The all-new 2016 Audi A4 is the best looking yet. Unmistakably A4, the evolutionary styling is elegant yet sporty, thoroughly modern and classically beautiful.
Audi are famous for their cabins, in the new A4 the interior is about as good as it gets.
Even in base model form as tested, it’s a lesson in understated elegance…everything feels like it belongs in a much more expensive car.
The steering wheel looks and feels great, the new gear selector is short and stubby and is perfectly positioned.
The instrument cluster is beautiful with a large screen between the speedo and the tacho where you can choose high resolution images from Google Earth among a host of options, it’s a great look.
The driving position provides great visibility and the cabin is airy and spacious. The materials used are all first class and the space available is class leading.
There’s not huge amounts of space in the back, but there’s more than you’d expect for this size of car, the boot is huge.
Brimming with technology, the new A4 has the full suite of advanced safety systems as standard.
Blind spot monitoring, stop and go adaptive cruise control including traffic-jam assist, active lane assist and Audi side assist, and new features including parking assist, rear cross-traffic assist, exit warning, turn assist and collision avoidance assist.
It’s not just safety tech featured in the new Audi A4, the infotainment system has been upgraded to include smartphone interface for connecting Apple and Android phones.
The high-res 8.3 inch central screen displays controls for the sat-nav, vehicle settings, climate system and the brilliant Bang and Olufsen sound system.
There’s a touchpad in the rotary controller to zoom in and out and to enter characters, it’s intuitive and a breeze to use.
The new A4 exudes class on the road.
The ride is supple and compliant, yet firm enough to provide genuinely great dynamics. It’s a brilliant blend of luxury and sportiness. The steering provides plenty of feedback and its accurate and predictable.
There are four engines on offer in the new A4 range. Three petrols and one diesel all hooked up to a seven speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.
The test car came fitted with the entry level engine, a 1.4 litre turbo petrol developing 110kW and 250Nm.
On paper it doesn’t sound all that inspiring however on the road you’d never pick its diminutive capacity…it easily feels like a 2.0 litre.
It’s smooth all the way to the red line and the lack of turbo lag is pleasantly surprising. The A4 will do 0 to 100km/h in just 8.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 210km/h.
The new Audi A4 has been on a diet, 65kgs lighter than the model it replaces.
As a result fuel consumption is impressive, returning 6.2 litres of premium unleaded per 100 kilometres over a week of spirited driving.
The new A4 is a lesson in premium motoring, and at $55,500 it represents pretty good value.
From the thunk of the door close, to the luxurious ride and beautifully appointed cabin, everything the A4 does it does with style.
In the face of some very serious competition the all new Audi A4 competes at the front of the pack.
It feels like it should be twice the price, it’s great to look at and it’s a genuinely rewarding drive…the new Audi A4 has a lot going for it.
NUTS and BOLTS – 2016 Audi A4
Engine: 1.4 litre turbo-petrol developing 110kW and 250Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Safety: Five stars
Warranty: Three years
Origin: Germany
Price: from $55,500
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