2007 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro
Occasionally we're reminded that all-wheel drive isn't just for getting up a snowy driveway in wintertime. Testing the all-new Audi A4 Quattro, we were passing a long line of traffic bottled up behind a truck on a two-lane highway. No worries until we came abreast of an SUV shuffling along immediately behind the 18-wheeler. As we drew alongside, without warning the driver simply yanked his vehicle into the left lane to pass. Accelerating hard, we flicked the Audi far onto the left shoulder, the two right wheels barely remaining on the pavement, and simply drove around the sport-ute, completing the pass without drama. Apart from solid whacks as the left wheels hit deep craters on the dirt shoulder and a shotgun blast of gravel peppering the floorpan, the episode was over in moments - and barely noticeable.
That's the advantage of having all four wheels pulling for you, backed by a world-class Electronic Stability Control system. Even in the hands of an expert driver, a front- or rear-drive car in this predicament would be a handful to control, the outcome far from certain. In the Audi A4 it was just another day at the office.
Another part of the secret for this A4's nimble response is the excellent Sport Package - handsome 17-inch alloys, sticky high-performance footwear and Audi's superb sport suspension - a $750 option and worth every nickel. Coupled with the six-speed manual transmission it turns an already capable sedan into a sporting machine. The ratios are close and the throws almost toggle switch-like in their directness, making the driving experience much like being in an Audi TT with a sedan body attached.
This A4 also sported a new engine, the 2.0-liter FSI. Injecting fuel at very high-pressure directly into the cylinder, much like a diesel, and backed by a quick-reacting turbocharger, the torquey four-cylinder delivers the performance of a 3-liter V-6 with outstanding fuel economy to boot. Matched to the six-speed's carefully chosen ratios, its inordinately wide, flat torque curve leads it to perform far better than any two-liter four-cylinder sedan we've driven.
Inside, the cabin is largely a carryover, tastefully appointed with leather and ebony wood. New is a chrome accent extending from the door panels across the dash, helping to visually brighten the interior. The seats are a bit wide for spirited driving but supportive and comfortable enough for all-day drives. And there's a generously-sized dead pedal to help the serious driver anchored behind the wheel during spirited maneuvers.
The navigation system ($1,950) is the first genuinely useful design we've seen; it actually allows driver inputs while in motion. Our test car also had the Lighting Package ($1,425) which adds bi-xenon headlights that are self-leveling to compensate for heavy loads, memory for driver side seat and outside mirrors, plus other goodies. The $1,000 Audio Package adds a killer Bose sound system and the entertainingl XM Satellite Radio system. All up, the test car totaled $37,995. At that price point there's some serious competition today but the A4 can easily handle the heat.
Dimensionally the new A4 is little changed; rear legroom is reasonably good, headroom is adequate and the trunk is enormous, its flat floor and low liftover making it truly useful. With the 60/40 rear seat folded, the A4 swallowed several hundred pounds of bulky video production gear that we normally transport by truck. And there was still room for a passenger.
An eminently capable everyday commuter, the new Audi A4 shines as a cross-country cruiser, inhaling huge chunks of open highway with ease, a task that's assisted by its superb fuel economy and long range. (We saw 29 mpg in very hard driving.) There's little wind noise, virtually no mechanical noise. The steering is accurate with decent feedback although it's a bit vague on-center, something we've not noted in the V-6-powered versions, particularly the sensational S4 4.2-liter, 340hp sports sedan. But the A4's sport suspension - much of it borrowed from the S4 - plus its slippery aerodynamics and long-legged gearing make it an excellent candidate for hushed, rapid transit over any type of road, preferably one with plenty of curves. Get into trouble, like we did, and the Audi A4 will step in instantly to help out. A very enticing combination of attributes in our book.
