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The previous-generation Audi A6 seemed a bit on the small side for its class, and the new model addresses that. The 2005 A6 is nearly 2 inches wider. It's just an inch longer overall, but the wheelbase is significantly longer (by 2.3 inches), which results in a roomier interior.

Clean, flowing lines give the new Audi A6 a more upscale, more masculine appearance than the rounded lines of the previous generation. A giant grille dominates the front of the car. Most people seem to like it, but the design has drawn criticism from some quarters. AutoWeek magazine ran a head-on shot of the yawning A6 aside a highly publicized photo of a panicked Macaulay Culkin from the movie "Home Alone." We think the new A6 looks much better in person than it does in photographs. The grille makes sense when viewed as part of the progression of A6 design over the years because it essentially joins what had previously been upper and lower grilles into one large one. The chief designer for the Audi A6 told us while conducting a walkaround that Audi spent a considerable amount of time and effort designing the grille to work with U.S. license plates. A6 models sold in states that do not require front plates get an elegant blank panel with two chrome strips. In spite of the grille controversy, the Audi A6 is a study in excellent design. It has the look of a four-door coupe. It's a slippery design with a drag coefficient of 0.28.

Much of the beauty of the A6 is in the details: Body panels fit more closely together around the doors, hood and trunk lid, as well as along places such as the bottom edge of the tail lamp. It's a result of closer tolerances. You won't find a rubber strip at top of windshield, nor strips on the sides of the roof. Door jams, the trunk flange and other areas normally hidden are Class A surfaces, smooth and painted as on the exterior body panels. Not everyone will notice these details, of course, but most will perceive a general look of quality.

Aluminum was used for key body panels to save weight, though not to the extent of the expensive all-aluminum Audi A8. The lever-style outside door handles are stylish, but we find they aren't as easy to operate as the grab handles that don't require flipping your hand over. That's a personal preference on our part. Overall, the Audi A6 sets a benchmark in quality of materials and build quality.

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Like the exterior, the interior of the new Audi A6 is more expressive than that of the previous model, and the attention to detail is remarkable.

The interior is light and airy, particularly with the lighter-colored leather choices. The standard leather is nice and is available in a good-looking two-tone treatment light-colored seats and door inserts and charcoal dash and door trim. Among the trim choices, we liked the dark brown walnut and light beige birch wood trim found on the 4.2 model better than the standard aluminum trim on the 3.2.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive. We never gave them much thought during a day of driving on a drizzly day in Italy, a good sign. The rear seats are comfortable, too. Audi designed room in the rear-seat footwell for bulky shoes, like sneakers on teenage boys, to be able to easily swing by the B-pillar when getting in and out.

It's a driver-oriented cockpit. A center console with a control panel separates driver and passenger, and their legs go into separate tunnels. The driver benefits from a nice four-spoke steering wheel or a nicer, sportier three-spoke wheel and a straightforward instrument panel. The center stack is angled toward the driver. Climate controls are located at the bottom of the center stack that are sophisticated but straightforward and easy to operate. At the top of the stack, above the vents, is a crisp seven-inch screen that displays navigation and other functions.

Audi's Multi Media Interface, which features a large knob and some buttons on the center console, controls many of the interior functions. This eliminates a lot of switches, making for a clean-looking dash. To further reduce clutter, the switch for the glovebox is located on the center of dash. Mastering the MMI takes time and requires reading the owner's manual. We sometimes found it a distraction, though less so than BMW's iDrive system.

High technology can also be found in what were previously mundane controls. The parking brake is electronic; pull the switch up to set it, press to release it. The hood release operates only when the door is open. The wipers are speed sensitive. A Bluetooth-enabled interface integrates compatible cell phones.

Typical of many German sedans, the Audi A6 does not offer many places to put stuff. The glovebox is very small, especially with the available CD changer. The cup holders are nice, though they are positioned awkwardly toward the rear.

The trunk is deep. Luggage capacity is nearly 16 cubic feet, more than the BMW and comparable to the Mercedes, but trunk opening is relatively small. Attention to detail can be seen inside the trunk. Raise the floor panel to get at the spare tire and you'll note that it can be hooked up in place, making it easier to remove or replace the spare.