The Old Audi A4 was once the preserve of BMW 3 series. That is, it was the one they bought when they wanted a change. But, now its as well known and liked as its arch-rival.
Its success can be owed to the various features packed into it. It can be put down to – strong, fuel-efficient engines, an impressive sense of quality, and restrained, tasteful styling that has always echoed larger Audis.
The latest A4 is bristling with technology. This is an added bonus which Audi hopes will help the A4 overhaul the 3-series in the sales charts.
There’s just one problem: BMW and Audi don’t have the class to themselves, and with the impressive Mercedes C-class and the Jaguar XE also gunning for the A4, it’s going to have to be a bit special to rise above its rivals.
I list the various pros and cons of this new Audi and leave the rest to you.
Space in the A4
Audi claims that the A4 has Class-leading boot capacity. That it does, but, it also shares this claim with the BMW 3 and the Mercedes C-Class. The Jaguar XE is the only one that falls short in this respect. That’s Jaguar for you.
Anyways.
It is true that for the passengers, the Audi is a bit more spacious than its rivals. The Audi is only beaten in the back by BMW 3. In the front, the Audi beats BMW and matches Mercedes. Jaguar comes short here too.
Not slacking off on Jaguar here, but it does seem to be slacking when it comes to luxury saloons.
The only area in which the A4 falls down slightly is in storage space. The glovebox is small, the door bins are slim, the bin between the two front seats is shallow, and even the cup holders are rather mean.
Having said all of this, it’s worth pointing out that if you’re after a spacious car, and can live without the prestige of the Audi badge, the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat both offer even more room.
Comfort
Audi makes a good case in the comfort department. Whichever model of the A4 you choose, you’ll find that the Audi is a comfortable ride.
In the SE and Sport models, it’s still comfortable enough to be acceptable, but if you choose an S-line version, or pick larger wheels, it becomes irritatingly sharp.
Another reason to steer clear of larger wheels is road noise. It’s fine with the standard 17-inch wheels, but anything larger, and you’ll spend your life praying for those lovely new stretches of Tarmac with quieter surfaces.
You can opt for adaptive suspension, which should give you the best of both worlds – a comfortable ride most of the time, firming up to offer sportiness when you want it. It isn’t overly expensive, either, which makes it a tempting option – but the reality is that it has a mallow-like springiness when in “comfort” mode.
But keep it simple – that is to say, a lower-end model with the standard wheels and suspension – and the A4 is a comfortable enough companion.
Dashboard Styling of the A4
Audi is famous for its interior designing and always exudes a sense of finely tuned engineering.
The heating and air-conditioning controls are a highlight, with gorgeous knurled knobs that feel weighty and sturdy as they click through each temperature setting, and a clear, simple display.
If you’re willing to pay for it, you can also specify Audi’s clever virtual cockpit, which replaces the conventional instruments with a huge screen that can be customized to show the satnav map, radio station, or car information, among other things.
As well made as it is, though, it’s a little bit of a shame that the A4’s dash isn’t a little more imaginative. Both the Jaguar XE and Mercedes C-class make you feel more special thanks to their more interesting designs. Still, at least you can specify a fancy multi-colored lighting pack to brighten things up a little for a small fee.
While we’re picking out quibbles, we’d also mention that the menu system you have to scroll through to access some of the car’s functions isn’t as intuitive as the one you’ll find in the BMW 3-series, but it’s less distracting than the touchscreen in the XE.
Driving Ease
There is an expansive range of automatic transmission available for the Audi. Actually, except the entry-level petrol version, its available for each of them.
It’s probably marginally preferable to the manual gearbox, which has a satisfyingly slick and precise change, but can be a little stiff when it’s cold.
Versions with the optional variable power steering can feel a touch on the heavy side at manoeuvring speeds, too, so we wouldn’t bother ticking this option.
Better news comes in the form of the A4’s visibility. Intelligently-placed mirrors mean your view at roundabouts is unobscured, while the metalwork around the windows isn’t too thick. What’s more, it’s easy to judge where the ends of the car are located.
Go for an A4 Ultra, which is the super-frugal version with low-rolling-resistance tyres. The fuel consumption figures are impressive, bettering those of every rival. There’s no downside to choosing one of these models, either, so they’re the ones to have.
Elsewhere in the range, things are less clear-cut – some versions are more frugal than rivals’ equivalents, but others are beaten. For the most part, though, and according to the official figures at least, the A4 is an efficient car.
Safety features
The A4 scored top marks when crash tested by Euro NCAP, the benchmark European crash testing organization. All models come with a system which will detect impending accidents at up to 53mph and apply the brakes. You can also pay extra to extend this system to even higher speeds. While most rivals come with similar systems as standard, the BMW 3-series does not.
You get six airbags as standard in the A4. That isn’t quite as many as in the Mercedes C-class. The Audi still gets a gamut of electronic driver assistance systems. This will help the driver to prevent skids and maintain control of the car.
Also Read: Jaguar XJ: The biggest cat strikes again.