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    Talking Cars 495: Driving the Audi A6

    Plus, is it worth repairing the battery on an older hybrid car?

    Main theme: In this episode of the Talking Cars podcast, we discuss the 2026 Audi A6. Audi’s iconic “executive sedan” enters its sixth generation with a standard turbo V6 engine and classic sedan proportions.

    Although on paper it remains a proper luxury midsized sedan, does it meet the expectations of its $70,000-plus price? With so many great SUV options on the market, who is the right buyer for this classic gas-powered model? And what makes the A6’s interior stand out against other less expensive Audi models, such as the also-redesigned A5? We bought a Premium Plus model for our test program to answer these questions and more.

    Read the Audi A6 first drive.

    Audience question: Is it worth it to replace the high-voltage battery in my 2014 Toyota Prius V if it has 62 percent of its original capacity? Is there a general rule for battery state of health?

    Talking Cars 495 panel
    “Talking Cars” panelists (from left): Alex Knizek, Ryan Pszczolkowski, and Jeff Bartlett.

    Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports

    How to Listen to the Podcast

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    Recent Podcast Episodes

    Driving the Nissan Leaf, episode 494
    Driving the Toyota bZ, episode 493
    10 Top Picks of 2026, episode 492
    Driving the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, episode 491
    Driving the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, episode 490

    Have a Question?

    Send a text or video message to TalkingCars@iCloud.com. Please include your first name and where you are from. If we feature it in a future episode, we’ll send you an exclusive Auto Test Center T-shirt!

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    Alex Knizek

    Alex Knizek is an automotive engineer at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2020 and works on the vehicle testing program, technical reporting, and tracking automotive trends and technology. Alex earned a master’s degree in automotive engineering from Clemson University, where he led a team that designed and built a fully functional prototype vehicle. Previously, he was an ergonomics engineer at Ford Motor Company.