Rating
Quick Summary
Audi has given its evergreen A4 a bit of a mid-life spruce. Owners of outgoing models shouldn't be afraid their cars will lose second hand value, the exterior changes are minimal. Under the skin, however, is where it's all change.
Road Test
You can't be blamed for wondering what's 'new' about this new A4. To the untrained/unfussed eye it's remarkably similar to the outgoing model A4. There are changes in there, though.
The front sees a set of wider, mouthier air intakes, a smoothed off grille and some redesigned headlamps. It's also a touch lower. At the rear there's now a diffuser and LED tail lights. The changes, as you can see, are pretty minimal.
The Audi-standard cabin capable of withstanding a hissyfit from Superman remains but now comes with four buttons for the MMI 'do everything under the sun' infotainment system and another trim option - an oak veneer. It looks like someone's stuck bits of Riva speedboat to the dash.
Those extra MMI buttons are easily nudged - which can lose your Google Earth enabled nav screen and send you to car set up.
The majority of changes are under its more grown-up skin. Each model now comes with start/stop and electromechanical power steering as standard - which means better fuel economy and fewer nasty carbon dioxides spewing forth into the sky.
Fans of difficult decisions will love the engine line-up. If you want six-cylinders you'll have to look towards the diesel range only, Audi has ditched the A4's V6 petrol, unless you go for the 333bhp S4 (which you really should). The top whack 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is rather entertaining, but more buyers will side for the 170bhp 1.8-litre blown four-pot. It's cheaper and really rather perky.
Diesel fiends should enjoy the 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 turbonutterhypermega engine - it throws out 245bhp and 368 lb ft. It's needlessly fast. Fleet and frugal buyers should take a look at the 2.0-litre TDie for its 112g/km CO2 output and 65.7mpg. However, the lower powered engines do feel very rattly compared to the larger models.
Like its predecessor the A4 is still great to drive, especially with the Quattro four-wheel-drive system bolted on. Pair that with the S4/3.0-litre hyperdiesel and you're guaranteed to have a good time on your road of choice. Add the s-tronic seven-speed gearbox into the mix and you can make rapid, but lazy progress pretty much anywhere you want to go.
Of the many spec options on offer we'd go for the SE models as the suspension they come with rides very well. The S-Line model can be jarring over rutted roads.
The styling and mechanical changes apply to all models in the A4 range: saloon, Avant and Allroad.
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