Audi A4 Part 2: Interior & User Experience

Previous generations of Audi's A4 sedan played a significant role in establishing the manufacturer's reputation for excellent interior quality and fit and finish. As Audi's best-seller, the success of the newest A4 - as well as its ability to keep that reputation intact - is crucial.

So how does the new A4's cabin stack up? Quite well actually. Not only does the newest A4 deliver a well-built and well-designed interior, it now offers a huge amount of technological content as well. Most significant for the performance minded is the Audi Drive Select system, which at $2950 is quite pricey, but probably worth every penny to enthusiast drivers who need a comfortable family-sedan, but really want a more focused sports sedan.

The Audi Drive Select system allows drivers to personalize the dynamics of the A4 to their taste. There are four settings for the engine and transmission programming, the active steering and the adjustable suspension system. The first three are pretty much self-explanatory: "comfort", "dynamic" and "auto". It's the fourth setting, the one called "individual", that is the most interesting.

The "individual" setting allows you to customize the various parameters of the A4's dynamics independently depending on your needs. Where the other settings lock you in to a specific mode for all the various systems, "individual" gives you much more freedom. Here's how it works...

Let's say you're driving in snow. You may still want your throttle to be extra sharp and the steering to offer a little more weight, so you select "dynamic" for those two parameters. But since you're on a loose surface, you'd like more weight-transfer for increased traction so you select "comfort" for the suspension, which of course gives you more roll and more traction.

Clearly much more than a gimmick, Drive Select is a must-have option for the most discerning drivers. One system that is part of the Drive Select package but deserves mention on its own is Audi's dynamic steering. Among the best active steering systems we've tried in terms of its transparency, dynamic steering raises some interesting questions regarding vehicle control.

The active steering system in the A4 is most noticeable at parking lot speeds, where you'll likely catch yourself making bigger steering inputs than necessary. After some miles in the car, however, you start to get used to it. Of bigger concern in my opinion is that the system has the ability to make inputs on its own, if and when the stability control system tells it you're acting like a fool. Now, I can argue this both ways: on the one hand, if you are in fact driving like a knuckle-head and you're about to lose control, the system just saved your butt. On the other hand, if you know your stuff and you're telling the car what to do, it may politely decline if it thinks it knows better.

Admittedly, the system is very subtle when it intervenes - so subtle in fact that most drivers won't know it's worked its magic, and will praise the car's controllability.

Clearly, there is a lot of dynamic-based technology in the A4. Not to be overlooked, there are also several safety-oriented systems, most obviously Quattro - which is both dynamic and safety-minded, as well as a blind-spot warning system which is surprisingly useful.

But perhaps the most significant improvement relative to the previous model A4 is the additional space inside the cabin - especially in the back seat. Where the old car didn't fare well in comparison to its competition - mainly BMW's 3-series and Mercedes-Benz's C-class - this new A4 sends them both back to the drawing board in search of more room. Credit the longer wheelbase and increased width for that newfound space.

So now, to Audi's reputation for great fit and finish and quality of materials we can add style, technology and safety content, and perhaps most importantly, space - all contributing to a more desirable, safe and enjoyable A4.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 3: Performance

Audi A4

Performance
- Acceleration: Adequate to be sure, but competitors with larger engines and/or turbochargers leave it behind
- Handling: Rear-biased Quattro finally gives the A4 the handling dynamics to compete with the Bavarian class-leader
- Braking: Solid performance and excellent stability provided by all-wheel drive

Design
- Exterior: Conservative but great-looking - proportions vastly improved over predecessor
- Interior: Again, not a great leap forward, but still quite handsome

Utility
- Comfort: All the amenities you'd expect in a car at this price assure your comfort
- Space: Extra wheelbase of B8 chassis (along with increased width) affords the A4 with decent rear seat legroom for the first time ever

Safety
- Dynamics: The best way to survive an accident is to avoid it in the first place, and this new chassis, combined with the rear-biased Quattro AWD, will help you do just that
- Technology: It's all here, including all-wheel drive

Value
- Price: Base price is attractive, but "must-have" options quickly move the A4 into sticker shock territory
- Mileage: It's not all rosy when you're driving all four wheels, but direct injection does its part to keep the A4 near its competitors

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Great looking inside and out, but beyond that not exactly a pulse raising kind of car
- Fun to spank: Not especially, although it is fun to drive reasonably quickly... BIG difference

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / All-wheel drive
Engine: 3.2 liter, V6
Power (SAE): 265 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 243 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3850 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.9 sec.
1/4 mile: 14.3 @ 100 mph
Top Speed: 158 mph
Mileage: 18 city / 26 highway
Base Price: $40,400
Competitors: BMW 335i xDrive Sedan, Mercedes-Benz C350, Infiniti G37x AWD, Acura TL SH-AWD