- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
185kW, 370Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 6.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2015)
2016 Audi A4 first drive review
The all-new A4 isn't an important car for Audi – it's absolutely crucial to the brand's ambitious growth plans.
The new mid-sizer is tasked with tackling the might of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series while fending off renewed attacks from the freshly arrived Jaguar XE and recently revised Lexus IS.
It's also central to Audi's 2020 vision of out-selling its two prime German competitors.
Despite its modest dimensions, it's a biggie.
"We are in the market to be the number one premium brand," says Audi general manager of corporate communications Anna Burgdorf. "That's our goal … and it remains our goal. The A4 will support us in that goal but it's not necessarily a medium or short-term thing."
In most of its previous eight iterations (where decades ago it wore names such as Fox and 5+5) the A4 was Audi's top seller, but from 2012 onwards that mantle was passed to the similarly priced Q5 SUV.
While sedans, broadly speaking, are on the nose, there's loads of resilience in the booted prestige segment; aspiration, it seems, is alive and kicking. Sales of the main German players have grown 35 per cent in a decade. During the same period sales of medium cars stagnated despite a doubling of models offered, and large cars have plummeted by 70 per cent.
The first challenge for Audi, though, is getting on buyers' radars. At first glance the ninth generation A4 doesn't look vastly different to the model it replaces. Audi will point to the dual character lines on the prouder bonnet, prominent creases sweeping up each side, and a general sharpening of the look.
But at the same time they admit the A4 styling doesn't revolutionise the automobile.
"We would call it evolutionary," says a spokesman. "If you have a look at [new and old] side by side, the new car is much more angular, so that is where the focus is."
Inside it's a different story. The extra millimetres – it's 25mm longer and 16mm wider – liberate more headroom and leg room. And the cabin has a thoroughly modern flavour, courtesy of the clinical instrument cluster, sharp lines and 8.3-inch colour screen.
The cabin focuses more on tech and gear than traditional luxury. You can choose wood finishes if you want, but the elegant silvers and metals better match the emphasis on the contemporary.
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Audi has even borrowed rival BMW's idea for an octet of programmable buttons as part of the main multimedia interface (MMI) controller. As with the rest of the switchgear - the crisp ventilation controls, for example - it's all very user friendly. The optional Virtual Cockpit, too, with its customisable digital instrument cluster, adds to the tech-infused lustre.
In the back passengers get separate ventilation controls and air vents, as well as decent leg room - provided the front seats aren't set all the way back. They don't get a whole lot of head room, though, something that could put a crink in the neck of taller bods.
For now there are four engine choices for the A4, all of them turbocharged four-cylinders (expect high output S4 and RS4 models down the track).
Entry to the range is with the 1.4 TFSI priced at $55,500. It comes with a tri-zone air-conditioning system, electric driver's seat, auto LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, in-car wifi, a mix of real and fake leather and a seven-speed auto. The safety story is comprehensive, comprising eight airbags (dual front, side curtain, and side airbags front and rear), full auto emergency braking, a bonnet that pops up to cushion pedestrians, parking sensors front and rear, the latter adding rear cross traffic alert that jolts the brakes if an obstacle is detected.
The 1.4-litre engine is a free revver, but it's down on power and torque compared with the entry-level it replaces. Still, it'll happily tap into its modest 110kW peak, but for most driving relies on the useable 250Nm swell of torque that makes lower speed work fairly easy.
But it's the 2.0-litre in the 2.0 TFSI that brings the punch Australians most appreciate, while also managing to fractionally use less fuel on the official fuel cycle (5.3 litres per 100km versus 5.5L/100km for the 1.4). As well as more vigour in its upper rev range, there's more flexibility in gentle driving, with torque pegged at 320Nm.
At $60,900 the 2.0 TFSI also adds useful equipment that in many people's minds will be enough to justify the modest price premium. Think digital radio, an electric front passenger's seat, smart key entry and a boot that opens with the wave of a foot provided the key is nearby.
But if it's torque and flexibility you want, look no further than the diesel engine in the 2.0 TDi, which also adds Quattro all-wheel drive to more competently get it to ground ($66,900). It's an impressively smooth unit and blends beautifully with the seven-speed auto for effortless acceleration. While the seven-speed twin-clutch autos all shift impressively, with the diesel when it's left in its default Drive mode the throttle feels a tad lazy; tip it into Sport and it drops down a gear for more immediate response.
Low fuel use is also a highlight of the diesel with claimed consumption of 4.6L/100km.
The A4 performance flagship for now is the 2.0 TFSI Quattro, at $69,900. The basic engine is the same as that in the 2.0 TFSI but some turbocharged trickery has been employed to up the ante to 185kW and 370Nm.
It's a feisty device – the 0-100km/h claim is 5.8 seconds - and one that benefits from the extra traction of the Quattro all-wheel drive setup, especially when darting out of an intersection or firing out of a hairpin. And, again, it benefits from the slick seven-speed auto; while it doesn't always get take-offs right, it never fumbles a full-throttle up shift, adding to the slick driving experience.
Speaking of which, the A4 has an alacrity in keeping with its sporty demeanour. Audi has shaved 65kg from the weight - and it shows, with athleticism on twisting country roads. It points reassuringly and with nicely weighted steering.
The suspension is taut – moreso if you opt for the adjustable Sport setup that lowers the ride by 23mm – but with enough compliance for relaxed everyday motoring. Even the low profile 19-inch tyres of the Quattro models - our car was running on Hankook hoops - don't jar into bumps, and grip levels are great.
Refinement, too, is impressive. Wind noise, in particular, is barely discernible below 100km/h, making for a quiet cabin; there's some tyre noise on more aggressive bitumen surfaces, but it's far from bad.
Add it all up and Audi has a great car. Time will tell whether it's good enough to tip the luxury balance.
Emissions free
Audi is still banned from selling some of its diesel powered models as a result of the Volkswagen emissions cheating revelations last year. So how does the Volkswagen-produced 2.0-litre diesel in the new A4 dodge the government order?
Because it's a different engine.
The diesel engine found to be exceeding emissions standards is codenamed E189 and is available on cars such as the A5, Q5 and previous generation A4. The engine in the new A4 is a completely new design and one that is not subject to the cheating scandal.
When asked if it had independently verified the emissions details of the new engine Audi pushed questions onto its parent company, Volkswagen.
2016 Audi A4 pricing and specifications
On sale: Now
Price: From $55,500, plus on-road costs
Engines: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 110kW at 5000-6000rpm; 140kW at 4200-6000rpm; 140kW at 3800-4200rpm; 185kW at 5000-6000rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 1500-3500rpm; 320Nm at 1450-5200rpm; 400Nm at 1750-3000rpm; 370Nm at 1600-4500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed twin-clutch automatic; front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
Fuel use: 5.5L/100km; 5.3L/100km; 4.6L/100km; 6.3L/100km