The seats hold your body perfectly in check through the sharpest twists and turns. There are multiple adjustments at your disposal, so it's impossible not to feel comfortable behind the wheel of the A4. Quite frankly, it kind of feels like heaven on wheels.
Performance tourer
A premium car is not merely about leather surfaces, brushed aluminum inlays and fancy electronics. It's also a matter of driving dynamics. With the 2009 Audi A4 3.2 quattro, the performance cocktail is exquisite. The magnificent all-new 3.2-liter FSI V6 generates 265 horsepower and sends the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. On the other hand, fuel economy, while promising on the highway at 7.7 L/100 km, is disappointingly high in the city at 12.1 L/100 km.
Any great Audi has to have the legendary quattro all-wheel drive system. Fortunately, such was the case of my tester. A token of exceptional handling, quattro perpetuates the German brand's tradition of all-season, all-weather performance. The setup is superb, which significantly improves cornering efficiency. The new A4 turns out to be very agile despite the overhanging powerplant. Kudos to Audi engineers.
The brakes are responsive and thus quite precise and predictable. Additionally, maneuverability is enhanced thanks to the car's more homogeneous dimensions.
Competition
The new 2009 A4 is armed and dangerous, having nothing to be ashamed of in a fierce market segment. There are plenty of quality rivals out there, making it hard for any car to stand well above the others, including the BMW 335i xDrive ($51,500), Cadillac CTS-4($44,315), Infiniti G37x ($40,400), Lexus IS350 ($42,950), Lincoln MKZ AWD ($41,499) and Mercedes-Benz C350 4MATIC ($50,400). The A4 3.2 quattro retails for $50,900.
Wrap-up
With the next-generation A4, Audi offers one of the most capable sedans on the market right now. However, it still suffers from a lack of rear passenger room and aesthetic flair; no one would have cried over a slightly bolder design. Yet, the 2009 Audi A4 3.2 boasts outstanding performance levels along with premium comfort and luxury. Once again, the Ingolstadt-based company positions the A4 as a benchmark in the entry-level luxury car segment.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
Performance tourer
A premium car is not merely about leather surfaces, brushed aluminum inlays and fancy electronics. It's also a matter of driving dynamics. With the 2009 Audi A4 3.2 quattro, the performance cocktail is exquisite. The magnificent all-new 3.2-liter FSI V6 generates 265 horsepower and sends the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. On the other hand, fuel economy, while promising on the highway at 7.7 L/100 km, is disappointingly high in the city at 12.1 L/100 km.
Any great Audi has to have the legendary quattro all-wheel drive system. Fortunately, such was the case of my tester. A token of exceptional handling, quattro perpetuates the German brand's tradition of all-season, all-weather performance. The setup is superb, which significantly improves cornering efficiency. The new A4 turns out to be very agile despite the overhanging powerplant. Kudos to Audi engineers.
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| The magnificent all-new 3.2-liter FSI V6 generates 265 horsepower. |
The brakes are responsive and thus quite precise and predictable. Additionally, maneuverability is enhanced thanks to the car's more homogeneous dimensions.
Competition
The new 2009 A4 is armed and dangerous, having nothing to be ashamed of in a fierce market segment. There are plenty of quality rivals out there, making it hard for any car to stand well above the others, including the BMW 335i xDrive ($51,500), Cadillac CTS-4($44,315), Infiniti G37x ($40,400), Lexus IS350 ($42,950), Lincoln MKZ AWD ($41,499) and Mercedes-Benz C350 4MATIC ($50,400). The A4 3.2 quattro retails for $50,900.
Wrap-up
With the next-generation A4, Audi offers one of the most capable sedans on the market right now. However, it still suffers from a lack of rear passenger room and aesthetic flair; no one would have cried over a slightly bolder design. Yet, the 2009 Audi A4 3.2 boasts outstanding performance levels along with premium comfort and luxury. Once again, the Ingolstadt-based company positions the A4 as a benchmark in the entry-level luxury car segment.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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