I WAS talking to a colleague recently about my Audi A6 TDIe. I was praising its relaxed driving character and the fact that I was seeing over 42mpg. (And now that the autumn chill has arrived, the heated front seats, too.)

While he agreed with me on most points – having just driven the Avant estate model – he was critical of the engine noise as you accelerated.

My response to this is simple: accelerate less; make the most of the Audi’s exceptional low-down pulling power by changing gear earlier. It moves you along effortlessly, there’s no noticeable engine noise and it makes the most of the big Audi’s character: relaxed but sophisticated.

Audi’s A6 best suited to relaxed driving