Audi A4 1.9 TDI 115
Does Audis Entry Level Diesel A4 Model Stack Up? Andy Enright Reports
Who doesnt like a little bit more power? Okay, so it may have spurred Kim Jong-Il into a few wonky policy decisions but by and large a little more power can only be a good thing. Or so youd think. Take Audis A4. Most buyers looking for a diesel model will be tempted to go for the latest 140bhp 2.
0 TDI version. Wed suggest they think before signing the cheque and try the 1.9 TDI 115 variant first.
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For a start, this pleasantly powerful diesel is Euro4 complaint, a fact that will have key account managers the length and breadth of the country jumping for joy. So is the 2.0TDI of course but for that unit, youll pay nearly £1,300 more than the £20,440 your
Audi dealer will ask of you for an A4 TDI 115. All right, so theres a 25bhp power deficit to take into account but the difference doesnt feel that great on the road.
Audi A4 diesels of all kinds have proved rightly popular in recent years and the entry-level versions have mopped up a significant amount of Mercedes and
BMW conquest sales. Until quite recently, Ingolstadts entry-level diesel had only 100bhp but the vogue for ever more powerful sporting diesels had left this car looking a little outgunned by the opposition. The 115bhp engine offers a good deal more torque without knocking great dents in the emission and fuel consumption figures. Audi took the 100bhp unit and tuned the high pressure pump injectors in conjunction with Boschs EDC16+ engine management software for better fuel/air mixture preparation and increased efficiency.
This resulted in a genuine saving, the extra power coming with virtually no reduction in the TDI100s combined fuel consumption figure at 49.5mpg. Couple that with a very large fuel tank and this A4 has an effective range of up to 745 miles. The sprint to 60mph takes a very reasonable 11 seconds and the top speed of 124mph is very creditable for an entry-level diesel.
In comparison, the 2.0TDI manages 0-60mph in 9.7s on the way to a maximum speed of 131mph. A lot of work has been carried out to develop the TDI 115 engine.
Although many will attribute it to a few lines of coding on the engine computer map, the changes are in fact way further reaching. The pistons have been revised and the exhaust gas recirculation system has been modernised. This allows cooler and denser gases to recirculate through the cylinder and reduces nitrogen oxide emissions.
"Even in town youll need a leaden boot to register under 40mpg..."
The A4 remains a quality steer. The revised gearbox is direct and the improved steering is both quick and refreshingly uncorrupted by the huge amount of torque the Audi directs to its front wheels. Refinement is fair with a number of common-rail equipped rivals offering lower engine noise levels, but Audi have persisted with this seemingly yester-tech unit and through constant revisions have in many respects overtaken the strides made by many rivals common-rail engines. Audi claim that the super high pressures of 2050 bar (equivalent to the weight of a mid-sized car being supported on an area the size of a finger nail!) allow not only unparalleled torque but also a very careful metering of fuel, helping both economy and emissions.
Looking at the results, its hard to argue. The A4 has a more subtle image than its 3 Series rival and its one that British buyers seem to like, having snapped up over 100,000 examples since the original car was launched back in 1994. Back then, there wasn't much alternative if you wanted a small sports executive and didn't fancy a Beemer. These days, it's very different. The way BMW and Audi carved the market up between them in the mid-nineties is a thing of the past. Alfa's 156 JTD, Saabs 9-3 Diesel, the Mercedes C220 CDI and even the upper-spec
Ford Mondeo models have all proved themselves genuinely credible diesel alternatives. In developing the latest generation diesel A4 models then, Audi had to get it right. Unfortunately, theres no option of quattro four-wheel drive only the range-topping 3.0 TDI offers A4 diesel buyers that.
This is something of a shame, as the latest chassis looks set to be able to exploit the benefits of all-wheel drive rather better than previous A4s ever could. Indeed, the whole of the latest range uses a revised four-link front suspension borrowed from the roadburning S4 model to make the driving experience more involving. If luggage capacity is what you need, the Avant estate (£21,590 in this form) offers 1,288 litres with the seats folded. That only leaves us to list the improvements brought about by the most recent facelift.
Apart from the restyled 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. The best value car in the Audi A4 range has suddenly become a non-debate. Most drivers will be unable to discern a noticeable difference in the way the A4 TDI 115 and 2.0TDI models drive, so it therefore makes sense to opt for the car thats around £1,300 cheaper.
With the lowest running costs and benefit in kind taxation in its class married to some of the highest residual values and car park clout, the Audi A4 TDI 115 looks to have all its bases covered.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Audi A4 1.9 TDI 115
PRICE: £20,440-£21,950 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 154-157g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11s / Max Speed 124mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 37.2mpg / (extra urban) 61.4mpg / (combined) 49.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, side and curtain airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 181/70/61"
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