What's also a shame is that the exact same engine can be found under the hood of a plebeian VW Jetta that costs $29,000. It would be nice to have something superior in the Audi, like an extra 10 hp or so; it would be appreciated since we're paying more for the A4.
My fuel consumption average is 11.8 L/100 km, but with a big snowstorm during the week, the roads are slippery, and the extra slipping around wastes a little more fuel.
Speaking of which, my week aboard the A4 is worry-free despite the horrible condition of the roads. While everyone was moving forward at a snail's pace, I was barrelling down the left lane in utter confidence. The car is shod with good winter tires, of course.
With a precise and communicative steering rack, a suspension that's not too firm (for a German car) and good reflexes, the driving experience is quite satisfying.
Sober cockpit
Despite a rather austere and dark environment, the interior of the car is enjoyable. Still, the dashboard is garnished with aluminum trim, which is nice. The seats are firm, no surprise there, but comfortable. It's a small car, so space inside is tight in front and in back.
The heating and ventilation controls are comprised of buttons to set the temperature instead of simple rotary dials; it takes more time to set the ideal temperature. It's only a question of an extra second or two, but while we're driving, every second with your attention diverted away from the road ahead is hazardous. At least this A4 doesn't have the MMI interface that is included in more-expensive models.
In short, I like the cockpit a lot because it's well-finished, luxurious and doesn't have a surcharge of electronic gizmos.
Competition
The A4 2.0T quattro costs $40,900, and the Special Edition model sells for $42,150.
Here are the other compact (or small mid-size) sport-luxury sedans that offer all-wheel drive and that rival this A4:
BMW 328xi, 230 hp, $43,600
Cadillac CTS4, 263 hp, $43,225
Infiniti G35x, 306 hp, $43,540
Jaguar X-Type 3.0, 227 hp, $45,000
Lexus IS 250 AWD, 204 hp, $41,150
Lincoln MKZ AWD, 263 hp, $41,499
Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC, 228 hp, $44,700
Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, 243 hp, $40,295
Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 227 hp, $39,995
The BMW, Subaru and Volvo all offer manual gearboxes, but the rest are automatic-only. And if all-wheel drive is not a must for you, you can also check out the Acura TSX and the Saab 9-3.
My fuel consumption average is 11.8 L/100 km, but with a big snowstorm during the week, the roads are slippery, and the extra slipping around wastes a little more fuel.
Speaking of which, my week aboard the A4 is worry-free despite the horrible condition of the roads. While everyone was moving forward at a snail's pace, I was barrelling down the left lane in utter confidence. The car is shod with good winter tires, of course.
With a precise and communicative steering rack, a suspension that's not too firm (for a German car) and good reflexes, the driving experience is quite satisfying.
 |
| The simplicity of the interior allows the driver to rapidly feel at ease behind the wheel. |
Sober cockpit
Despite a rather austere and dark environment, the interior of the car is enjoyable. Still, the dashboard is garnished with aluminum trim, which is nice. The seats are firm, no surprise there, but comfortable. It's a small car, so space inside is tight in front and in back.
The heating and ventilation controls are comprised of buttons to set the temperature instead of simple rotary dials; it takes more time to set the ideal temperature. It's only a question of an extra second or two, but while we're driving, every second with your attention diverted away from the road ahead is hazardous. At least this A4 doesn't have the MMI interface that is included in more-expensive models.
In short, I like the cockpit a lot because it's well-finished, luxurious and doesn't have a surcharge of electronic gizmos.
Competition
The A4 2.0T quattro costs $40,900, and the Special Edition model sells for $42,150.
Here are the other compact (or small mid-size) sport-luxury sedans that offer all-wheel drive and that rival this A4:
BMW 328xi, 230 hp, $43,600
Cadillac CTS4, 263 hp, $43,225
Infiniti G35x, 306 hp, $43,540
Jaguar X-Type 3.0, 227 hp, $45,000
Lexus IS 250 AWD, 204 hp, $41,150
Lincoln MKZ AWD, 263 hp, $41,499
Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC, 228 hp, $44,700
Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, 243 hp, $40,295
Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 227 hp, $39,995
The BMW, Subaru and Volvo all offer manual gearboxes, but the rest are automatic-only. And if all-wheel drive is not a must for you, you can also check out the Acura TSX and the Saab 9-3.