Driven - Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI Quattro (2016)

Hello, petrolheads!

Today’s review regards the latest-generation Audi A4 Estate, powered by a turbocharged 2-litre, 4-cylinder 250 horsepower petrol engine.

I must confess that, upon first eye contact, I was deeply disappointed with this new generation A4. Here is an all-new model, sporting a brand new chassis but looking mostly the same as the previous-generation A4. Or as an A3 Sportback… Of course, all Audi did was to play it safe, and rightly so. You see, the A4 is Audi’s volume model, this is the model most people end up buying after having seen some football players, any self-proclaimed digital-era celebrity or some Hollywood star stepping out of an R8, or RS6 Avant, and subsequently having mentally created this élan-picture of themselves on such a dream world. Let’s face it, most people who drive a new Audi nowadays – or even a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, for that matter – are more worried about 1) the (successful) image they project, 2) how many digital toys it has and 3) low monthly leasing rates, made possible by high demand on the used-car market keeping depreciation low. Before I’m hit with an axe by someone other than these, let me also mention the ones who put inner quality ambiance above practicality, or real-world performance, and some individuals – they still exist, I know – who are faithful to the brand and, therefore, just want to keep their long-time tradition going on because they are satisfied. Do not change a winning team, we always hear, right?

The good news are this: this may look like the old A4 we are familiar with, but it sooooo isn’t.

The biggest problem of most Audis, as most owners now but few recognize, is that ride comfort is far from stellar. Because the target buyer aims at projecting a fashionable, sporty image, the suspension is more aimed at tackling the Nordschleife – nowadays most cars are developed there, for that matter, as it’s where most of us spend their lives – than the broken streets of most cities, where manufacturers believe no one lives. Now though, it’s really improved. This unit has adjustable settings for the suspension, steering and engine response and, although riding on 18” wheels, the comfort setting is a very capable one, while maintaining body control in check in all but the hardest mass transfers. Sure, it’s no Mercedes C-Class supple, but the evolution beggar’s belief. Finally we have a familiar Audi with a decent ride!

On the other side, Audi’s interiors have long being amongst the landmarks across the industry for quite some time, and rightly so. One just has to remember that of the first TT, for me still a landmark of quality, sportiness and good-taste. This one is another such interior. The warm-looking, cognac-brown leather-look seats are as gorgeous to look at as they are comfortable and supportive. They’re electrically operated, including lumbar support, and together with a steering wheel which is adjustable for reach and height, make for a perfect driving position.

Noise insulation is very good, but forget about driving with the panoramic roof above 100 km/h. Speaking of which, the crossmember above the A-pillars is so wide that, unless you’re two metres tall, you’ll never be glazed on the driver’s seat. Even so, I highly recommend, as it brightens up the interior a lot, especially during the short and dreadful winter days.

The 2-litre, turbocharged petrol engine is a great bet. It’s very smooth, pulls strongly up to 6000 rpm – forget after that – and, if driven normally on comfort mode, it’s no fuel guzzler, unlike similar engines of past. On the Autobahn it can do averages of 160 km/h (100 mph) with 8 l/100km (35 mpg UK), but on B-Roads it won’t better 7 l/100km (40 mpg UK) either, both while not driving particularly economically, but letting the gearbox on Auto. My fuel consumption average only goes above 8 l/100km when driving a lot in the city, something normally only represents some 10% of my driving. On normal conditions, I average ca. 7,5 l/100km (38 mpg UK). I’m detailing fuel consumption as that’s what puts most people off these petrol engines and on to Diesels.

[Speaking of which, I already drove the limousine with the 190 PS (140 kW), 400Nm 2-litre TDI. In comparison with this petrol counterpart, it’s slow, ruff and noisy at start and accelerating, while not being particularly economical. Even without Quattro four-wheel drive, with a lighter and more aerodynamic limousine body and with the same 7-Speed DSG gearbox, I got no better than 5,5 l/100km (51 mpg UK). On the same configuration, I reckon the difference wouldn’t surpass 1 l/100km.]

Having said that, aggressive driving on sport mode can duplicate the above stated values. Speaking of aggressive driving, it comfortably reaches the speed limiter and pulls very strongly from the mid-range, while even providing  a somewhat raspy sound in the process. It stays sure-footed at high speeds and corners well, too, but don’t expect any driving thrills. The steering may be fast, but provides no feedback at all and, worse still, this is a heavy car and feels like one. The big external dimensions also don’t help, and on a damp morning on a mountain road, I lost all confidence when the back stepped out while entering a tight corner still braking hard, the bulk of the thing taking time to settle. Can’t fault it for that though. This is a comfortable, fast and safe family car, and normal families aren’t like The Osbournes…

The LED-matrix headlamps are a bit of a mix. I’m guessing they’re fairly expensive, but for someone who regularly drives at night on dark B-Roads, it may well be an option box worth ticking (note: I don’t know the basic version). It comprises powerful day driving lights, self-leveling low beams with decent power, high beams which you can leave on (they automatically adjust themselves to avoid glaring of oncoming traffic) and turn signals with Audi’s now trademark flowing-light (actually first seen on Merc’s 1999 Vision SLR prototype).

On a busy German B-Road, the assistant for the high-beam worked well, at least most of the time. It’s deeply entertaining at first, noticing dark spots appearing around incoming traffic and following it, the system turning individual units off and on to avoid glaring. But occasionally it wasn’t that fast – on two different moments, truck drivers flashed me their lights in protest – and I could notice it still illuminates the opposite track just before the other cars pass by.

The biggest downside though, is that light distribution is not as even as on a good bi-xenon system – nor power, if I’m honest – and for someone buying the car instead of leasing, the thinking of one of the units going kaput – meaning a new headlight assembly is needed – after the warranty expires can be unresting.

So, the new Audi A4 2.0 TFSI. Looks like the old model, but as a package, is in another league. Finally, a proper contender for the title of best mid-sized car.

Verdict: versatility with quality, the German way.

Official vital data:

Engine and transmission:

1984 cc, inline-4 cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder (Otto)

252 PS (185 kW)/ 5000-6000 rpm

370 Nm/ 1600-4500 rpm

Red line: 6500 rpm

7-speed, double clutch gearbox

Dimensions [mm] and weights [Kg]:

Length/ wheelbase: 4,725/ 2,820

Width without/ with wing mirrors: 1,842/ 2,022

Height: 1,434 metres

Turning circle: 11,6 metres

Weight: 1615 kg

Boot: 505 litres

Fuel tank: 58 litres

Tires: 245/40R18, Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT

Performance:

Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), electronically limited, reached on 6^th gear

0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 6.0 seconds

Fuel consumption (NEDC, urban/extra-urban/average): 7.9/ 5.5/ 6.4 l/100km (35/ 51/ 44 UK mpg)

CO₂ emissions: 147 g/km

2000 rpm, 6^th gear: 105 km/h (66 mph) (speedo)

2000 rpm, 7^th gear: 135 km/h (84 mph) (speedo)

Main equipment: 3-zone climate control, twin front, side and head airbags, virtual cockpit, radio with MP3-player and USB+AUX in, Audi Drive select, head-up display, sat-nav, rain and light sensors, panoramic roof, leather-optic clad interior, heated and electrically-adjustable seats and wing mirrors, key-less go, parking assistant with bird-view mode, electric tailgate, LED-Matrix headlights with automatic high-beam, 18” alloy wheels, ABS+ASR+ESP+hill holder.

German price in 2016: 65 000€.

Driven: from April 2016; car left with 16 900 km (10 600 miles).

Rating: 18 out of 20