Despite the slight sporty edge that it displays (body-hugging seats, firm suspension and an occasional overly exuberant bump or
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| Despite the slight sporty edge that it displays, the A4 Avant's ease of operation and supreme confidence inspiring control provided reassurance that no number of airbags can match. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
dip thanks to the sporting suspension settings), the A4 Avant's ease of operation and its supreme confidence inspiring control in seemingly any condition, provided reassurance that no number of airbags can match (not that it doesn't have airbags galore - six in total by my count).
Safety doesn't begin and end with quattro and wind bags, however, as there's a lot more to the A4 that begs mentioning. Critical to its performance criteria are 320 mm vented front and 288 mm solid rear disc brakes, governed by ABS with Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and hydraulic brake assist (BA), plus a traction control system (ASR) working in concert with the Bosch's Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP); guarding against slips and
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| Added to the car's safety and performance attributes is one of the bestdesigns of any vehicle on the road. (Photo: Justin Couture, CanadianAuto Press) |
the resultant loss of control, and hopefully preventing any need for the airbags to deploy by avoiding collisions completely. Proof of the compact Audi's credentials is in the pudding: the sedan on which the Avant is based recently was awarded an IIHS Double Best Pick for its unmatched performance in that U.S. institution's crash-testing program.
Added to the car's safety and performance attributes is one of the best designs of any vehicle on the road (this being simply a personal preference), a stylish if unglamourous interior (you won't find many shiny bits except for some knob trim and the textured aluminum strip running across the dash - love the aluminum) with lots of rubbery matte black surfaces and some of the most comfortable seats this side of a massaging La-Z-boy recliner, and we have a sure winner in my books.
