The mid-sized executive saloon sector is one of the most fiercely fought frontlines within the car industry get it wrong and you end up with egg on your face, get it right and you end up with the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class.

Honda tried to break this Saxon stranglehold with the Accord but so established are the German trio within Europe that they consume any competitor like a black hole consumes light. So here it is, the fourth-generation A6, its received a series of updates for 2015 most of which you won’t see but will benefit from.

These changes are mainly technical more efficient engines, more power, better economy that sort of thing. The CVT gearbox has been shelved in favor of the S-Tronic dual-clutch seven speed transmission which now has a coasting feature to improve fuel efficiency. If you don’t like automatics then there is always the 6-speed manual available although there are now more model choices with auto transmissions. The 2015 A6 range is, as you may well know, available in either saloon or estate body styles and prices start from £31k and range up to £77k. Three bread winning trim levels are on offer SE, S Line and Black Edition.

The engine range is dominated by a diesel tribe, the exception being the V8-powered S6 and RS 6 performance versions. Diesel punters will have a choice of either the tried and trusted 2.0-litre diesel, 3.0-litre TDi or the 3.0-litre Bi-Turbo variant. There is also the ultra-efficient Ultra versions which should satisfy middle management tax avoiders and accountants obsessed with BIK rates.

The standard specification has been increased, the A6 now has front double glazed windows, Deluxe 4-zone Climate control, SE trim levels have Bi-Xenon headlights as standard, LED headlights are standard for the S Line and Matrix LED lights are offered as an option. Audi Drive Select is now standard throughout the range.

“The steering software on the A6 needs to be refined and updated, at low speeds it becomes over-predictive sensing a corner before you turn in and applying resistance when it isn’t required.”

OK so that’s what Audi wants you to know, all very well and good, but what does it feel like to drive and own, let’s start with the interior which has to be the best in class. Its uber stylish, fairly roomy, has a bigger than you would expect boot and everything feels of a high standard from the use of quality materials to the attention of design detail such as the switchgear. The pinstripe accents may not be to all tastes but hey lets go with the Audi flow here. It’s a superb place to spend your time and you rather look forward to the obligatory traffic jam just so you can look around and inspect.

And then there is the exterior, its perhaps the best looking A6 yet and a vast improvement over the predecessor in every area. The current A6 is wider, has better proportions, it looks classy and obviously borrows a few design cues from the A8. Dressed in the S Line body kit with those 20-inch alloy wheels what you have is a winning and stylish combination.

So you get a classy interior and swish exterior, what is it like to drive? Not bad lets say its very capable particularly if you have a few pennies to spend on the 3.0-litre V6 TDi, Quattro S line version. First of all there is the power and I can’t express enough just how comforting it is to have so much power on tap, 272bhp and 560 Nm of torque propel the A6 from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 155mph. Plenty quick enough.

Power delivery is smooth and refined there is any barely recognisable diesel noise evident even under heavy acceleration. The S Tronic transmission changes gears swiftly, although at low speed in stop/start traffic it can feel awkward.

“I can’t express enough just how comforting it is to have so much power on tap, 272bhp and 560 Nm of torque propel the A6 from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 155mph. Plenty quick enough.”

The Handling is confidently adept but with a few provisos, Audi have clearly worked on the weight distribution the A6 feels neither heavy on the front or rear and is well balanced. The adaptive air suspension allows the A6 to trance through corners with minimal body roll and the security of the 4WD Quattro system enlivens the amount of available grip especially in slippery conditions. The optional sports differential merely adds another level to the A6’s handling abilities, S Line trim lowers the ride height by 20mm and it all translates into a car that turns into and exits corners with clarity and definition. In other words the handling is excellent although the brakes do feel a little spongy but this is a familiar Audi trait that has existed for as long as I can recall. Overall ride comfort is excellent the A6 will cope with a range of road surfaces without too much difficulty and without causing you too much hassle.

All A6 models come with Audi’s Drive Select which allows you to alter the gearbox, steering, and engine maps and therefore optimise the handling, economy or comfort settings. These settings are accessed by the 7 inch media display and while the tech geek in me says “yes” the driver says you won’t really notice the changes too much.

The electronic steering is a bit of a bug bear, these systems are now widely used by all car manufacturers because they allow for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. The downside of this is the loss of some feel through the steering compared to the hydraulic era. The steering software on the A6 needs to be refined and updated, at low speeds it becomes over-predictive sensing a corner before you turn in and applying slight resistance when it isn’t required.

This tends to happen at low speeds (30mph) as you are braking while approaching a corner or it could be at a roundabout. The steering system is consistent when you are driving at speed on a B-road or motorway. But I will contradict myself and say generally speaking the electronic steering feels inconsistent because the steering can feel both detached and overburdened as if the on-board CPU isn’t powerful enough to cope with the demands of the software and involvement of the driver.

The A6 on test came fully loaded with options, that adaptive air suspension, £2k.  Do you really need night vision? what the hell its £1750. Quattro with Sports differential is a must have and comes in at a relatively cheap £1,1000 asking price. Going through the options range would be too detailed and verbose, in total the A6 was loaded with £20k of optional extras which bumped the £43 asking price up to £63k.

Of course not every new potential A6 owner will overdose on options as much as Audi will, official test cars always come loaded with optional extra’s. The Audi A6, whatever model you decide to choose, is now better than ever its more stylish has one of the best interiors on the market and the 3.0-litre TDi version has prodigious amounts of power indeed more than you will ever need. Only the inconsistent electronic steering lets the side down.