Introduction

If it's attention you want, the A4 it is.

The children in my neighborhood didn’t like me until a short while ago. You see, we fight for space, just like any species in an ecosystem. I am the ‘uncle’ who brings a lot of different cars home and needs space to park them, and they are the kids who need space to play cricket in. The space overlaps, however, and they know that if the ball – or one of them – comes in contact with a car that I’ve parked in the compound, there will be hell to pay. We have had an uneasy truce, wherein I try and park the cars I get home as far away from them as possible, and they try and ignore them. Well, at least, they tried until they laid eyes on the A4 – when this car rolled up to the parking spot, they all stopped playing, huddled together and gaped with wide-eyed admiration at the work of art that stood before them. That, in a nutshell, is the effect that the new A4 has on everyone – including us.

Exterior

The new A4 is big – so big that it’s encroaching on the segment above. It is substantially bigger than both the 3-series and the C-Class, and it shows. The size isn’t what will get your attention, however, and neither will the purposeful, hunkered-down stance or the lovely 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. What will hook your eyeballs are the ‘string of pearl’ LED lamps that underscore the headlamps like white eyeliner. They’re so different from anything else we’re used to on our roads that bystanders will gape at them for the most part, and some of them will helpfully inform you that your headlamps are on if you are driving during the day, not knowing that they remain on as long as the engine is running – a new safety feature that increases the car’s visibility, especially to pedestrians. The clean bonnet with its creases near the sides, the waistline that runs from headlamp to tail lamp, and the overall shape of the windows are elegant and sophisticated. The design isn’t as distinctive at the rear, which is a shame. That isn’t to say that the posterior won’t make heads turn – it’s just that it has only a fraction of the impact that the front does.

Interior

When you're done staring at the outside, step in. You won't be disappointed.

You feel special the minute you step into the A4, because the key goes into a slot in the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. You don’t have to twist and turn it, but press it into the dashboard. If you don’t feel like putting it into the dash, it’s perfectly okay. Keep the key in your pocket and press the start/stop button to bring the engine to life. This interior is really quite special – it has an air of quality that we have experienced only rarely. Things like the interior light dimmer made us smile – not only does it control the lighting intensity of the instrument dials, it also dims the MMI screen, the air-con controls and the backlights of the ‘P’, ‘R’, ‘N’ and ‘D’ next to the gearshift lever! The controls are typically Audi, and controlling things like the music system is ridiculously simple thanks to the scroll and click buttons on the steering wheel. All the materials are well finished and look and feel indestructible.

The instruments include a multi-function display in between the large dials of the speedometer and the tachometer that displays a wealth of information for the driver. Here, too, attention to detail is brought to the fore: the driver can call up the names of the songs being played on this screen as well, so that he doesn’t have to look away from his normal line of sight, to the MMI screen atop the centre of the dashboard. The seats are adjustable every which way, so finding a comfortable position involves moving a few buttons about for a few seconds, is all.

This is a large car on the inside as well as the outside, and as such, there’s a lot of space for four full-sized adults in here. A fifth will fit in the back, but the high transmission tunnel (a result of the all-wheel drive) might make the middle rear passenger a little uncomfortable. There is enough room for all the occupants, however, and driving for long periods will have the occupants emerging fresh at the end. Also keeping the occupants entertained is an awesome 7-speaker Bang & Olufsen system that can make you deaf, but with not a hint of distortion at any volume. The 480-litre boot is large enough for a trip to the airport, and the rear seats flip and fold, adding to the practicality by increasing the boot space to 962 litres. Numerous cubbyholes mean that any odds and ends you have will be safely stowed away. We like the cupholders of different sizes, they’re another of the things that show the amount of thought that went into this car.

Engine, drivetrain, fuel efficiency

Engine

The 3197cc V6 is a petrolhead’s delight, what with 265bhp on tap at 6500rpm. This engine isn’t related to the TT’s V6 engine, though – there are more than a few differences, like the TT’s motor being a narrow-angle V6, with just one cylinder head for both banks. This is one of the VW auto group’s first FSI motors to make it to our shores, and the technology improves responsiveness and fuel efficiency. Four valves to each cylinder are fed air via a two-stage variable intake manifold and fuel by a high- and low-pressure system. The engine races to the redline almost like it’s in neutral in the bottom three gears. This car is a saloon, but it will certainly give most sportscars a run for their money in a straight line. The engine sounds quite pleasing when revved, but the sound is muted, as befits its image.

Drivetrain

The A4’s 3.2 FSI motor is mated to a six-speed tiptronic that distributes power to all corners of the car. The shifts can have passengers nodding their heads when not in a hurry, but engage the sport program and use the paddles behind the wheel, and you can barely feel a let up in the freight-train like acceleration that takes you to the wrong side of 200kph all too quickly.

Fuel efficiency

FSI technology promises gains in this department, and it does not disappoint. We achieved 6.7kpl under ordinary conditions, which is really very good when you consider the weight of the car, the power output and the fact that it has permanent all-wheel drive. Under our harsh testing conditions, it dropped to nearly 5kpl.

Ride & Handling, Steering

Optional rims a delight to look at, but contribute to stiff ride.

The massive rims and low-profile tyres crash through potholes, and you have to be careful with every big speedbreaker you encounter, else you’re going to scrape the car’s belly. The steering is quite light at parking speeds, but weighs up as you pick up speed. ‘Comfort’ mode is the best for driving at city speeds, and if you hit the highway, you can switch to ‘dynamic’ mode. This stiffens up the suspension, reduces the assist of the steering wheel and makes the gears change faster. The hard ride in dynamic mode can get quite jarring, and steering becomes quite a pain in the triceps, but you are rewarded with better control than you’d expect from the car. There’s electronic magic working hard in the background here, too: the Audi dynamic steering varies the effective steering ratio according to the road speed, and if you’re close to the car’s limits, makes tiny but rapid adjustments to the steering to keep the car in line.

We found leaving it in comfort mode the best option, unless we really wanted to work our way up to light speed. Only then did the dynamic mode make sense to us, because it makes the ride too harsh for our liking.

Braking, Tyres, Safety

Space-saver spare limits car to 80kph.

Braking

An army of acronyms helps the brakes haul this potent car from 80kph to a standstill in 30.3 metres. Not bad for a vehicle that weighs just over 1600kg. The pedal’s initial travel may seem a little too soft at first, but you appreciate the immediacy of the pedal once you brake from really high speeds. They are easy to modulate and have very good bite.

Tyres

Michelin Pilot Sport tyres of the size 245/40 were wrapped around 5-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels on our test car. These are an option, and the 3.2 is also available with 225/50 R17 tyres with a seven-spoke wheel design. They are quiet at speed, and offer incredible grip off the line and under braking.

Safety

Audi makes some of the safest cars in the world. There are a multitude of active and passive safety features built into the A4, right from parking sensors to crumple zones to take care of everything from the smallest nudge to the biggest crash.

Cost, Overall evaluation

Cost

It’s bigger than it’s rivals, and it’s cheaper than the equivalent variants. That makes it a value deal – but only comparatively. The fuel bills might yet beggar you, as will the cost of spares, should you break something. However, if you’re going to break into the rarefied atmosphere of the big three premium German brands, this is as good a bet as any of the others. With those LED running lamps, definitely a proposition that looks better than the alternatives.

Overall evaluation

We like the A4’s brawn, both visual and under the hood. We love the effect it has on people. For approximately Rs 36 lakh, Mumbai, we think the 3.2 FSI makes a good case for itself – but only as a highway car. The immense power would simply be wasted idling in city traffic.

Back home, the children still play cricket in their spot, and I still park my cars in the same place. However, the day following the A4’s return, a boy who got a tongue-lashing when I caught him jumping on the footboard of an SUV that I had brought home while on a test walked timidly up to me and said, “That Audi is my favourite car. Are you going to bring it back?”

Needless to say, I'm his favourite 'uncle' now.

Test Data

Engine Specifications

3197cc, six cylinders in vee, petrol. 265bhp@6500rpm and 330Nm@3000rpm View specifications

Max in Gear

Performance Test Data

Fuel Efficiency