2026 Audi A6 Safety Rating
Large cars Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-10-22
The 2026 Audi A6 scores 88.7/100, ranking #2 of 5 current large cars and #73 of 136 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in the 2026 award cycle.
Results below Good: Headlights rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Acceptable; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
Headlights: baseline Acceptable; best reported Good
- Good β (1) Trim level(s): Premium trim
- Acceptable β (2) Trim level(s): Premium Plus trim, Prestige trim
Pedestrian crash prevention: baseline Good
- Good β standard Active Front Assist. Rating applies to all 2026 models
Vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention 2.0: baseline Good
- Good β standard Active Front Assist. Rating applies to all 2026 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (53 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2026 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2026 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2026 models
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2026 models
Headlights
Β· (1) Trim level(s): Premium trim
Headlights
Β· (2) Trim level(s): Premium Plus trim, Prestige trim
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Rating applies to all 2026 models Β· standard Active Front Assist
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to all 2026 models Β· standard Active Front Assist
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2026 models
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2026 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2026 Audi A6 quattro 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2026 models
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 93 per million registered vehicle-years | Large cars as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
Compared with other large cars
Closest-scoring current large cars with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every large car ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron | #1 of 5 | TSP+ | $66,700 | 91.2 | |
| 2026 Audi A6 (this page) | #2 of 5 | TSP+ | $64,100 | 88.7 | |
| 2026 Genesis G80 | #3 of 5 | TSP+ | $58,450 | 87.4 | |
| 2026 Genesis G90 | #4 of 5 | β | $92,700 | 78.3 | |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz E Class | #5 of 5 | β | $63,900 | 68.8 |
Other model years of the Audi A6
| Model year | Status | IIHS award | Primary tests reported | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Audi A6 | Archived | β | 2/4 | Not ranked |
Each model year keeps its own record. Ratings from one year are never copied to another unless IIHS states the test applies.
Our analysis
The 2026 Audi A6 belongs to the Large cars class. This class has an above-average driver death rate compared with the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years, which usually reflects lighter weight and smaller size in multi-vehicle crashes. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Audi A6 earned Top Safety Pick+ in the 2026 award cycle. That award requires Good results in the updated tests plus qualifying headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention on the relevant trims; the linked IIHS report shows the exact trims.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Audi A6 earned 5 Good ratings. One result sits below Good; the verdict at the top of the page names it.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Audi or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Audi A6
No recalls on record. The saved NHTSA lookup found no recall campaigns for this model year as of 2026-10-21. Check your VIN for subsequent campaigns and exact applicability.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-10-21. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
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Questions about the 2026 Audi A6
Is the 2026 Audi A6 a safe car?
The 2026 Audi A6 scores 88.7/100 in our published formula and ranks #2 of 5 current large cars with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
What is the 2026 Audi A6 IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Good; side: updated test = Good; headlights = Acceptable; seat belt reminders = Good; latch ease of use = Good.
Is the 2026 Audi A6 an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
Yes. The 2026 Audi A6 is a IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for the 2026 award cycle.
How does the 2026 Audi A6 compare with other large cars?
The class leader is the 2027 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron at 91.2/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current large cars with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.