Audi A4 Saloon with Full Review, Specs, Photo, Price, and Audi A4 Saloon Release Date for Canada, Australia, US, and UK. Audi A4 Saloon 1.8 TFSI starting from just £17,825.53. Improved aerodynamics, energy recuperation, an on-board computer with efficiency programme and the start-stop system all go to make the A4 Saloon a truely outstanding Audi – plus with all this efficiency you’ll be making less stops at the petrol station. Efficiency is standard in every Audi – 32 Audi models already achieve CO2 output of less than 140 g/km. At the very forefront is the Audi A4 TDI e: with emissions of 119 g/km and a fuel consumption of only 4.6 litres of diesel, it’s the most efficient saloon in the medium-range class. The Audi A4 saloon‘s range of engines, spacious interior and strong used values make it a compelling choice, helping it compete against rivals the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class.1. Exterior
Rarely does such a conservative-looking car turn so many heads. That has a lot to do with the optional strip of LED daytime running lights stretching across each headlight, which are particularly eye-catching. The fourth generation Audi A4 certainly has more design flair than previous models, with sweeping lines along the sides which are a nod to its coupe brother, the Audi A5. We can’t help wondering if Audi could have injected a little more style, without going to the extremes of the radical looking BMW range.
2. Interior
The Audi A4’s cabin is one of the car’s high points. Audi has created a space that’s a really nice place to be. The dash sweeps around the driver, and the raised centre console features a menu system surrounding the gearstick. The heart of this is a rotary dial, but unlike BMW’s iDrive system, a number of shortcut buttons allow easy access to the various menus via a colour screen in easy eyesight of the driver, while a series of silver inserts add some extra spice to the look.
3. Practicality
Audi scores well when it comes to ease of use. The A4 boasts a 480-litre boot, which is more than the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class, and space can grow to almost 1,000 litres with the rear seats folded. The fact the Audi A4 is a saloon – without the wide-opening tailgate afforded to big hatchbacks – limits ultimate practicality, but it’s still one of the better cars in its class. The seats are both comfortable and supportive over long distances, and there’s more interior room than there’s been in previous Audi A4s, with enough room for five adults.
4. Ride and handling
Audi has previously been criticised for not offering class leading ride and handling qualities, but the German car maker has taken care to ensure the same comments can’t be levelled against this model. The Audi A4 feels composed at speed, and rarely gets caught out by sharp bends or unforgiving road surfaces. The ride is excellent, soaking up bumps with ease, but never at the detriment of comfort. Enthusiasts might argue the BMW 3 Series is the better driver’s car when driving hard, but in all other aspects the Audi reveals itself as a very competent car.
5. Performance
Six engines are on offer: two 1.8-litres and a 3.2-litre petrol, developing 119bhp, 158bhp and 263bhp respectively. Diesel choices are a 2-litre, 2.7-litre four cylinder and 3-litre V6, and are remarkably refined. The 2-litre TDI offers an excellent blend of performance and economy.The petrol units cover 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds for the 119bhp 1.8-litre, 8.6 seconds for the 158bhp version and 6.2 seconds for the V6. Top speeds are 130mph, 140mph and 155mph respectively. The 2-litre, 2.7- and 3-litre diesels return 0-62mph times of 9.4, 7.7 and 6.1 seconds, with top speeds of 134, 140 and 155mph.
6. Running costs
The Audi A4 is a safe bet when it comes to holding their value on the used car market, thanks to demand from buyers. The diesels offer good fuel economy, the 2-litre can return an average of 51.4mpg. The petrols are less frugal, returning between 30.4 and 39.8mpg. Insurance groups of 12 and 13 for the most common models are competitive, and tax is also reasonable. For a premium saloon car, the Audi A4 is reasonably well priced, but the options list is long, tempting and expensive.
7. Reliability
Audis have an excellent reputation for reliability, and the new A4 seems among the most solid the manufacturer has built. The Audi A4 is traditionally one of the top 30 most reliable cars of the past decade, according to the Reliability Index, which tracks the cost and frequency of breakdowns on cars over three years old.
8. Safety
The Audi A4 achieved a full five star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test programme. It counts daytime running lights, ESP, front and front side airbags among its standard equipment. Higher spec models gain items such as automatic headlights and wipers and bright xenon headlamps.
9. Equipment
All models receive 17-inch alloy wheels, CD player, dash-mounted screen, climate control, electric front and rear windows, electro-mechanical parking brake and electrically operated and heated door mirrors. The SE model we tested adds a colour screen, audio upgrade, automatic wipers and headlights, three-zone climate control, colour trip computer and a front centre armrest with 12v socket. The S Line range-topper gets 18-inch alloys, part leather ‘S Line’-embossed seats, bright xenon headlamps with washers and LED daytime running lights. However, it’s easy to overspend on the options list. Our SE test car had many S Line options, adding an extra £8,940.
