An exceptionally safe and dependable saloon – did you expect anything else from the German motoring giants?
Follow motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay on Instagram @tbarnesclay.
Audi’s A4 saloon sits in a class that’s been waning for a decade or more. So why carry on making it then? Well, the German automaker feels the model still has a part to play in the automotive world.
I drove the 2.0-litre 40 TFSI 190PS S line S tronic grade and found it brimming with performance and refinement. The car will whisk you from a standstill to 62mph in 7.3 seconds and will keep on going until the needle touches 149mph. But even with foot-down throttle pressure, you don’t hear much from the turbo petrol-powered A4 – it’s a very quiet car.
Furthermore, the seven-speed twin-clutch auto ‘box (S tronic in Audi’s tongue) suits the saloon, never exhibiting any dithering, as it can do in related models.
Effortless miles covered
Apart from a jittery ride around the rutted roads of north London, I found the A4 40 TFSI S line saloon to be a strong alternative to German rival, the BMW 3 Series. And, once out of the clogged streets of Finchley and on the M1 heading north, my test car was eager and stable.
The harmony of the smooth twin-clutch transmission and the 2.0-litre engine makes for a contented yet energetic ride. It all combines to ensure you’re able to cover many miles effortlessly.
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People in the rear of the A4 get a substantial amount of head and legroom. More’s the pity then that the bulky transmission tunnel devours foot space. Therefore, getting a trio of adults into the back isn’t easy. On the other hand, if you have three kids, as I do, they’ll be fine back there.
And as for the 480-litre boot – you’ll get the family’s shopping in, no problem as well as a cluster of golf clubs – if that’s your thing.
The A4 40 TFSI 190PS S line S tronic, as driven for this review, will do a claimed 39.2mpg while releasing 137g/km of carbon dioxide. This is reasonable for this kind of car, although, while travelling around the roads of London and the M1, I only squeezed low-30s mpg from the tank.
Rock solid
The Audi A4’s build quality is solid as a rock (as 1984’s Ashford & Simpson sang), so the car will cope with years of business and family use.
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For additional assuredness, the A4 netted the full five stars from Euro NCAP for its competence in shielding occupants in a smash – and it scored exceptionally well for keeping children protected should a collision happen.
Finally, you’re covered if you buy a brand new A4 saloon – Audi will sort you out with a 60,000-mile/three-year warranty, with roadside assistance thrown in. I doubt you’ll need it, though – this car is as ubiquitous as the automaker’s products get, so dependability and trustworthiness are of the essence.
Fast Facts – Audi A4 40 TFSI 190PS S line S tronic as tested:
- Max speed: 149mph
- 0-60 mph: 7.3 seconds
- Combined mpg: 39.2
- Engine layout: 1984cc, four-cylinder turbo petrol
- Max. power (PS): 190
- CO2: 137g/km
- Price: £37,160
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