2008 Audi A4 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2014 Audi A4 as a used buy. A major player in the trio of prestigious German cars Audi has become very strong in Australia in recent times. The Audi A4 is a midrange model that’s sold as a sedan, a two-door cabriolet and an Avant station wagon.  A further

For years Audi struggled to gain equal footing with BMW and Mercedes in Australia, but that has all changed and sales have been climbing at double-digit rates for several years now. Though the Audi range is extensive and growing even larger all the time the A4, with its smaller brother the A3 at its side, has

High-riding wagons are the car of choice for a large number of motorists today.

If you want to succeed in the prestige car business in this country you need to field a competitive mid-sized model.BMW gets by on the back of its 3-Series, 'Benz depends on its C-Class, and Audi its A4, so when it comes time to renew these models there's an understandable level of nervousness among executives of the respective companies.It was the turn of the Audi execs to feel the heat when the company revealed its new A4 in 2008. The company had established the credibility of the A4 over previous generations, but knew the on-going success of the brand depended heavily on the eighth generation model. The previous generation fell somewhere between the BMW and 'Benz. It didn't handle as well as the 3-Series and wasn't as comfy as the C-Class, but the B8 A4 was improved on most fronts, which was needed to keep pace with the competition.Unlike its rivals the Audi is predominantly front-wheel drive with some premium four-wheel drive models. There was quite a selection of petrol and diesel engines, ranging from a 1.8-litre direct injection turbo four boasting 118 kW and 250 Nm to a 3.2-litre V6 petrol with 195kW and 330Nm powering the range-  topping four-wheel driver.The base four came standard with a six-speed manual; the diesels were hooked up to a CVT, and the 3.2 V6 to a dual-clutch auto. With its engine moved back a little and the steering rack shunted forward the A4's handling was improved, although it was still not quite in the 3-Series league.The ride was also found to be a little too hard for the class, especially when stacked up against the C-Class. Inside, the cabin was well fitted out and nicely refined, with little road or wind noise to upset the inner peace. The seats were comfortable and supportive, and there was plenty of head and legroom for those in the front and the back.As befits a car in it class the A4 came with a decent list of gear, like climate-control air, auto headlights and wipers, leather trim, fog lights, alloy wheels, 6.5-inch colour info screen and a split-  fold rear seat.IN THE SHOPThe eighth gen A4 is relatively new to the market, so there's little to report in the way of niggles or serious flaws. Right now it's important to find a car that has been well cared for and serviced according to the book.Most on sale will be fresh out of a lease so should have been maintained, but check for a service record anyway. Oil changes are important with modern engines so make sure the oil and filter have been replaced at the correct intervals.VW and Audi engines tend to consume a little oil, which makes it important to keep an eye on the oil level at regular intervals. The oil usage is minor and not an issue, but it has caught some people out before when they never bother to lift the bonnet. Make the usual checks for panel damage, that's poor panel alignment and mismatched paint etc.Overall the A4 is a sound vehicle and not one to give serious trouble.IN A CRASHFive stars says it all, there's no higher rating available. To get the top tick of approval the A4 had eight airbags, ABS brakes, traction control and stability control.UNDER THE PUMPThe choice of petrol and diesel engines gives buyers plenty of choice when it comes to fuel consumption. The best of the bunch is the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel at 5.8 L./100 km; the thirstiest is the 3.2-litre V6 that Audi claimed would do 9.0 L/  100 km. All petrol engines required 95-octane premium unleaded fuel.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $50,900 to $88,500Engine: 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol, 118 kW/250 Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel, 105 kW/320 Nm; 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel, 140 kW/400 Nm; 3.2-litre V6, 195 kW/330 NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 8-speed auto, 6-speed auto. FWD and AWDEconomy: 7.2 L/100 km (1.8 TFSI), 5.8 L/100 km (2.0 TDI), 6.9 (2.7 TDI), 9.0 L./100 km (3.2 V6 Q), 7.4 L/100 km (2.0 TDI Q), 6.9 L/100 km (3.0 TDI Q)Body: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagonVariants: 1.8TFSI, 2.0TDI, 2.7TDI, 3.2-litre FSI Quattro, 2.0 TDI Quattro, 3.0 TDI QuattroSafety: 5-star ANCAP.Not as sporty as the 3-Series, not as comfortable as the C-Class, the A4 fits somewhere in between. Worthy of a look.

Station wagons are for wet labradors, muddy mountain bikes, prams and potted plants.If you don't own any of these, you have no reason to drive a station wagon and should at all costs bypass these at the showroom.Or so I thought. Yes, I have memories of holidays as a child in a station wagon.But they were days when the car was a cubby house — place to be filled with movement and toys and open windows and no seatbelts.We never whinged "Are we there yet?" because there was so much to do in the expanse of the station wagon.Our children know of no such joys. Today the ankle-biters are locked into position and would go completely troppo — and take their parents with them — save for the blessings of rear DVD players and iPods.Audi looks after its rear occupants with the option of such attention-grabbing aids but the kids aren't reading this so I'm going to list what's in it for you.PackageThe Audi A4 as already been lauded as a beaut sedan. This Avant (read, wagon) just adds flexibility though can also become quite unwagon-like thanks to a stylish upgrade.The S-Line package adds exterior features that are subtle enough to escape the garishness of some manufacturers' examples, yet strong enough to enhance an already neat wagon.Colour is important. The white A4 Avant is stunning in its simplicity and gets a lift with polished 18-inch alloy five-spoke wheels.S-Line packages also trim 20mm from the standard A4's height and sits the car on sports suspension. And here is one of the car's few hiccups.The ride is a tad too firm for a vehicle ostensibly meant for leisure-seeking families rather than race-bred couples.That's not helped by the leather upholstery stretched over hard foam. Great for distance driving but it takes a bit to get used to in the suburbs.Yet, if you revert to the standard 16-inch wheels to retrieve Japanese levels of comfort, the wagon ends up looking like Mum's taxi.DrivetrainInto the mix we add Audi's perennial 2-litre turbo-diesel and a CVT automatic transmission.This transmission also has seven preset ratios so, thanks to one of the items in the S-Line pack, you can drive it like a clutchless manual.The engine is a real trouper that pulls hard and clean from virtually any revs, has a real kick when asked to overtake slower traffic and delivers fuel economy that'll make your wallet obsolete. Well, not quite.It's a package that, because the world turns faster than we can anticipate, was even more attractive about six months ago.Subsequently, the world oil price has halved and this made a dramatic 30c a litre drop — any discrepancy here? — in the bowser price of petrol. Unfortunately, the impact on diesel prices was even less miniscular.That makes buying a diesel — especially where the engine price is a premium — suit only the bearded eco-aware folk in the mountains and motorists who annually travel long distances.You must today weigh up if a diesel makes economical sense to you. Otherwise, the Audi A4 Avant petrol ($59,641 in equivalent S-Line format) may make more sense.SafetyThe A4 Avant scores very highly on safety but the most impressive feature of the car is its quality. Few, if any, manufacturers consistently make such near-perfect machines that are so visually impressive.DrivingThis wagon is dead simple to drive — though I was baulked by the fingernail-breaking push-pull design of the starter — and is compact enough to slip quickly into a crowded parking bay.It seats four adults with cargo impressively increased thanks to the near-flat folding rear seats. The spare wheel is a space saver and there's no excuse.As fitted out for this test, the Avant is a wagon that rises out of the family-car image to be stylish and versatile.And if you really, really must, it will take muddied dogs, bikes and pot plants. And prams. SnapshotPrice: $57,837 (S-Line as tested $66,205)Engine: 2-litre, 4-cyl, turbocharger, intercoolerPower: 105kW @ 4200rpmTorque: 320Nm @ 1750-2500rpmTransmission: CVT with 7-preset ratios, sequential; front-drive0-100km/h: 9.7 secondsEconomy (official): 6.0 litres/100kmEconomy (tested): 6.8 litres/100kmGreenhouse: 159g/km (Corolla: 175g/km) 

The Avant variant (that'd be wagon to us Strayans) of the well-received A4 sedan range arrived last week and were launched last week with a testing drive out of Albury to Bright in the Victorian high country and back.As with most Euro prestige wagons, a genre becoming ever more evident on our roads, it's not as though the Avants are a great deal more practical than the sedan, which boasts quite a big booty. Rather it's a question of which flicks your switch aesthetically.Still, the five door does have a highly useable 490 litres with the back seats up and 1430 when they’re folded flat. Up front there's a choice of the Volkswagen Group's direct injection turbo charged four cylinder engines. These are the stalwart 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel and _ one of our favourite small petrol jobbies _ the 1.8 TFSI.Both versions are driven through the front wheels via Audi's Multitronic continuously variable transmission with eight manual settings. Down the line, perhaps the second quarter of 2009, comes the enticing prospect of a quattro all-wheel-drive variant with a 155kW/350Nm version of the 2.0-litre turbo four, a drivetrain that will also go to the four door.Like the current four door, the Avant has a decent levels of standard equipment and the usual mile long list of costly extras. The pretty much standard 1.8 version we drove to Bright featured Milano leather upholstery, Servotronic steering, eight airbags, daytime running lights and $1600(!) metallic paint. The S-line packaged version in which we returned also copped grippy great 18-inch low profile rubber, paddle shifters, perforated leather and the optimum version of Drive Select (through which steering, gearshift and damping responses are altered to mood or circumstance).Even without the full length sun roof ($2850), this variant returned little change from $70K. Steep, even when placed next to the Audi's direct rivals, BMW's 320i Touring and the Mercedes-Benz 200K Estate. And not a little silly if you're not so hopelessly badge besotted that you can't see the merits of Skoda's Octavia (with the same engines) and the Mazda6.Both are equally good if not better drives, both are bigger and both are $25,000 to $35,000 cheaper. We could also point to Holden's new Commdore sportwagon, but badge blindness goes only so far.As opposed to the previous generation A4, the new Audi is an attractive proposition as much for its on road behaviour as its chic lines. We'll get to the diesel in coming weeks (it's anticipated take up rate is less than 20 per cent), but on the word of trusted colleagues it reflects the equivalent sedan's disposition.That's to say that the extra weight, especially over the front axle, drags it back against its more adroit petrol sibling. Audi's persistence with longitudinal engines means that the bigger the donk the more negated the advantages of its much-vaunted new platform.Nor can a decisive economy advantage be claimed for the oiler. When pushing on, it needs to be spurred. In city traffic its consumption approaches that of the petrol car.In fact, the 1.8 TFSI combines the best characteristics of petrol and diesel, with the flexibility of the former (at 8.9 seconds it's almost one tick quicker to 100km/h from standing) and the low down response of the latter. And all of its 250Nm is available from 1500rpm _ almost the instant the throttle is floored.It's a light weight contender that punches above its weight to imbue the Avant with a dynamic behaviour that's about as rewarding as you're going to get in a front-wheel-drive. While never enamoured of CVT, there are few grounds to complain of the way in which it transmits power to the road.As ever with Audi, the inside story is one of tactile delight. The interior of even a basic spec variant is pervaded by an air of comfort, convenience and sheer quality that exceeds the Merc and leaves the Bimmer for dead.When you're sitting this prettily, you don't mind so much which wheels are doing the driving. AUDI A4 AVANTprice: $56,400 (TFSI); $57,800 (TDI)engines: 1.8L/4-cylinder turbo petrol (118kW/250Nm); 2L/4-cylinder turbo diesel (105kW/320Nm)economy: 7.4L/100km (TFSI); 6L/100km (TDI)transmission: continuously variable auto 

Audi’s latest version of its mid-size entry is safer, lighter and sportier than its predecessor; and with four new refined engines, including two diesels, its greener too. We tested the two litre diesel but also in the new range is the 1.8 litre TFSI, the 2.7 litre TDI and the flagship 3.2 litre FSI quattro.ExteriorAudi have made a big effort to make the new A4 appear more athletic, with taut, dynamic outlines and short front body overhangs. The longer bonnet and wheelbase help to give it more of a presence on the road. A strongly tapered rear, 16 inch alloy wheels and bold wheel arches emphasise the vehicles muscular, sporty appearance. Seventeen and eighteen inch wheels can be fitted. The 18’s come standard on the quattro. Wrap around xenon headlights contain 14 white light-emitting diodes for daytime driving. Exterior mirrors are electronically adjustable and house LED indicators. Remote central locking, a security engine immobiliser and front and rear parking sensors are standard across the range. A rear view camera is optional. The A4 is available in 15 body colours, more than any of its competitors.InteriorThanks to the longer wheelbase of the new A4, leg, shoulder, head and knee room have all increased and Audi have managed to incorporate more storage space throughout the cabin. The dash is simple and intuitive and shows careful attention to detail by way of good quality materials and workmanship. A large metallic dial on the centre console, together with the clear electronic display operates many of the vehicles features with minimal driver effort. The instrument cluster is easy to read and switches on the dash have a precision feel. There is an optional extra interior lighting package to add more sparkle to the cabin. The concert sound system is mp3 compatible and pumps out of 10 speakers including a subwoofer. For an extra $1500, a Bang and Olufsen system is available. Three-zone electronic climate control with sunlight dependent control, regulates the air temperature, flow rate and distribution. New ‘Climate Comfort’ perforated leather seats are adjusted electronically and have a position memory. The boot holds 480 litres which is more than any competitor and together with the flat floor and flat side panels, is extremely practical. With both the back seats folded down, capacity increases to 962 litres. The new A4 carries a space saver spare tyre.Drivetrains Our front wheel drive test car was powered by a two litre, 105kW/320Nm four-cylinder DOHC TDI engine with a VTG turbocharger. The bigger diesel version carries a V6 that steps power up to 140kW/400Nm. The smaller petrol engine in the range runs on a 1.8 litre, 118kW/250Nm, four cylinder TFSI engine, whilst the bigger quattro tiptronic V6 gives you 195kW and 330Nm. The 2.0 litre diesel shoots form 0-100 in 9.4 seconds and uses 5.8 litres in 100kms.Ride and handlingThe use of high grade steel in the body shell has saved on weight and contributed to the level of rigidity necessary for precise and accurate handling, and a comfortable ride. It has also suppressed the potential for body vibration. Five-link front and independent-wheel, trapezoidal link rear suspension with brake assist have made this version of the A4 dynamically superior to Audi’s previous offering. SafetyAudi’s latest A4 has received the top five star ANCAP crash rating and comes with a comprehensive airbag package, ESP, ABS, ASR, EDL and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. PricingA worthy rival to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series, the 2008 Audi A4 starts at $50,900 for the 1.8 manual petrol, up to $88,500 for the tiptronic 3.2 litre petrol quattro.DRIVING Halligan saysThe A4 2.0 TDi is a practical car; it will find favour with a growing audience that wants to be seen as making sensible decisions that go some ways to helping the environment. Audi are doing a fantastic job at making a diesel an option to the everyman, even here in Australia. Winning Le Mans consistently and showcasing the R8 V12 TDi has certainly helped this profile. However, the 2.0 TDi has little in common with an exciting R8 in any flavour, save for quality engineering. While it is very competent and would make a fantastic taxi, it lacks the refinement and driver experience you expect from an Audi.Both the braking and acceleration grab and jerk, and while the turbo is responsible for some of this it doesn't sit well with the profile of this car as transport for people who will pay a bit extra for German engineering over domestic.It cruises well on the freeway and acceleration is good from any speed so long as you are not expecting it to be applied in a linear fashion.At speed in the test car there was quite strong wind noise emanating from the rear door sills, again not expected from an Audi.All controls are easily accessible and you don't need to read a manual to know what's what. I don't like the orange/red dash lights that are common in most German cars these days. Whatever useability expert came up with these as the default did not interview me. Please go back to light shades of blue and green so I don't have to keep putting my glasses on just to read the dash.Audi seats are incredibly uncomfortable, with a convex curvature at the lower lumbar that pushes your spine all the wrong ways.Another seat gripe for families with young kids is that the rear seats sit very low, and the belt line is quite high, which means the kids struggle to see out the window.It is amazing to think that the A4 2.0 TDi and RS4 utilise the same platform. One is immensely desirable while the other is pedestrian.Unless you are adamant you want a diesel, buy domestic or save your pennies a bit more and buy a C-Class.Verdict: 7 

The eighth-generation A4 is ready for showroom action among Audi's 30-strong Australian dealer network from early next month.Many in the industry have been asking why it has taken so long for Audi to produce a product that can hold its own with BMW's 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.This car is now primed to go the distance but whether it can ultimately score a TKO over the proven stars from Munich and Stuttgart is a moot point.Sure, there is a lot to like about the car with its improved steering, handling, braking and ride. That said, up to 64 per cent of people who have bought an A4 say they do so primarily because of its design.A great deal of plough-on understeer has been dialled out of the front-drive models, but the rear-drive opposition from Mercedes and BMW still has the edge.The axle has been pushed further towards the front, reducing the overhang and allowing the firewall to be moved further back.On first impressions at the wheel of an entry-level 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with the Multitronic transmission, the A4 offers strong on-road composure, fresh cabin ambience, comfort and excellent ergonomics.The steering is much sharper than previous models, the brakes a little touchy in the city but felt better out on the open road.There is decent rear seat room, which has been an issue in this class previously. You need to keep working on the throttle to keep the little unit on the boil.This example was lavished with almost $7000 worth of options, blowing the price as driven to $60,400.The extra boxes ticked were the Comfort Pack, which for $2600 you gain electric seats with lumbar support, tri-zone climate control airconditioning and Bluetooth preparation, although the adapter for the mobile phone is a separate purchase.It also had metallic paint, a $1600 price hike across the range, and $1900 for larger 17-inch wheels.All up, the A4 is a better performer, using under 7 litres/100km around town, which blew to 8.5 litres/100km when the little four-cylinder was worked hard.Moving to the two-litre turbo-diesel, the driving experience was an entirely different affair.For starters, the diesel, which weighs more than the petrol engine, is slower to turn into corners, a little blunter in the steering department but is otherwise an attractive package.The two-litre delivers smooth torque, easily taking care of any hill in its path with a modicum of revs.This car had almost $10,000 of extras, including the 17-inch wheels ($1900), the Xenon headlight package ($2100), rear park-assist sensors ($850), the Audi Side and Lane Assist ($2400) and the Comfort Pack ($2600), that lifted the price to $64,750.Audi says the 1.8-litre will account for 70 per cent of sales while the two-litre diesel will attract only 10 per cent of the A4 volume.However, the entry-level diesel is an attractive package for $54,900 without extras and there are concessions from Audi that a more realistic slice of the action could be anything up to 30 per cent of sales.The cabin architecture and build quality assumes Audi's class-leading standard, although the aluminium look panel and console inserts, which Audi calls “micrometallic platinum inlays” may not wear all that well down the track. 

It is a bullish forecast on the back of a sales surge that has seen Audi double its business in Australia since 2004, including 7200 vehicles sold last year.The A4, coded the B8 in the model's family tree, is seen as Audi's last big hope to join the pacesetters of the flourishing premium compact segment.Over the years this patch has been dominated by BMW's ethereal 3-series and the spiralling growth of Mercedes-Benz's C-Class. Some observers claim this new Audi is the missile it needs to capture a share of the market outside Europe.It is a completely new and bigger car, with more dynamic refinement and technical innovations, but whether it will be enough to justify Audi's bold predictions is open to conjecture.Since 1972, when the B1 — the A4's forebear — was born, the model line has been the backbone of Audi's business, selling more than 8.5 million. In 2007 it accounted for 41 per cent of the Ingolstadt manufacturer's international sales that topped 960,000 units.Audi is cocky about the Australian prospects of the latest A4, claiming part of the success will come from improved resale values — one of its weaknesses against the traditionally strong BMW residuals.The latest A4 arrives here with a string of awards from Germany. But it is up against not only the selling might of the rear-drive 3-series but also the burgeoning Mercedes C-Class, the current Wheels Car Of The Year.And then there is the Lexus IS250.Audi risks alienating its highest-spending A8 saloon customers by suggesting that the company aims to introduce breakthrough technology on the A4.Of course Audi's famous quattro all-wheel-drive layout was fashioned on the Audi 80 in 1982 and later that decade direct-injection TDI diesels were launched with the Audi 100, both important cogs in the A4 lineage.So it is aiming to use the A4 again as the launch bed of technical breakthroughs.Among the interesting additions on the new A4 are the side-assist warning and the lane-assist device.The side-assist is essentially the same as the BLIS system, which was pioneered by Volvo.The lane-assist operation uses sensors that detect if the car is going off-course by triggering a vibration through the steering wheel, akin to running over audible rumble lines on some freeways. Together these two systems are a $2400 option.Audi is offering a range of engine choices, starting with the 1.8-litre turbo from $50,900 for the manual and $53,500 for the Multitronic.From there the range steps up to a 2.0-litre Multitronic turbo-diesel ($54,900) while the 3.2-litre V6 quattro petrol vehicle tops the range at $88,500.Joining the crowd in June is a 2.7-litre turbo-diesel at $67,900, while a 3-litre turbo-diesel from $89,500 is scheduled for October, two months after the Avant wagon arrives.Dimensionally, there are significant changes with the new car that comes off the already launched A5 coupe platform.It has been stretched a further 120mm and is 50.4mm wider, while the boot gains 20 litres which swells to a cavernous 480 litres.The quattro, which is not accessible until you stretch to the 3-litre diesel and 3.2-litre V6, has a 40/60 front/rear torque split.The A4 is 4703mm long and wins out over the 3-series (4520mm) and the C-Class (4581mm).BMW and Mercedes-Benz also have a shorter distance between the axles, with the Audi running to 2808mm against the 3-series's 2760mm and the C-Class (2760mm).The A4 has more front headroom than both of its German rivals but the 3-series and C-Class win out in front and rear shoulder width.Other key optional extras for the A4 include the drive select with adaptive dampers for $3200. You can add dynamic steering to that package, which blows the price to $5500 and is available only on the 3.2-litre V6.Then there is the Xenon Plus package (standard on the 3.2-litre V6) which adds the curvy LED daytime running lights for $2100. SnapshotAudi A4Price: from $50,900 to $88,500.Engines: 1.8-litre four cylinder, 2-litre turbo-diesel, 2.7-litre turbo-diesel, 3.2-litre V6 quattro, 3-litre turbo-diesel quattro.Transmissions: 6-speed manual, Multitronic, 6-speed Tiptronic (3.2-litre V6).Power: 118kW (1.8), 105kW (2-litre TDI), 140kW (2.7-litre TDI), 195kW (3.2-litre V6).Torque: 250Nm (1.8), 320Nm (2-litre TDI), 400Nm (2.7-litre TDI), 330Nm (3.2-litre V6).Safety: Eight airbags (standard), ESP and associated brake and skid assist programs.Fuel consumption: 7.1litres/100km (manual 1.8), 5.8litres/100km (2-litre TDI), 6.6litres/100km (2.7-litre TDI), 9.3litres/100km (3.2-litre V6).Emissions: 169g/km (1.8), 154 (2-litre TDI), 176 (2.7-litre TDI), 220 (3.2-litre V6).Standard Equipment: 6.5inch screen, automatic aircon, Milano leather seat upholstery and head restraints.Optional equipment: adaptive cruise control, adaptive lights, advanced key, various parking systems, Audi drive select with adaptive dampers, lane assist, side assist, dynamic steering, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, Bluetooth, 3-zone automatic aircon, driver information system with monochrome display, navigation system with DVD including MMI (multi media interface), Comfort package, Symphony radio, TV reception, Xenon Plus headlight and daytime LED driving lights, gearshift display, Valcona leather. 

That in itself speaks more to the demographic Audi has targeted with its new A4 than anything as passe as an assessment of how the thing goes.The marque's all-important rival to BMW's 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class looks good — quite striking, actually. Feels good, too.Even smells all right. And, by the measure of prestige Germans, the entry price isn't savage.If this were any other car in the segment, the fact that its brave new platform delivers only a marginally improved ride than its erratic predecessor would be grim news.So would the fact that the steering is still in want of feel and that the car from Ingolstadt continues to flail about next to those from Stuttgart and (especially) Munich in the dynamics department.If that's apparent even on the cursory introductory drive, you're also inclined to think none of this will much trouble those drawn to the A4.It delivers in every tactile, feel-good respect that Audi's steadily growing crowd of clients have every right to expect. The design is captivating. Interiors are in a class of their own. And it's appreciably bigger and more generous to rear passengers than the car it replaces.So thoroughly does the A4 fulfil its brief that the marque's stated intention of overhauling BMW in Australia by 2015 seems not so much claret-infused bluster as a sober forecast.Put it this way: if you owned a B7 generation A4, you'll like the B8 version more. If you're a reflexive Merc or Bimmer buyer — or a newcomer to the German prestige oeuvre who doesn't want to be a cliche — the A4 is the sort of thing to gladden an image consultant's heart.The new A4 rides on the marque's MDS platform, in which Audi's traditional nose heaviness has been somewhat offset by moving the axle line forward relative to the engine and repositioning the steering system, as per the A5 coupe.Only so much can be done when the front wheels do some or — as is the case with three of the four variants to be first released — all of the driving and steering.Disappointingly, only one version for now is imbued with quattro all-wheel-drive. Outrageously, you have to spend nearly $90,000 — as opposed to almost $60K in the previous range — to get quattro.Most A4s are front-wheel-drive only and though superior by bum-dragging standards, the $30K car featured on page five of today's edition is noticably sharper.So much for a “very emotional dynamic experience”. But then, that's not really why you're in a four-ring showroom, is it?The A4 has been launched in three direct injection engined variants, one of them diesel with a further oiler to arrive next month.The 2.0 TDI, which carries over the Volkswagen Group's tried and true 105kW/320Nm four-cylinder turbo diesel driven through a continuously variable transmission (CVT), costs from $54,900.Coming next month, the 2.7 TDI, with 140kW/400Nm V6 driven via a CVT, begins from $67,900. Later in the year there'll be a version running the superb 3.0 TDI V6.The diesels are book-ended by the petrol cars. The entry level with the perky 1.8 turbo four-cylinder (as used in a $30,990 Skoda Octavia) is $50,900 as a six-speed manual (it's the only stick shift model) and $53,900 with CVT.The 3.2 FSI V6 — with the latest version rear-biased, torque sensing quattro and upgraded six-speed tiptronic automatic — is $88,500 and exceeds $100K if you so much as dabble with the options list.Wagon versions of the 1.8 and 2.0 TDI are due in August.Like the two-door A5, the sedan has an imposing appearance not adequately reflected in photos.Those distinctive daytime running lights — 14 miniature LEDs clustered around the headlamps — are an arresting signature.Obviously bigger within, the interior also remains world-leading, shading Lexus's IS 250, easily surpassing the C-Class and leaving the spartan 3 Series for dead. The A4 is a nice place to spend time.Among the raft of optional and expensive extras, Active Drive — a switchable system that affects damper settings and the steering ratio — seems to have some sort of useful application. You're afforded the choice of the “comfort”, “auto” or “dynamic” and the variation noticeably alters the tempo of proceedings.There'll be a rush to the 1.8 TFSI with CVT. It's a lovely, torquey, rorty engine. But we'd go for the 2.0 TDI, which achieves a strong claimed economy figure (5.8 litres per 100km), adequate performance and was better tied down on the road.The petrol V6 makes a wonderful sound, but the forthcoming $89,500 3.0 TDI promises to be the best of the range, one to at least challenge Benz's superb C320 CDI, easily the best prestige German car under $100K.But where's a circa $65K 2.0 TFSI quattro version? That might be an A4 that's as good to drive to the restaurant as it looks parked outside. SNAPSHOT AUDI A4 1.8 TFSIPrice: $50,900 manual, $53,900 autoEngine: 1.8L/4-cylinder turbo petrol, 118kW/250NmTransmission: 6-speed man or CVTEconomy: 7.1L/100km (claimed)