Luxury executive "old money" high-end models showdown: 400,000 to choose Audi A6
Although at present new energy vehicles are eroding the sales base of traditional luxury brands, if you observe the monthly sales rankings, you will find that the mid-to-large luxury sedans represented by "56E" still hold an absolute dominance for traditional luxury brands. No model from new energy brands, whether plug-in hybrids or pure electric, has been able to achieve a stable sales volume that reaches even one-tenth of the 56E.
Within the traditional luxury brands, there is another phenomenon worth noting, which is one of the vehicles we are going to compare in this article, the Volvo S90, has forcefully entered the position of the fourth best-selling mid-to-large sedan, and the absolute value is not low. Over the past 12 consecutive months, the monthly average sales of the Volvo S90 have reached about 3,000 units.
The entry of the Volvo S90, the generation change of the 5E, and the price war of the A6L have caused the top of this year's luxury mid-to-large sedan market to fracture in a new pattern—
The market of 4.5-5 million is the "5E contention";In the market segment of 330,000 to 400,000 yuan, the competition primarily revolves around the Audi A6L and the Volvo S90 "96" battle.
The recent surge in sales of the Volvo S90 is attributed to Volvo's successful shift in the competitive focus of the S90 from its previous position sandwiched between the prices of the 6 and 5E series, to a direct confrontation with the Audi A6L, where the S90 exhibits an aggressive stance in the "96" rivalry.
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After all, the A6L has been the most stable top-selling model in the 56E category for over a year, with a monthly average sales volume of 12,000 to 13,000 units. This means that as long as a product can outperform the A6L in terms of "value for money" at the same price point, it will not lack in sales.
Two months ago, we had already compared the Audi A6L 40TFSi model with the S90. As we reach June, our end-of-line investigation reveals that the terminal price of the Volvo S90 has gained a new core competitive point—the B5 top-of-the-line model, the Inscription Luxury version with a guide price of 505,900 yuan, has dropped to a terminal landing price of 400,000 yuan.And this also corresponds to the Audi A6L, apart from the "34 million for a low-spec" model, another configuration with high sales — the 45TFSI with a "quattro" badge on the tail, also around 400,000 yuan.
Before I actually borrowed both cars, it was hard to imagine what the showdown between these two high-end products would be like.
— This is a battle for the throne among "luxury old money."
Literally speaking, the golden nameplate of Audi A6L may still have great appeal. I am 36 years old this year, and many friends who are a bit older or the same age as me may have once had a small dream in their hearts to own an Audi A6L as a standard middle-class person.
However, when we drove the two models that both cost around 400,000 yuan, I found that the Volvo S90 would lead you to a cautious consideration — when a person truly has the ability to purchase a luxury mid-to-large sedan, what else does their need encompass besides the logo of a luxury brand?First, let's compare their appearance and temperament.
Although the front and rear design of the 2024 Audi A6L has changed compared to the versions from the previous two years, offering more visual impact and a sportier temperament, this model, which has not been fully redesigned for a long time, still has a rather orthodox and stiff style. However, people's aesthetics have changed, and even government officials no longer wear leather shoes to work, so this serious style is no longer as appealing as it once was.
In a nutshell: it appears dull.
On the other hand, the Volvo S90, with its longer body and wheelbase compared to the Audi A6L, not only presents an aura and executive flavor that is not inferior to the Audi A6L, but also its chrome waterfall grille, Thor's hammer headlights, and the unique reassuring brand image, have added just the right amount of refinement to the executive flavor, making it neither too much nor too little.Just like an upscale businessman, the high-end fashion sense is presented after donning a suit with unconventional design yet not lacking in seriousness.
The differences in the interior are more pronounced than the exterior.
The color scheme and details of the Audi A6L are neat and rigorous, which are appropriate enough for official occasions, but if used for personal home use, they might be a bit too serious and bland.
The interior of the Volvo S90, on the other hand, is primarily made of brown wood trim and brown leather, establishing a more luxurious overall atmosphere compared to the A6L. Additionally, features such as the metal knobs for the air conditioning vents, the orrefors crystal gear lever, some matte metal decorations, and the bright metal mesh of the audio system, further enhance the delicacy of the interior.The differences in configuration can lead to significant disparities in actual use.
It's only June, but the temperature in Chengdu has already risen above 30 degrees Celsius. After parking the A6L by the roadside for lunch and getting back in, the seats are so hot that it's difficult to sit comfortably in both the front and rear rows. However, the top-of-the-line Volvo S90 comes standard with heating and ventilation for all four seats in the front and rear, and the front seats even have a massage function.
▲Audi A6L
In terms of driving comfort, the Volvo's front driver's seat not only has an extended cushion feature but also adjustable lumbar support tightness, allowing drivers of different body types to have a suitable sense of relaxation or enclosure in winter or summer. This is clearly the "new luxury" in the current era where people are becoming increasingly demanding about comfort.
In the important perception part of luxury at present—seating, the Volvo S90 completely outperforms the Audi A6L.Volvo S90
In terms of audio configuration, the sound system of the Audi A6L 2024 model 45 TFSI quattro S-line Dynamic is significantly behind that of the top-spec Volvo S90:
Audi's system features 10 speakers without a branded name, while Volvo boasts a Bowers & Wilkins 19-speaker system with 1400 watts and 12 channels, a combination that would typically be found in luxury D-class cars costing over a million in the BBA segment.
There is also a subtle detail: the Volvo S90's infotainment system comes standard with QQ Music software, which includes a customized hi-fi library, and offers Hi-Res audio quality (file sizes ranging from 40-150 MB per song), which is even more "competitive" than the audio and infotainment systems supported by some new force brands that are known for their focus on sound quality.
Those in the know will understand.Additionally, in terms of the crucial rear seating experience, the Volvo S90 offers a rear control feature for the front passenger seat, often referred to as the "boss button," which is not found in the Audi A6L 2024 model 45 TFSI quattro S-line Dynamic, as well as a more reclined backrest angle, providing a "flatter" and thus more comfortable seating position. It also includes the widely appreciated factory-fitted rear privacy glass.
Lastly, when comparing the powertrains, there is no need to worry about the power or acceleration performance of either model.
Both vehicles are equipped with a 2.0T high-power engine, providing ample power, and even their official 0-100 km/h acceleration times are identical, at 7.2 seconds.
The difference lies in the fact that the Audi A6L 2024 model 45 TFSI quattro offers an all-wheel drive system that is favored by customers in snowy northern regions.
The 2024 B5 Inscription Luxury Edition, on the other hand, is equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system and features an 8-speed automatic transmission (8AT). Therefore, the Volvo S90 clearly excels in terms of overall driving smoothness.In terms of the chassis, both vehicles exhibit exceptional performance, with a driving style that is comfortable yet sporty. The high dynamic performance of these two cars can be best illustrated by the following:
Colleagues who are accustomed to new energy vehicles, especially SUV models, can't help but exclaim when driving them:
This is what a good car should be like.
Conclusion by the driver:
(Note: The original text seems to be cut off, so the translation ends here as well.)Overall, when compared to the 400,000 benchmark, the Audi A6L is a "no-mistake" choice, stable and moderate, and the A6L has its own loyal fans.
However, when it comes to rational selection, the Volvo S90 B5 Inscription Luxury Edition can offer a more elegant and high-end design, richer configurations, and comfort, which are highly perceptible aspects that can easily make people let go of their obsession with Audi.
When purchasing a luxury executive sedan, the most crucial aspect is emotional value. In the days of using the car, the pleasing design and comfortable configuration can provide more tangible emotional value beyond a logo.
Some people are more likely to follow the trend and pay for what others think.
While others, not only have more independent thinking, but also, after years of hard work, understand better the importance of self-awareness and self-care.In fact, when it comes to 400,000, whether it's old money or new wealth, "knowing one's own comfort" is the key point: there's no need to covet excessive luxury, but rather to pursue a sense of high-quality relaxation.
Things that are easy to become popular often go out of fashion just as quickly. Regardless of the advancements in new energy, when it comes to executive-level luxury sedans, traditional luxury brands still hold the key. The moment you hold the steering wheel and drive through the city, the sense of inner peace and certainty, that feeling of calm after the dust has settled from the hustle and bustle,
is back again.
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