Our Fleet Test Drive: Audi A4 - 4th report
Date:
14 January 2016
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Author:
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| Equipment: | 17in alloys, three-zone climate control, Bluetooth, | | DAB radio, two USB ports, cruise control, keyless start, rear parking sensors, acoustic-glazed windscreen, electric | | boot release | | Options: | Technology pack (£2000), LED headlights and | | rear lights with dynamic rear indicators (£1050), Floret Silver metallic paint (£645), privacy glass package (£450), Parking System Plus (£395), Phone Box with wireless charging (£325), LED interior pack (£325), Audi 10-speaker sound system (£275), smoking pack (£50) |
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It seems odd to feel a bit sorry for what's quite probably the best car in its class at the moment, but with the BMW 3-series having dominated for years and the Jaguar XE's arrival coming amid much fanfare, the new A4, with its same-again looks, has been pushed into the background.
But it's the type of car where the longer you spend with it, the more you appreciate its quality, usability and day-to-day appropriateness for tasks, be that motorway mile-munching during the week or whatever the family can throw at it over the weekend.
Refinement, interior quality and the infotainment system all score very highly, along with interior space, and while not quite up with the BMW and Jag for handling, the A4 still runs them close enough to avoid any serious perception of weakness. Efficiency continues to be decent, breaking 50mpg despite mixed driving routes for our 99g/km 2.0 TDI 150 SE. That's still way off the official 74.3mpg figure though.
It's a shame it looks so much like its predecessor because the new A4 is a big step up and deserved a more stylish and cutting-edge reworking to emphasise that point
Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE Ultra
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| Mileage 3393 |
| P11D price £29,095 |
| Forecast/actual cost per mile 56.6p/58.2p |
| Our average consumption 50.3mpg |
| Official combined consumption 74.3mpg |
Verdict
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- Refinement
- Interior quality
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- Blend-into-the-background looks
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