Audi A4: Test Drive (continued)

Date: 07 October 2007   |   Author:

Category: Upper medium Prices: £19,000-£35,000 (est) Key rival: BMW 3-series

The 143PS 2.0-litre diesel will account for up to 40% of sales in the UK, and it's a decent unit, with good refinement and performance as well as emitting just 144g/km of CO2, putting it into the minimum 18% benefit-in-kind tax banding. Average fuel consumption is a claimed 51.3mpg.

The steering is well weighted, and considering Audi has a slightly patchy record when it comes to producing cars with top-quality ride, the 2.0 TDI rode decently on the smoother Italian roads we sampled the car on, especially soaking up the bigger bumps and potholes. That bodes well for the UK.

The bigger-engined cars get what Audi calls 'drive select', which lets the driver alter the engine, suspension and steering settings, as well as the automatic gearbox, if fitted. It works well, with marked differences between the three settings that range from comfort to sport.

Audi has described the A4 as the "cornerstone of the brand", which, given the marque's seemingly insatiable growth, maybe explains why there's a lack of new innovation or drama with the new model. The A4 is, however, slightly bigger and better in every way than its predecessor, and that's no bad thing.

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