Insurance Group: 34
MPG: 48.7
CO2: 152
0-62 Mph: 6.1 secs
BHP: 242 BHP
Range: 653 miles
PROS: The A4 saloon is a practical car with loads of space and the 3.0 litre diesel engine provides good efficiency and low CO2 emissions. The performance of the 242bhp engine is great with a fast 0-60mph speed.
CONS: The four-wheel-drive option adds heavily to the price and the diesel engine is not as efficient as the smaller engines, like the 2.0 litre.
The petrol engine does not suit the A4 as well as the diesel as it needs far more revs to get going. The car is not a particularly sporty one, but has good grip and handling, with the four-wheel-drive offering much more stability than the two-wheel-drive versions. The suspension however, can be a little uncomfortable.
The engine is 2967cc and uses diesel with a fuel tank capacity of 61 litres. There is a six-speed manual gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.
Although the cabin is quiet with little road and suspension noise, there is still quite a bit of wind noise around the wing mirrors.
The 3.0 TDI quattro SE has a 242bhp engine delivering 368lb-ft of torque at 1400-3250rpm and reaches 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.
The interior of the A4 is a little bit of a disappointment, as it feels a little cheaper than an Audi normally does.
The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably, although the pedals are set off to the right, which can be a bit uncomfortable over long distances. The controls are straightforward and without too much complication, but the dash is a bit cluttered. Rear view visibility is not great.
The SE trim comes with power steering, climate control, stability control, 17 inch alloy wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and stereo as standard, with optional extras including leather seats for £1315, satellite navigation for £1620 and metallic paint for £615.
For fuel economy, the A4 has a start/stop system and electromechanical power steering as standard, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.
The A4 comes with stability control, electronic brake force distribution, with twin front and side airbags as standard, although without the hatchback’s full-length curtain airbag. The immobiliser and alarm add to security.
The What Car annual reliability survey did not see Audi as a company perform particularly well, but the A4 is going someway towards proving this wrong.
The boot is fairly sizeable offering 480 litres with the rear seats up and 962 litres with the seats folded down. The saloon sits four adults comfortably and is definitely one of the best for space in its class. The leg and head room in the back is very generous.
The running costs are good with the A4 and CO2 emissions are fairly low. The 3.0 TDI quattro SE model costs £34,600 and has a combined economy of 49.6mpg and CO2 emission rate of 149g/km.
The diesel engine has good efficiency, but needs to be justified by high mileage due to the higher purchase price over the petrol engine and rising diesel prices. However, the engine is a perfect blend of performance and economy and will certainly prove to be great value for money over time, although it is not as efficient as the smaller engines.
The SE trim is great value for money as it comes with everything you need in the cabin and the more expensive S line version does not improve much except to add sport suspension, leather/cloth seats as standard and larger alloys.
The Audi A4 is much cheaper than its rivals, such as BMW and Mercedes and the resale values on the A4 saloons are great, so it is a worthwhile investment. Audi promise good service and reliability as well.
The 1.8 TFSI 120 SE is a great, inexpensive saloon, particularly if the car is not for long distance driving. The diesel engine is more efficient, but more expensive, so whether the car is given en...
The 1.8 TFSI S line is a good, economical car with a great engine that vastly improves on the 120ps version. However, the S line upgrade from the SE is not necessary unless you really want the spor...
The 2.0 engine is a great performer with an economic engine (although the diesel is a better investment if you clock up a lot of miles). The SE trim is, in terms of value, the best option because i...
This is a great four-wheel-drive saloon with loads of power and impressive performance. However, all this comes at a cost and the S line trim is an unnecessary expense over the SE trim version, whi...
The A4 2.0 TDI SE is a great car, with a powerful engine and impressive performance. On top of that, it is fantastically efficient. The pick of the A4 range.
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