Audi A4 review (2008 onwards)

What - Audi A4 1.8T SE
Where - Costa Smeralda, Sardinia
Date - October 2007
Price - from £22,590
Available - March 2008
Key rivals - BMW 3-Series, Jaguar X-Type, Mercedes C-Class

Summary - Key new model both for Audi and for tens of thousands of executive car buyers. 1.8T is a real treat

We like - design, quality feel, seat comfort, increased space, refined new 1.8 turbo engine
We don't like - chassis doesn’t quite match the 3-Series, Audi Drive Select, option prices

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First Impressions

Audi, Mercedes and BMW are the big players in UK sales of compact executive cars. BMW does best but increasing Audi is chosen by those simply tired of the ubiquitous nature of the BMW brand. Mercedes launched a brand new C-Class earlier this year so Audi's all-new A4 has to hit the ground running. And it does, with a raft of new engines, longer wheelbase to increase passenger space and an astonishing array of new technology. German buyers love all this techy stuff, but the sheer cost of adding these as options to British company cars makes them more questionable here. Good job that the straightforward entry-level model, the 1.8T, is such an enjoyable, competent all-rounder. With a standout design too, it's sure to cause a few sleepless nights at rival's headquarters.

Performance

Audi has produced 1.8 turbo engines before, but this is an all-new unit with 160bhp. There are balancer shafts too, and this helps to make this base A4 a smooth, sweet-sounding car to drive. It's vocal enough to sound sporting if you use all the revs but there's a refined side to it too, which makes cruising at speed pleasantly relaxed. Increased use of fancy steel has resulted in a lighter body but all the increased equipment and safety features means that the end result is no lighter than before. That could imply that 160bhp is only just about adequate, but that feels far from the case as long as you are prepared to drive it with some gusto.

The best seller in the range will almost certainly be the 2.0 turbo diesel. This has been changed to common rail diesel for the first time and it's also a satisfying car. But given the choice, and if you can ignore the 40mpg to 51mpg economy gap, (and 169g/km vs 144 CO2 difference) the 1.8T is easily the driver's choice. There's a decent slug of torque, which means you don't have to change gear too often if you are feeling lazy, though the forthcoming 2.0T incorporates some new technology which will almost certainly knock the 1.8 into the shade.

Ride and handling

Two big changes affect this generation A4. First, there's a longer wheelbase, with the front wheels pushed well forward, rather like a 3-Series. Then there's the Audi Drive Select. Let's take that first. For some £1,700 extra you get this unique-in-class system that, at the touch of a button, adjusts the accelerator pedal response, power steering assistance and shock absorber characteristics. Choose Comfort, Dynamic or Auto, and the nature of the drive changes. Cleverest aspect is the variable rate steering which actually speeds up the steering response when you demand lots of lock or in contrast makes the steering less twitchy when you are travelling at high speed in a straight line.

Sounds great, doesn't it? In reality it's far from convincing. An A4 so equipped doesn't deal with bumps particularly well and the ride feels firm too much of the time. It will be interesting to see how well it copes with British roads. The good news, though, is the 1.8T with the regular suspension actually does everything very well anyway. While it could be argued that rivals may have the got the balance a bit better, there's no doubt that there's not much wrong with the handling while the ride seems more comfortable than the trick suspension in any mode. Certainly this A4 turns into corners with accuracy and speed, and is well matched to the demands of the 1.8T engine.

Watch our video roadtest of the Audi A4

Interior

Following through the perception of quality you get from the outside, the interior doesn't disappoint either. These days a brand like Audi seems to have no trade off in quality as you step down the range, and the new A4 is every bit as appealing inside as an A6 or A8. There seem to be few of the clever but ultimately unrewarding tricks played with plastics that you get in mainstream Fords, Vauxhalls and every car from Korea or Japan. Good job too, because cars like the Mondeo do an otherwise excellent job of matching the Audi in other areas. Inevitably, every A4 on this launch was packed with options, not least the £1,700 sat nav system.

That sat nav is a price which seems an increasingly hard to justify when you see what you can get in Halfords for a fraction of that. A pleasing extra is the sports front seats, which are very comfortable with plenty of adjustment and a tasteful cloth trim. The longer wheelbase is a real boon too, making the A4 a car where, for the first time, you can seat four six-footers without serious compromises. Without a tape measure it's hard to be sure, but this new Audi feels roomier than both the 3-Series and C-Class, though still a long way short of the Mondeo. Luggage space is generous with a large flat floor. We'll have to wait until late 2008 for the Avant (estate) version.

Economy and safety

40mpg on the government cycle is a good return for a performance orientated 1.8 turbo, though caution is the word here. The latest turbo engines can show up very well in emission and economy tests without these figures necessarily representing what you'll actually get. And these days even 40mpg won't be enough to convince many drivers that they should not make the 51mpg diesel their first choice. There are no EuroNCAP results yet but it's impossible to believe that anything but five stars will be the result. Improving matters further you can specify lane change warning, that sends a vibration through the steering wheel if you drift over a white line.

Or a blind spot warning which flashes when a car is alongside. Those sexy Audi R8 daylight running lights are part of a £775 option that includes Xenon headlamps.

MSN Cars Verdict 4/5

Better in every respect, the A4 would be a five star car if Audi wasn't quite so stubborn about sticking with its still distinctive suspension characteristics. It could and should ride a bit more comfortably. However, in other respects, notably the interior space, and its sheer road presence, the A4 is a very fine car. It's particularly pleasing too that a cheaper model measures up as well as it does to the loftier versions in the range.

Watch our video roadtest of the Audi A4