While the A4 has been around for quite some time now, we’re talking mid-1990′s, it’s still a highly sought after luxury vehicle that can be enjoyed by both the young and old. The reason it has managed to stay in one of the top spots of entry level luxury vehicles is because with each successive generation of the A4, it has simply gotten better. Most luxury car buyers are looking for both power and aesthetics and the A4 provides just that. Available in convertible, sedan, and wagon versions, the A4 is a great bang for your buck. But, let’s take a closer look at why.
The Up-Side
Many A4 models now offer an optional four wheel drive, which is always a plus in our book. The four wheel drive on the convertible and sedan options of the car definitely add a little more “oomph” to the corners. But, that’s to be expected with any four wheel drive vehicle. It’ll show up again in the negatives for the car below, but this negative actually has an upside. While the base price of the 2010 version of the car falls somewhere between $35000-40,000, there are a few things that you really just can’t do without. Everyone falls into the trap of getting the few little upgrades, and Audi has things like iPod docks and extra cup holders for those willing to drop some coin. But, the only upgrade we found worthwhile justifying was the shift paddle gearbox. It doesn’t really do much for the drive of the car, but adds a little more fun to the otherwise rigid four wheel drive drivetrain.
The A4 also manages to do really well in the fuel economy department, pulling in about 25MPG for both city and highway. A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that Audi has just implemented a new steering system. Through a process called hydraulic assist, many car manufacturers have been using this newly designed power steering idea to help drivers save on fuel and drive more efficiently. However, because the car can now be thought of driving itself, the “fun” factor is almost entirely lost by the vehicle. Audi avoided this problem by somehow implanting a system that is capable of keeping the responsiveness in the steering while still bolstering fuel efficiency.
Where Things Get Shaky
You may be thinking that with all of the positives to the car, how could there be anything bad. Yes, it’s true that the 2010 A4 is one of the best entry level luxury vehicles on the market, but there’s still something missing. For the $40,000 you’ll inevitably spend on the vehicle to get it “up to speed,” you may be much better off getting either a used one, like an A4 from 2006 or 2007 as the models haven’t changed much at all since then, or buying an older BMW. Audi has made a damn fine car, that’s for sure, but is it worth your money?
The A4 has always been known to have electrical problems and less than perfect finishing touches. The best way to understand the A4 is to imagine the engineers at Audi slaving over their workstations for years coming up with the perfect engine and vehicle they can under the hood, and by the time they were ready to actually assemble the car, they were so tired that they just kind of…well, gave up.
Wrap Up
The 2.0L engine gives an impressive 211HP through a turbocharged system. If you’ve got the money to spend on a fine car, the A4 is always going to be a favorite, but if you’re just looking for something nice to be seen in, the hanging lights or patch work interior job may not be the thing you need to impress your friends.
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