New cars
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AudiA4
FIRST UK DRIVE New compact exec has already impressed. Now we try V6 diesel on British roads James Batchelor
James_Batchelor@dennis.co.uk
@JRRBatchelor
WITH the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class offering opposing character traits in the compact executive class for decades, Audi’s A4 has always struck a cautious path between them. It’s never excelled in one department, but has offered a broader set of skills instead. That was fine – until Jaguar’s XE came along. The newcomer seemingly blended all the fun and excitement of the 3 Series with the casual maturity of the C-Class – not to mention its added Brit cool factor. So the A4 exec is now treading a different path – and this is our first drive of it in the UK. Audi is making a big thing of connectivity now being more important than ride and handling. This is where it’s pitched the A4; in its mind, this is the techy model in the class. All versions have a good-looking screen with MMI multimedia system and smartphone
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interface – the latter supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Using the options list, the basic equipment can be upgraded to a vast range of larger screens, Internetbased apps and services, and also Audi’s clever Virtual Cockpit, which debuted on the TT. The fact that both the 3 Series and XE offer sat-nav as standard even in their entrylevel models, and the A4 doesn’t, leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, though. Up to now, we’ve driven only the A4s that are expected to take the lion’s share of sales across Europe – the 2.0-litre diesels. But for our first test in the UK, we slipped behind the wheel of the most potent model. Until the arrival of the S4 early next year, the 3.0 TDI S line quattro is the most powerful car. Its V6 packs 268bhp and 600Nm of
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Performance
Running costs
0-62mph/top speed
54.3mpg (official)
5.3 seconds/155mph
£64 fill-up
torque (there’s also a 215bhp version with front or four-wheel drive), and while those numbers don’t sound very spectacular, the real-life performance is. The 0-62mph sprint takes 5.3 seconds, and the standard auto fires seamlessly through its eight gears. With the torque kicking in at only 1,500rpm, acceleration is very rapid – a sensation that’s heightened by the A4 being such a refined package. For this new model, Audi has tweaked the previous 3.0-litre V6. Economy has risen to 54.3mpg, while CO2 emissions are a claimed 137g/km. While it’s impressive in a straight line, come to a corner and the TDI’s initial positive impression falls down a little. Turn the car into an apex, and while the chassis feels agile and flatters the A4, the steering
“Audi is making a big thing of connectivity now being more important than ride and handling” www.autoexpress.co.uk
