Audi A4 3.0 TDI QUATTRO
Can
Audi's A4 3.0 TDI V6 quattro Really Challenge BMWs Magnificent 330d? Andy Enright Gives His Verdict.
Audi have something of a problem. Despite turning out some beautifully finished cars, theyve never been able to oust the
BMW 3-Series from its podium as the aspirational choice in the executive sector. Audi would have us believe the A4 represents a more cerebral, independent-thinking alternative to the default tick-here-if-you-disagree choice that is the BMW, but that would be belittling the efforts of their Bavarian rivals. In 204bhp form, the Audi A4 3.
0 TDI quattro goes head to head with what is possibly the most impressive 3-series of all the 330d. Chances of success? Read on.
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Executive diesel models have probably progressed further than any other type of car within the last few years. Whereas once being issued with a diesel from your company meant a valid claim for constructive dismissal, things are very different now. Its difficult to understate the importance of the
BMW 330d in making paying serious money for a diesel seem an entirely rational course of action, and the
Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro follows in its wheeltracks, offering a range of quattro four-wheel drive saloon and Avant estate models at prices starting at £27,025.
Nowadays, anybody turning their nose up at this particular oil-burner probably thinks that Skodas are naff and that Rolls Royces are the finest cars in the world. In other words the automotive world may just have passed them by. The A4 3.0 TDI offers all the characteristics that make todays premium diesels such an impressive package.
The ability to hit 60mph in 7.2 seconds, coupled with the ability to average over 36mpg is an impressive combination. How many quicker cars can better that fuel consumption figure? Some hot hatches and lightweight sports cars manage it, but as far as comparable cars go, Munich comes up trumps again with the 330d but only to a point. The performance figures offered by both of these cars are near identical not surprising given that they both produce 204bhp.
When it comes to fuel consumption, the 330d has a decisive advantage but only because it does without the added weight of four wheel drive. You pays your money and takes your choice. And here Audi hold the upper hand with a price advantage of over £2,000. "The engine can produce enough torque to pull a house down" Audis of late have become effortlessly cool, but the Audi doesnt really need catchy advertising slogans to underline its appeal. Certainly not in Europe, where diesel variants of the A4, BMWs 3 series and Mercedes C-Class represent the big revenue generators for these German giants. Its a fiercely contested battlefield, with each contestant bringing some pretty serious firepower. The A4 3.
0 TDI considered here can produce enough torque to pull a house down, more indeed than a
Ferrari 360 Modena. Coupled with that extra pulling power is a chassis which answers many of the criticisms levelled at its predecessor. The ride is certainly firm for such a luxuriously appointed car, with a good deal more feedback coming through the
seat of the pants than through the steering wheel. The familiar Audi complaint of overservoed brakes carries on, and the sporty nature of the engine is frustrated by a pedal box that features a stiffly abrupt brake pedal and a long travel accelerator, making clown shoes the preferred footwear to effect a heel and toe gearchange.
Drive the A4 3.0 TDI in a spirited fashion and youll grow to love that creamy slug of power, but youll need to be on top of your game. Quicker hands than Sugar Ray Leonard are required to keep on top of the inputs required. The steering wheel is large and the steering rack low-geared which, coupled with the rapidity at which the turbocharger spools up, makes winding the steering on and off a vigorous workout.
Likewise, with a usable rev range between 1500 and 4000rpm and six gears to stir, that rapid turbo surge means each of the lower gears last only a few seconds. On a twisty back road, the combination of frantically spinning the leather-bound wheel and grabbing at a staccato series of gearchanges whilst navigating the ill-conceived pedal box proves to be hard work. If you decide to stick to the open road instead, youll soon be frustrated by the firm suspension, especially over the frequently scabby motorway surfaces found in the UK. 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 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. Audi have succeeded in doing something that has proved beyond the ken of many German manufacturers (making wood veneers look cohesive and convincing) and there are delightful features everywhere. Overall, despite a few niggles, if you read the raw statistics and sit in the A4 3.
0 TDI, youll probably be looking for a dotted line to sign upon. It genuinely does have the showroom appeal aspect pretty well stitched up. BMW may shade things when it comes to driver feedback but the difference has been narrowed. Take this, plus that price advantage and the benefit of four wheel drive into account and this car stacks up pretty well.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro
PRICES: £27,025-£28,175 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 206-212g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.2s / Max Speed 146mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 26.4mpg / (extra urban) 47.1mpg / (combined) 36.7mpg
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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