Genesis G70

The 2021 Audi A4 compact luxury sports sedan is easy to like and hard to fault: It's handsomely styled, well-built, and loaded with options. It handles like a sport sedan and delivers an enjoyable ride. Technology takes center stage in the A4, with Audi's cool Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display, a new 12-volt hybrid system, and a host of driver-assistance feature. Audi's Quattro allwheel-drive system is standard across the board. This year Audi is dropping a 12-volt hybrid system into both of the car's four-cylinder powertrains. The system adds 13-hp to each engine.

The all-wheel drive is now standard across the lineup. Wireless Apple CarPlay capability is new for 2021 as is an integrated toll-road transponder. The lane-departure warning is now standard. The base Premium trim's optional convenience package has a heated steering wheel and front and rear parking sensors. The mid-range Premium Plus trim now comes with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a 360-degree exterior camera system. The top-spec Prestige model gains heated rear seats as a standard feature. standard across the board, a feature its chief competitors charge extra for. The mid-range Premium Plus trim represents the best cost-benefit ratio in the A4 lineup as it adds a host of features that make the car an upscale ride. Included are a reconfigurable digital gauge display, a wireless charging pad, memory settings for the driver's seat, blind-spot monitoring, and keyless entry with push-button start. We'd suggest the more powerful 45 powertrain—it makes 60 more horsepower than the 40—and it's a relatively inexpensive $1300 upgrade.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance: Audi offers the A4 in two strengths: 40 and 45. Both are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 12-volt hybrid system and all-wheel drive; the 40 makes 201-hp while the 45 makes a juicy 261. A seven-speed automatic is the only transmission. The A4 45 I test drove rose to 60 mph in a quick 4.8 seconds, and its automatic smoothly changed gears. Precise steering, well-controlled body motions, and strong roadholding combine to make the A4 a sharp handler. Usually, cars with such deft responses require sacrifices in ride quality, but the A4 manages to soak up bumpy roads with aplomb. Steering feel, so important in a sedan with sporting overtones, is subdued at lower speeds and on the highway. However, almost as if by magic, the steering is communicative when the car has to manipulate twisty roads.

The A4's modern-looking cabin does a good job of balancing form and function with high-quality materials and easily accessible technology features. The dashboard design is clean and simplistic. Most of the A4's buttons and switches are right where you want them to be and feel substantial when you use them. The rear seat is among the most spacious in its class and features nicely shaped cushions. As with many of the sedans in the entry-luxury class, the A4 is accommodating but choose the A4 Allroad wagon if you need more cargo space. The A4's back seat does fold in a useful 40/20/40 split, making it easy to accommodate longer items such as surf boards.

The A4's infotainment system consists of a 10.1-inch center screen that's controlled by a rotary knob on the center console. Features are generous and include Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and voice command. Navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and in-car Wi-Fi are included in various option packages, as is a more powerful Bang & Olufsen audio system with 19 speakers. A cool digital gauge display that Audi calls Virtual Cockpit is optional, that I recommend it highly.