Also most suited to my driving needs, but at very specific moments in time, was the A4's optional Sport Suspension setup. Why
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| Take the A4 with its Sport Suspension underpinnings on the highway and a whole new relationship develops between driver and car. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
you ask was it suitable only at specific moments? Well, because I found the calibration to be excessively rigid for my general driving pleasure. Sure, the Sport Suspension Package allowed my tester to eat-up corners like a kid munches down Honey Nut Cheerios, but when balanced against the loss of ride comfort, I am all for fewer Cheerios in the bowl and less spillage. Of course, this sort of complaint - if you can call it that - applies to inner-city driving where roads are generally in non-pristine condition. Take the A4 with its Sport Suspension underpinnings on the highway and a whole new relationship develops between driver and car. The adeptness of its sport springs places an extremely stable, locked-down sports sedan under the driver's control; and what a pleasure that is thanks in part to the wonderfully sensitive road-feel imparted by the A4's fairly resistive steering.
Sensational driver control isn't restricted to high-speed handling, it also applies
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| Sensational driver control isn't restricted to high-speed handling, it also applies to stopping the A4; a process best described as bewilderingly fast. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
to stopping the A4; a process best described as bewilderingly fast. I have always admired German brake setups for their powerful, instantaneous hit of force. The A4 firmly validated my admiration. Little nosedive or unsettling chassis reaction accompanied a full-force snap on the rotors. The A4's full set of antilock disc brakes augmented with Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and hydraulic Brake Assist (BA) kept its wheels turning sufficiently to maintain control on wet surfaces as the compact sedan rendered itself motionless forthwith. But what if an impending loss of control arises from excessive cornering speed or slippery road conditions, what good is strong braking then?
To address what slamming the brakes on will only make worse, the A4 is equipped
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| A full assortment of active and passive safety features means the A4 2.0T is as safe as anything on the road. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
with an Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard equipment. This technology does what a driver could never do - coordinate wheel specific braking with engine modulation to fend-off the forces of nature intent on ruining a driver's day. Should the battle be lost, the A4 has a generous helping of occupant-protecting, standard equipment installations, including driver and front passenger dual-stage, dual-threshold airbags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted chest side-airbags, plus front and rear occupant head protection airbags. All five seating positions also feature pretensioning 3-point seatbelts with convertible locking retractors. Head restraints are positioned at all five seating points, with the front headrests being of the whiplash reducing "active" ilk.
In addition to netting a louder growl than the Jetta 2.0T, the Audi A4 2.0T quattro
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| Beautifully finished, ergonomically laid out, and fully featured, the A4 is a splendid place to while away the hours. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
arrives with a greater array of standard equipment, which goes a long way toward justifying its steeper price list. Look for standard exterior components such as heated windshield washer nozzles, front and rear fog lights, halogen projector headlights, heated power side mirrors, tinted glass and aluminum trim work. Standard interior fare includes a first aid kit integrated into the flip-down rear armrest, 12-way power adjustable heated front seats, leather seating, aluminum trim pieces, multi-function 3-spoke sport steering wheel with tilt and telescopic functionality, cruise control, remote locking, dual-zone climate control, power windows, a 10-speaker audio system, extra power outlets and much more.
