Audi A4 Avant 2005 - Present

The Audi A4 has a mountain to climb and not being an offroader this is an even bigger challenge than it would be for a 4X4. It's vying for top spot in the Small Executive Saloon class, a position currently occupied by the mighty 3-Series BMW and that is a place that it's made it's own and is keen to maintain.

Audi have looked at almost every part of the old A4 and looked to improve on it. There is a wider choice of engines than ever before and the suspension has been redesigned to improve both ride and road holding. The basic raison detre of the car is unchanged but across the car things have been tweaked to ensure that the A4 remains an attractive choice.

Inside the A4, as with any Audi, you're immediately struck on the minimal styling with simple, eye catching red dials and graphics throughout the interior and logical, natural controls. Everything is laid out in the right place to make driving instinctive rather than something that you need to process. The seats offer good levels of comfort but still keep you alert. They are supportive without being soporific. In the back the taller passenger will need the front occupants to mover their seats forward but in general the cabin offers comfort to all but the tallest guest. Head room is comfortable without being lavish and the car offers good visibility to all it's occupants. Boot space is ample and practically laid out with parallel side walls giving uniform room throughout. The lack of any boot lip means that loading and unloading is an easy operation.

When behind the wheel the Audi holds the road with confidence. Cornering is predictable and precise and the steering transmits a great feel of the road back up to the driver. It not quite as involving a drive as the 3-Series but is tapping on the C-Classes passenger window. Quattro all wheel drive is available on the more powerful versions with the S4 and RS4 sensibly only given the option of all wheel drive.

Under the bonnet the German carmaker goes from the lime to the ridiculous. The 1.6 is too small and somewhat underpowered and at the top end the RS4 (reviewed separately), like driving with a Tasmanian devil under your right foot. The 1.8 engine reaches 60 mph in slightly more than eight seconds on it's way to the top speed just north of 140 mph. As you move up the range the top speeds don't change hugely but the 0-60 gets a bit quicker with the 3 litre TDI managing 152 mph with a 0-60 of 6.6 seconds. If this is too sedate for you the RS4 will shave a further 2 seconds from this figure.

The Audi A4 has been pushed into this new range of improvements by it's competition and a desire to move past them. It's not quite past all of it's rivals but does offer a lot of car for the money and gives the driver an engaging and fun drive. If you're in the market of an Executive saloon the A4 demands that it's at least in the Reckoning.

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