Audi A4 1.8T
Despite a Drop In Power To Just 163bhp, the 1.8T Derivative Still Remains One Of The Most Popular In Audis A4 range. Jonathan Crouch Checks It out
The
Volkswagen Group has had good mileage out of its trusty 1.8-litre turbocharged engine. Its been seen on everything from a
Skoda Octavia to a
SEAT Ibiza, but its perhaps in Audis A4 that this powerplant has felt most at home. This units potent yet progressive power output has always perfectly complemented the cars demeanour and continues to do so in the latest version.
Though the basic engine has remained the same however, weve seen it in a variety of states of tune. When the current generation A4 was first launched, the 1.8T variant soldiered on with the same 150bhp unit that was used in the previous-shape car.
Audi tinkered with the problem, initially fitting a slightly pokier 163bhp unit, then offering buyers a 190bhp version.
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They still havent made up their mind, for its back to 163bhp tune for the facelifted model, as tested here priced from £20,915 as a saloon and £22,065 in estate Avant guise. For a premium of around £1,400, you can also have Quattro four wheel drive. The most recent facelift has brought about more than simply a restyle for the front and rear sections. There are revisions to the transmission and the adoption of a hi-tech Servotronic speed-dependent power steering system.
The brakes are upgraded across the range and the ESP Electronic Stability Programme is even more likely to keep you out of the ditch during emergency manoeuvres. Inside, youll notice Audis new steering wheel design and active locking head restraints that automatically minimise the distance between the restraint and the head in a rear crash situation. New two-stage intelligent airbags are now fitted for the driver and front passenger and theres a much cleverer DVD-based satellite navigation system for those who want it. As ever, the fascia ergonomics are predictably perfect, the quality breathtaking.
Even if youre not normally into estates, its worth considering the Avant version. As already suggested, this isnt an estate from the old school, so dont kid yourself that its a
Volvo or get out too many grandfather clocks. Its 1,184-litre capacity with the seats folded down is less than the
BMW 3 Series Touring or the Mercedes C-class estate, its two key domestic rivals. Only the Alfa 156 Sportwagon is more flagrantly compact.
Like the Alfa, the Audis boot space with the rear seats in position - 442 litres - is less than the standard car. However, the fact that the Avant out-sells all these competitors is the first clue that these apparently damning statistics only tell half the story.
"The A4 1.8T remains an eminently desirable car more so now than ever."
Clever trapezoidal link rear suspension means that you dont get any intrusion into the load bay. Whats the use of a huge on-paper loading capacity if, to all intents and purposes, its impossible to access? This is where the
Audi comes up trumps. If you needed to load an item 100cm wide, the Audi could and the BMW and Mercedes most certainly couldnt. Likewise, the tailgate width is the biggest of the trio and it opens to a height of almost two metres, making loading far less of a cranium-threatening activity for the taller owner.
The load bay is stuffed with clever ideas, Audis designers having a field day with neat ways to boost the diminutive Avants practicality. Unfortunately the rear blind and safety net are mounted on the back of the 2/3 split rear
seat. You can fold the 1/3 down while still covering the luggage bay but if the 2/3 seat is folded, you can see into the luggage bay. Alternatively, the rather heavy blind system can be removed to give the full 1184-litre capacity.
The floor of the loading bay is split laterally, with a 65-litre cubby providing additional storage space. Chrome lashing eyes, stowage nets and a heavy-duty reversible mat also feature. The interior corresponds to what weve come to expect of Audi beautifully damped fitments, impeccable materials quality and an almost frightening logic to all of the major controls. As with many modern cars, the fitment of windscreen-pillar airbags makes all-round visibility less than optimal, the chunky pillars restricting views around sweeping bends.
Should you fail to spot an oncoming tree however, the latest generation of electronic sensors fitted to the A4 can detect how hard your impact is and tailor the deployment of the airbags accordingly. In some areas, however, the latest generation A4 is not the advance some may have expected. With many manufacturers incorporating many of the storage tricks theyve learned from their MPV ranges into more mainstream cars, the Audi seem to have missed a trick with its meagre array of oddment spaces. As before, the driving position remains almost faultless, thanks to a low-set dashboard and a height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, banishing the feeling that you once had in Audis that you were sitting at the bottom of a pit.
The A4 makes you feel more as if youre in something quite expensive thanks to the new console and switch panel with its backlit controls and aluminium gear lever surround. Electronic Climate Control is standard. In summary, the A4 1.8T remains an eminently desirable car more so now than ever.
The 150bhp 2.0 FSi model remains a thorn in its side, as potential buyers might well be swayed by the FSi models better economy and lower emissions. Even so, theres nothing quite like the rush of a turbo to get the pulses racing. And in this car, that all goes to create a very desirable package indeed.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Audi A4 1.8T
PRICES: £20,915-£23,465 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 199-202g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.6s / Max Speed 141mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 24.8mpg / (extra urban) 43.5mpg / (combined) 34.0mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 179/69/60"
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