Audi A6 vs Lexus ES

The Audi A6 starts from $123,600 before on-road costs, while the Lexus ES opens at $73,900. That makes the Lexus ES the more affordable entry point by $49,700.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $135,960 and $81,290 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Lexus ES by roughly $2,280 in fuel alone.

Both the Audi A6 and Lexus ES hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 92% for the Audi A6 and 95% for the Lexus ES.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi A6 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the Lexus ES.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Audi A6 and 8 in the Lexus ES.

The Audi A6 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the Lexus ES gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi A6 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ventilated seats and Bang & Olufsen audio that you will not find on the Lexus ES. The Lexus ES counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Audi A6 uses a Diesel MHEV producing 210kW and 620Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds.

The Lexus ES responds with a Hybrid making 160kW and 221Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds.

The Audi A6 has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 160kW. In the real-world sprint, the Audi A6 is 3.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi A6 measures 4,939mm long on a 2,924mm wheelbase, 36mm shorter than the Lexus ES at 4,975mm (2,870mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi A6 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 530L in the Audi A6 and 473L in the Lexus ES, giving the Audi A6 a 57L advantage.

For towing, the Audi A6 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 1,500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,967/year for the Audi A6 and $1,511/year for the Lexus ES. That is a $456 annual difference in favour of the Lexus ES.

Estimated annual total: $1,967 (Audi A6) vs $1,511 (Lexus ES). The Lexus ES saves you roughly $456 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi A6) vs 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus ES). The Audi A6 has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: —4yr (Lexus ES).