It takes a special car to be named World Car of the Year, and in February 2005 the new Audi A6 was made just that. Available as both a saloon and an estate — or Avant as Audi calls it — this third generation of A6 seemed to have deposed the BMW 5-series as the preferred choice of transport for any self-respecting European executive.

Introduced to the UK in June 2004 the Audi A6 offers a range of petrol and diesel engines with sufficient power and economy combinations to suit every buyer’s need in a car of this class.

Even so, don’t expect a dawdler: this is a fast executive cruiser. Even the entry-level 2 litre petrol and 2 litre diesel produce 168bhp and 138bhp respectively, enough to power the slippery A6 to about 130mph, while virtually all the larger engine examples have their top speeds capped at 155mph.

Topping the A6 range at launch was the 3.2 litre FSI petrol unit with 252bhp and the 3 litre diesel with 222bhp.

While the diesel was available only with Audi’s now familiar quattro four-wheel-drive system, the petrol model offered the choice of front-wheel or four-wheel drive.

The premium of £1,700 for the quattro system on new cars proved to be money well spent as secondhand examples now fetch about £2,500 more than the two-wheel-drive derivatives: one of the rare occasions when a factory option adds more to secondhand value than its cost when new.

Last year the range was expanded with the addition of a 4.2 litre V8 with 345bhp and the mighty S6 version powered by a 5.2 litre V10 producing 429bhp. Both cars are a hoot to drive and acceleration from the V10 will induce a grin in even the most maudlin of motorists. Used examples of both derivatives are still relatively expensive. But wait a few years and both the V8 and S6 stand a chance of becoming something of a classic.

Engines aside it is the A6’s overall package that won it the title. Importantly in the executive segment of the market, the A6 boasts more interior space than its rivals. In fact its boot is larger than that found in its big brother, the A8. Even the tallest passengers should find little problem reclining in the rear of an A6, although the sculpted seats lend themselves more to two adults than three. Up front the A6 is equally impressive. The dashboard and door panels are breathtaking in their quality and execution, making you wonder how, when Audi inevitably replaces the current model, it will be able to better it.

At the centre of the dashboard sits the MMI, or multimedia interface, a screen that displays and, via a joystick, controls features such as climate control, stereo, sat nav and communications. While some drivers take a while to master the system, it is noticeably easier to use than the iDrive system found in the BMW’s 5-series.

Beautifully built and generously equipped, the A6 should delight most buyers, but those who also demand great driving dynamics will be keen to test the car on the road. In practice this is the A6’s only possible weakness, because although hugely more entertaining to drive than the previous A6, even this newest model falls short of outright brilliance. The electronic power steering is speed sensitive but fails to be as direct and communicative as it could be. And while the quattro four-wheel-drive system delivers outstanding levels of grip the front-wheel-drive derivatives are less impressive.

Despite this shortcoming the Audi A6 delivers a range of abilities virtually unmatched in a car at this or any other price. The Audi A6 won its world title fair and square; if the same award existed for a used car then I would be nominating it for that as well.

Quattro Audi’s name for its four-wheel-drive system; expect to pay about £2,500 more for a used example of a quattro than an equivalent car with just front-wheel drive

Wheels Alloy wheels standard on all models, with a full-size spare wheel and tyre

Engine 3 litre V6 diesel models prone to consuming oil so keep an eye on the dipstick and the dashboard warning light

Safety The A6 scores an impressive five stars for adult occupant safety and four stars for child occupant safety, but just one star for pedestrian safety in the Euro NCAP tests

Brake lights Rear lights employ LED bulbs that give quicker, brighter illumination than conventional bulbs

Sat nav A popular option which also includes a traffic message channel that redirects you if congestion occurs

Stereo CD is standard but try to find a car with the superb Bose system, which is an option on most models

Servicing Variable service intervals mean a visit to the garage between 9,000 and 18,000 miles

Vital statistics

Model Audi A6 SE 3.2 FSI quattro

Engine 3123cc, six cylinders

Power 252bhp

Transmission Six-speed automatic

Fuel 25.9mpg (combined)

Acceleration 0-62mph: 7.1sec

Top speed 155mph (limited)

The one to buy Audi A6 SE 3.2 FSI quattro tiptronic 2004 04 with 40,000 miles. Pay £20,500 at a dealer or £19,000 privately.

Or for similar money 2004 04 BMW 530i SE 2004 04 Jaguar S-type 4.2 V8 SE 2004 04 VW Phaeton 3.2 V6 2004 54 Mercedes-Benz E 320 Avantgarde 2005 55 Volvo S80 T6 Executive

Values

Mileage 10,000 20,000 40,000

2004 04 Trade £19,850 £18,900 £17,000

Retail £23,250 £22,250 £20,500

2005 05 Trade £22,100 £21,000 £18,900

Retail £25,500 £24,500 £22,250

2006 06 Trade £24,300 £23,100 £21,150

Retail £27,750 £26,500 £24,500