Audi A4

The Audi A4 is given an 8.2 rating by U.S. News, and is ranked 9^th out of 20^th in the Upscale Midsize Car category. This ranking was determined by analyzing various test drives and over 30 published reviews by critics. The A4 is manufactured by Audi AG, a company based in Germany which designs and manufactures automobiles. It is part of the German Big 3 luxury automakers (along with Mercedes-Benz and BMW), which are the best-selling luxury car makers in the world. The A4 is less powerful than some of its competitors, but test drivers are impressed by its terrific fuel economy, balanced handling, and refined drivetrain.

Performance

U.S. News gives the Audi A4 a performance rating of 8.3 Although it is not as powerful as competitors (such as the Cadillac CTS), many reviewers agree that its refined, turbocharged engine and balanced handling make the A4 one of the most well-rounded sedans on the market. It comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which produces 211 horsepower. The models that include all-wheel drive get either an eight-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission, depending on the buyer’s preference. Although the A4 is less powerful than rivals, the turbo four engine provides significant power to keep your drive entertaining. The A4 offers a great balance of agility and comfort to help enhance the driving experience.

Interior

The defining characteristic of the Audi A4 is its interior. The interior received an 8.1 rating from U.S. News, and features premium materials and excellent build quality which have been praised by reviewers. There is ample legroom in the front seats, and the headroom is appropriate for adults around 6-feet tall. The A4 comes standard with many interior features, including aluminum trim, leather seats, a power sunroof, and a 10-speaker stereo with satellite radio, an SD card slot, and an auxiliary input jack. Other standard features include Audi’s MMI infotainment system, which provides access to many vehicle, climate, and audio settings, all of which appear on a 6.5-inch display. Buyers also have the option of adding an iPod interface, which comes with a special cable created by Audi. The A4 offers 12.4 cubic feet of trunk space, which increases to 34 cubic feet if the rear seats are folded down.

Pros/Cons

The A4 gets 24 city mpg and 31 highway mpg, which is very good for its class, and better than most competitors. Outward visibility is terrific behind the wheel, and there are many different seat positions to choose from, which makes finding a comfortable position very easy. While the storage space is slightly less than rivals like the Acura TL and Infiniti G, it is still usable, and increases significantly when the back seat is folded down. Some reviewers have praised the Audi’s MMI system, and claim its easy to learn and use, although other critics have said the MMI makes basic climate and audio adjustments more complicated than necessary. There have also been some complaints about the legroom in the back seat, although this is common for most sedans. Some test drivers have said its difficult to pass other cars on the highway smoothly and takes some effort.

Other Features

According to Audi, the base price of the A4 starts around $32 500, and increases depending on what features you add. Exterior colors include Brilliant Black, Glacier White Metallic, Phantom Black Pearl Effect, and Volcano Red Metallic among others. The A4 has been fully crash-tested by the N.H.T.S.A., and was given a five-star rating. This goes with the 10.0 rating it received from U.S. News, a perfect score. Higher trim levels have safety features such as adaptive cruise control that brings the car to a complete stop, lane-departure and blind-spot warning systems, and a rear-view camera.