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New Audi A4 2021 pricing and specs detailed: Update delivers style and substance to BMW 3 Series rival

The new Audi A4 has arrived.

The Audi A4 has received important updates for 2020, with new cabin equipment, body styling and fuel-saving tech leading the charge for Audi's updated BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class rivals.

The A4 will be offered in Sedan, Avant and allroad body styles, and with three engine choices - the 35 TFSI, 45 TFSI quattro and the diesel 40 TDI quattro, the latter of which is only available in the allroad.

This might technically be a mid-life refresh Audi, but with significant competition from its German rivals, the brand has pushed the boat out when it comes to updates.

Which is why most of the body panels have been changed, with the updated design starting with a new single-frame grille design that's now wider than before, along with a new headlight and DRL design, both of which are intended to make the grille look lower and sportier.

The side view has been altered, too, with new body lines - which Audi is referring to as "blisters" - that are designed to lend the A4 sportier look, while the rear has undergone a makeover, too. Both the A4 Sedan and Avant are 24 millimetres longer and five millimetres wider as a result of the body changes.

Inside, the changes are perhaps even more striking, with Audi installing a 10.1-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash, doing away with the need for other controls in the centre console, lending the updated Audi a clean, uncluttered feel to the interior.

Audi says the new model offers 10x the computing power of the outgoing model, owing mostly to connected car features including live traffic, weather reports and fuel pricing, as well as the ability to remote unlock or lock you car from your phone, or pre-plan destinations and send them to the vehicle's nav.

The cheapest way into an A4 remains the 35 TFSI Sedan, which will set you back $55,900, while the more style-focused S line variant will put a $59,900-sized dent in your wallet.

For that, you're purchasing a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, now fitted with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system said to drop fuel use by up to 0.3L/100km, that will produce 110kW and 270Nm. That power is sent to the front tyres via a seven-speed S tronic automatic.

You'll also find LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, that 10.1-inch touchscreen that's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto equipped, a smart key with push-button start, leather trim, three-zone climate, standard navigation and a DAB+ digital radio.

Inside, Audi has installed a 10.1-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash. Inside, Audi has installed a 10.1-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash.

On the safety front, you can expect eight airbags, AEB with pedestrian detect, an exit warning system, lane change warning and assist, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera - all of which contribute to the A4's five-star ANCAP safety rating.

A4 35 TFSI S line version ($59,900) adds Audi's very cool Virtual Cockpit (a 12.3-inch digital display that replaces the traditional driver's binnacle), as well as sportier exterior and interior styling, frameless mirrors and illuminated door sills.

The range then steps up to the A4 45 TFSI quattro S line, which is yours for $68,900 in sedan guise, or $71,400 for the Avant, or wagon.

First and foremost, the extra spend buys you more grunt, with that 2.0-litre turbocharged now producing 183kW and 370Nm, and which again pairs with a mild-hybrid system to lower fuel use.

It's also S line only, so you get the sportier style, but you also build on the 35 TFSI S line's equipment list with a memory function for the driver's seat and a better Audi 10-speaker stereo.

Finally, you can opt for the more off-road focused allroad, which is available with the 45 TFSI petrol engine, or with a smaller diesel power plant.

The allroad models ride higher than their siblings, with an extra 46mm in ground clearance. The allroad models ride higher than their siblings, with an extra 46mm in ground clearance.

We'll start with the diesel ($69,900), which is powered by a 2.0-litre engine good for 140kW and 400Nm, paired with a seven-speed S tronic automatic and quattro AWD. But the rugged-looking allroad can also be had with the 45 TFSI powertrain. Both offer aluminium-look exterior highlights, roof rails and new front and rear bumpers.

The allroad models also ride higher than their siblings, with an extra 46mm in ground clearance, and include an Off-Road Mode which pays with the cars on-board traction systems to deliver more grip.

“The three A4 body styles have been popular for generations, and we are pleased to be able to offer them in a dynamic new style, with outstanding equipment and technology that takes the premium segment to a new level,” says Audi Australia's managing director, Paul Sansom.