Audi A6 · Engine family · 5 offered

Audi A6 2.8L six-cylinder

The 2.8L is the most common engine code the VIN decodes to on the 2.8L six-cylinder configurations below; hybrid variants of the same displacement carry their own code. Rated at 172–200 hp. We decode it on 1,010 VINs across 16 factory builds, and 8 of those cars are on sale today at a typical $5,000.

Cylinders
6
Power
172–200 hp
Induction
Naturally aspirated
Fuel
Gasoline
Fitted
1996–2001
Drive
AWD

◷ Updated September 2, 2026 ▤ National asking prices, refreshed nightly

$5,000
Typical asking price, cars with this engine
8
On sale today with the 2.8L 6-cyl
1996–2001
Model years it was fitted
16
Factory configurations
1,010
A6 VINs decoded with it

Where the 2.8L 6-cyl sits in the A6 engine lineup

Every engine family this model was sold with, ordered by size. The bar spans the model years it was fitted; the price is what cars carrying it ask today. Older engines look cheaper because the cars are older — the only fair comparison is an engine whose years overlap this one's.

2.0L 4-cyl turbo
2012–2025
$14,999
211–261 hp · 1,251 on sale
2.8L 6-cyl this page
1996–2001
$5,000
172–200 hp · 8 on sale
3.0L 6-cyl turbo
2002–2026
$19,995
220–362 hp · 2,183 on sale
3.1L 6-cyl
2005–2009
$5,800
255 hp · 41 on sale
4.2L 8-cyl
2000–2011
$10,836
300–350 hp · 11 on sale

5 engine families, one nameplate. Open the Audi A6 price hub to compare them side by side, or to jump into any of the others.

Which A6 years got a 2.8L 6-cyl engine

Every model year this engine was fitted to, newest first. The bar is how much of the family's VIN volume sits in that year — long bars are the years this engine was everywhere.

Year Share of VINs VINs On sale Builds
2001 346 2 5
2000 151 2 3
1999 318 3 4
1998 140 1 2
1997 31 1
1996 24 1

VIN counts come from our decode of the model's build patterns, not from live listings. A year link opens the full A6 report for that year — every engine of the model, not just this one.

16 factory configurations with this engine

Each one is a distinct build as the VIN decodes it — trim, body, gearbox and equipment. Open a build sheet for its full spec and the VINs recorded on it.

2001

5 builds

2000

3 builds

1999

4 builds

1998

2 builds

1997

1 build

1996

1 build

Every 2001 A6 build →

The 2.8L 6-cyl A6: common questions

Which A6 years have the 2.8L 6-cyl?

1996–2001, without a break — 6 model years in our VIN decode, across 16 factory configurations and 1,010 VINs.

What does a 2.8L 6-cyl A6 cost?

$5,000 is the typical asking price across the 8 cars with this engine on sale today. The year-by-year ladder above splits that by model year — the spread between the oldest and newest year is far wider than the spread between engines.

What is the engine code, and does it matter?

2.8L — the code the VIN decodes to on the configurations on this page. It matters when you order parts or read a service history: the same displacement badge on another model can be a different code with different outputs.