2008 Audi A4 two.0T Review

Buying an Audi sedan without Quattro all wheel-drive is like dating a Swedish brunette. That said, in that location'southward nothing incorrect with the right brunette, Bergman movies notwithstanding. And Audi makes and sells plenty of products where only the front end wheels are driven, from economy cars to its aufwendig TT. In fact, Audi's Great britain website proudly proclaims "a front-wheel-drive car is in principle more controllable and tracks improve than conventional rear-bicycle drive." OK then, in advance of the all-new A4 headed our way in '09, let's have a expect at the Audi A4 2.0T and see if we can get past the FWD thing.

Under the guidance of northern Italian designer Walter de'Silva, Audi's products preserve the straight, clean lines that BMW and Mercedes abandoned in pursuit of Picasso-esque titillations. The A4 maintains the simplicity of form and absence of arrayal that has marked this marque's models for decades. It's proof positive that Audi understands understatement like Ferrari groks glamor.

Except for the A4'southward chrome-lined Baton the Big Mouth Bass front grill. The grill takes upward nearly the unabridged vertical span of the A4'due south front fascia, interrupted by a slim slice of Euro-plate accommodating plastic (think local, screw America). The snout is Audi's iDrive: a huge mistake its maker refuses to rectify. Similar a tribal tattoo on a cheerleader'southward bum, the grill is the one detail that most ruins an otherwise make clean paradigm. About.

The A4'south interior has no such Achilles heel. The pattern is two steps forwards, one stride dorsum; the first-class ruddy-on-ruby gauge read-outs are dorsum, along with the foursquare steering locus and the all-piece of work-no-play center stack. The A4's quality materials continue to defend and extend Audi's rep for haptic happiness, with controls that snick with precisely measured sensual satisfaction.

Of grade, no one'due south perfect. A garish, silver piece of trim bisected my exam A4'due south interior; presumably inspired by a bathroom tub ring. Worse, the A4's rear accommodations are still cramped enough to make an A4 possessor covet a relatively measly Malibu. If your passengers are neither large or numerous, the A4's handsome cabin remains the standard to which all other machine manufacturers can– and do– aspire.

Creepo-up the A4's two-liter turbo-iv, and its sonic signature is to a BMW six what a garage band is to Led Zeppelin. Once underway, Audi's 200-horse powerplant displays minimal turbo-lag and stumps-up plenty twist to keep on keeping on on the highway. Plenty is plenty, but no more; the 3428 pound A4 is no pocket rocket. That'southward partly because the front bicycle-drive A4 I tested came with a CVT (Continuously Variable Manual)– no "proper" autobox is available. In any case, the sprint from residual to sixty takes near eight seconds.

Savvy pistonheads will know this relative sloth indicates a struggle between maximizing mpgs and providing enough go-and-go to keep upwards with the luxury auto-equipped Joneses– where fuel economy prevails. Every bit a effect, unless you're a hypermiler, the A4's force-fed four-pot feels a fleck hyperactive underfoot; slightly out-of-synch with entirely understandable upmarket expectations of seamless and serene forward progress.

Bereft of the weight of the Quattro gubbins, the A4 should bring something of that "improved traction" to the game. Should, but doesn't. While the A4 offers an excellent balance betwixt police enforcement-uniform handling and premium price-compliant ride comfort, and the brakes are as dependable as a federal revenue enhancement collector, even a sport-package equipped A4 lacks anything like a Golf GTI's fluidity at speed.

With a wishbone upfront and independent suspension at the rear, a well and truly caned A4 dismisses surface imperfections to maintain its class. But information technology's however very much an Audi: a nose-heavy beast with only slightly more steering feel than a radio controlled model automobile. Ane giant road dip in a tight right-hander reminds usa that the Audi A4 remains the long distance commuter's sports sedan.

Is this a problem? Truth exist told, the majority of a non-Quattro A4's 2.0T's eventual owners will never push their upscale motor vehicle past three-tenths, never mind eight-tenths. They'll never know– or care– how the A4's handling can't agree a corner to a BMW or a Cadillac CTS. They're more interested in the inherent advantages of front bike-drive during occasional bouts of inclement weather condition. As Audi'southward fantabulous traction control program will take care of the daunting snow banks in the Costco parking lot, Quattro demand not apply.

Well expert for them. For such average Joes, the A4's good looks and superior interior brand it an entirely defensible choice. But that doesn't change the fact that Quattro is Audi's Unique Selling Betoken; the compensation for not buying a more dynamically engaging car. An A4 two.0T sans all wheel-drive is zero more than a comfortable, boring sedan that gets reasonable mileage. Certain the A4 is a skillful car in and of its own accord, merely I'd rather have an Accord.