Audi A4 2.0
Audi's A4 2.0 Has To Be Very Good Indeed To Justify Its Station In Life. It Is. Jonathan Crouch Reports
Just how much will people pay for badge engineering? Heres a case in point. The 2.0-litre version of Audis latest A4 uses a 130bhp 2.0-litre four cylinder engine exactly the same as that used in the entry-level VW Passat.
Yet theres a price difference of over £4,500 between the two cars.
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True, the A4 is a bit better equipped, but then you could spec up your Passat and still leave yourself plenty of change.
Audi of course, doesnt accept this argument at all. Yes, they say, the basic engine is the same but a number of detail changes have been made. For a car of higher station, it was felt that refinement needed to be improved, though thanks to continuous intake camshaft management and the addition of balancer shafts for smoother running, the 2.
0-litre 130bhp Passat is also pretty impressive in this respect. Still not convinced? Fair enough. Lets look at the suspension. Now this really is all Audis own, a light alloy system which is 8.
5kg lighter at the front than the first generation A4 models models set-up. At the rear, theres a self-tracking trapezoidal-link system based on that previously reserved for quattro models. As a result, most feel the latest A4 to be more composed, controlled and agile than its group cousin. In case it ever isnt, its also worth remembering that ESP (the Electronic Stability Programme) is standard on all A4s (but extra on the base Passat) to get you out of trouble should you overcook it.
The system now also includes Brake Assist, for maximum retardation in emergencies.
"This A4 looks impressive not only alongside its direct rivals but also in comparison with cheaper mass-produced fare"
This 130bhp engine is very light in fact, its the lightest in its class, tipping the scales at 129kg. Its also the most compact, measuring only 460mm in length. And its slightly more torquey, with nearly all the pulling power on offer available from just 2,300rpm. This £19,875 2.
0-litre version of the latest revised A4 is now the entry-level model for most buyers though there is a 102bhp 1.6-litre version, priced from £18,905, if money is really tight. As usual, there are saloon and Avant estate bodystyles on offer. To be fair, as a compact executive saloon rather than a family four or five-door, its about as relevant to compare this car to a Passat as to a Mondeo.
More natural rivals include BMWs slightly quicker but much pricier 318i and Mercedes C180K. The Audi holds its own against these rivals in terms of performance, with rest to sixty occupying less than ten seconds on the way to 132mph. Its also decently frugal for a car of this kind, averaging around 35mpg in normal use. If you want more, then its worth considering the 150bhp 2.
0 FSI version which costs just over £900 extra. Unfortunately, theres no option of quattro four-wheel drive the 2.0-litre petrol crowd miss out here. 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 (£21,025 in this form) offers 1,288 litres with the seats folded. 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 A4 is not as advanced as some might expect. With many manufacturers incorporating many of the storage tricks theyve learned from their MPV ranges into more mainstream cars, Audi seem to have missed a trick with its meagre array of oddment spaces. 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. Overall however, this A4 looks impressive not only alongside its direct rivals but also in comparison with cheaper mass-produced fare. In short, its worth the extra cash. Drive one and find out for yourself.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Audi A4 2.0
PRICES: £19,875-£21,025 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 12
CO2 EMISSIONS: 192-194g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.9s / Max Speed 132mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 25.9mpg / (extra urban) 46.3mpg / (combined) 36.2mpg
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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