporate grille that’s reminiscent of the Joker’s grin, the A6 continues to be an attractive interpretation of a luxury sedan.

The sleek roofline exacts a penalty in ingress/egress. Rear-seat passengers have to bow their heads to avoid conking them when entering the A6. Will Smith probably wouldn’t mind, but Angela Merkel won’t be happy with that. Once inside, though, passengers have plenty of space to stretch out. Our A6 was not the long-wheelbase version designed for the Chinese market, but legroom is abundant even in the back. Shoulder room of the rear seat is wide enough for three adults, but the large center tunnel makes it comfortable only for two.

The driver faces a functional environment, with traditional-looking round gauges and a video screen. There are some bits of cheesiness, such as the push-button glove box release, and there’s a lack of overtly luxurious touches. Overall, the cabin exudes the air of a cool, state-of-the-art driving environment. Refreshingly, there’s no wood anywhere in this cabin and judicious use of aluminum livens up the all-black interior.          

In past encounters, we’ve found Audi’s MMI interface to be user-friendly thanks to its menu-driven system. This time, the screen froze for several hours and endless tinkering on the road and while parked couldn’t make it work again. We’ve had enough frozen-screen moments from our laptop, and certainly didn’t want to experience it again while driving. The system righted itself by the end of the day and continued to be its normal, efficient self after that.

An attractive, if not understated interpretation of the luxury sedan, the A6.  The large horseshoe grille remains the most controversial point.