As you approach the new A4 you get an immediate impression of quality and masculinity. The new shape definitely has an understated elegance to it yet with a sporty purpose. It has grown yet the look is bigger than the dimensions would suggest. Tick one for the Audi stylists. We had very positive responses almost everywhere we went with the A4. The first thing you notice when you sit in the new A4 is that it feels more spacious and the figures confirm it. Although the extra room is measured in mm Audi have done an excellent job of making it feel much larger than the previous model. It oozes luxury and quality from the very begining. Sitting in the drivers seat you immediately notice that everything is directed towards the driver. You almost get the feeling of being in a cockpit. The leather drivers seat is electrically adjustable (courtesy of the comfort package) and i must admit it took a little while to get the right adjustment between the steering wheel and the seat. The front seats could use a little more shoulder support and i never could adjust the lumbar support correctly. While driving i never quite felt totally comfortable. You definitely feel as though you are sitting on the seats rather than in them. Audi have done a great job with the ergonomics of the instruments though with the most common functions on the soft feel steering wheel and everything being easily readable and accessable. The front occupants are well catered for with plenty of storage. In addition to the cup holders in the large door pockets, there are two more cup holders of different sizes on the centre tunnel, a holder for sunglasses in the interior light module in the roof lining, a parking ticket clip on the sun visor and an unusually large glove box. An optional storage package includes a cup holder in the rear armrest, two compartments under the front seats and nets on the front-seat backs. A luxury extra for the front seats is a centre armrest that can be moved forward and back and varied in height. It includes a storage compartment and two useful 12V power sockets, and takes the place of the open tray on the tunnel. This entire element is of such generous size because the new Audi A4 has an electromechanical parking brake, so that no space is needed for the conventional handbrake lever. The rear passengers are also well catered for with their slight individual contouring, and sporty comfort: the seat cushions are soft but the side sections slightly firmer; there is plenty of space for the occupant's feet under the front seat and rear leg room is also improved over the previous model. Thanks to the length of the doors and the wide angle to which they open, the rear seats can be reached and exited in comfort. The cup holders recessed into the door pockets can even hold large one-litre bottles. The rear footwells are illuminated, and a fold-out centre armrest provides extra comfort. Optional extras include an electric rear-window roller blind and manually operated blinds for the rear side windows. One downside though is that the seats are quite low and with high window sill the rear passengers have a restricted view, especially if they are children, they feel enclosed. As always with Audi safety is a key factor and the A4 has received the top five star ANCAP crash rating and comes with a comprehensive airbag package, ESP, ABS, ASR, EDL and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution Audi have made much of the new sporty dynamic of the A4 with the use of high grade steel in the body shell which has saved on weight and contributed to the level of rigidity necessary for precise and accurate handling, and a comfortable ride. It has also suppressed the potential for body vibration. Five-link front and independent-wheel, trapezoidal link rear suspension with brake assist have made this version of the A4 dynamically superior to Audi's previous offering. However this unfortunately does not translate to the driving experience. The 2.0L TDi is an excellent motor and has seen service in many Audi/VW vehicles yet somehow unexplicably in the A4 there was a sense of turbo lag which isnt evident in other vehicles. Rather than being smooth the acceleration and braking is slightly jerky and at speed there is more wind noise than you would expect from a luxury German manufaturer. Tha A4's handling is adequate rather than excellent and in the market segment it competes in that just doesnt match the competitors. This is especially noticeable when compared to the advancements made by the C Class . For the overwhelming majority of A4 buyers, especially the entry level 2.0L diesel the handling dynamics will be sufficient. However if you are a driver who wants more than adequate than the A4 will dissapoint. The A4 sits in a very competitive market segment where brand name is important. Competition is strong and the fight for class leadership is hotly contested. As with most European brands in this segment the options list is extensive and expensive. You can easily spend many thousands of dollars extra and often the value is questionable. While the new A4 is better than the model it replaces the question remains - is it class leading? Sadly i don't feel so however that is not to say that it is not a great vehicle. It is! However i kept getting the feeling that an optioned up Passat would provide the same enjoyment and cost a lot less for the same benefits. | 
Family Cars - Small & Medium 
