Video: Driving Northwest: Audi's all-new luxury sport sedan

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We all want the best stuff. The best house, the best education, the best car. The folks at Audi would be happy if I stated here and now that the new A4 is best among its peers. It’s a terrific vehicle but that statement won’t be made here, even though for you it may be true.

Here’s why: Despite our lousy economy, we live in a golden age of consumerism. Food, clothing, electronics and, yes, cars have never been better. Audi’s all-new A4 is a terrific luxury sport sedan with everything it needs to compete in its category. That can be said for the competition as well. So when the question “Who makes the best car?” arises, it’s easy to answer with a confident and definitive “depends.”

The obvious German rivals are BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class. The Asians have Infiniti’s G35, Lexus IS, and Acura TL. The Americans fight the battle with Cadillac CTS. In this marvelous age where great product floods the market it’s tough for a buyer make a choice. 

That’s Billion, with a B

Audi makes a good case for shoppers to kick the tires of an A4. Except for the engines, it’s all-new right down to the re-engineered climate control system. It rides on the same architecture as the beautiful A5 and apparently it cost Audi a billion dollars to engineer this platform. That makes the as-tested price of 49 grand pretty much a bargain, huh?  

A4 is bigger now, 4.6 inches in length, 2.1 in width. That’s 7 inches longer than a 3 Series. Audi engineers shortened the overhangs and stretched the wheelbase by 6.6 inches. That extra length from front to rear axles not only helps the ride quality but it allowed engineers to place the engine further behind the front axel for improved weight distribution and balance.   

In photos, the new A4 looks much like the outgoing model. In person you can see more of the fine details that give this car a more mature look. My favorite styling cue is the LED daytime running lights, looking like electronic eyeliner. See these coming down the road and you’ll know an Audi approaches.

It’s what’s on the inside that counts 

Sit in any seat and that extra size pays off. There’s a decent amount of cabin room and like all Audis it looks great using high quality materials. Good strategy since it’s what the owner sees the most of. The stylish and heated leather seats are very comfortable for long trips but they don’t have a lot of lateral support, meaning you’ll slide around a bit in hard corners. Trimmed in blonde wood with aluminum accents, the A4s interior gets my vote as best in class.

The new A4 gets something it’s never had - a backseat that adults will actually be comfortable in. There’s a decent amount of foot and knee room but the center passenger has to deal with the drive shaft tunnel. They’re probably riding for free so they shouldn’t complain too much.

Everybody on board should feel secure. A4's new rigid body structure snags 5 stars in all NHTSA crash tests, including rollover. The body manages to be larger and lighter by 150 pounds. To describe all the electronics that help keep this car from getting into an accident in the first place would turn this review into a novel.  Highlights include an electronic stability control system, brakes that dry themselves in rainy conditions, and compensation for brake fade. A4 is not just good looking, it’s got brains and lifeguard skills too. We should all be so lucky to have spouses like that.

Thinks it’s a Sharper Image store

My tester comes with keyless ignition. A switch activated electromechanical parking brake saves space on the center console. The optional Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 speakers, 10 channels, and 505 watts rocks. Phones get handsfree Bluetooth connection; iPods get full integration.  

I’m lukewarm to Audi’s user interface called MMI, with its rotary knob surrounded by four buttons that correspond to commands in the four corners of the LCD screen. It's fine once learned but it takes some time getting used to. I feel the knob scrolls menus backward and the nav system would be easier to program with a touch screen. 

A backup camera with Audi park assist helps you to look like a more graceful pilot. So does a blind spot warning system that beeps and flashes an alarm if you signal while someone’s lurking near your rear quarter panel.

Fast but not the fastest

There are two engine choices: A 2.0-liter 211 horsepower 4-cylinder can be mated to either 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The car I’m driving gets the 3.2-liter V6 that’s good for 265 horses. Featuring FSI (direct injection in Audi-speak) the V6 only comes with the automatic gearbox and Audi points out these transmissions are not DSG dual-clutch units. The new generation quattro all-wheel drive system normally channels 60 percent of its power to the rear wheels but will adjust for slippery conditions. 

In my hands (and right foot), stoplight to 60 miles an hour rushes up in 6.8 seconds (Audi’s spec sheet says 6.3). This is not as quick as BMW 335i, Lexus IS 350 or Infiniti G35. The V6 is not torque rich at low RPMs which affects aggressive “cut and thrust” city driving. That’s not to say the A4 is a slouch. It’s not. Just don’t go racing 3s, Gs, and Lexi for pinks.  Despite A4's larger size, gas mileage is improved. I’m seeing 21 miles per gallon in mixed driving using premium fuel. 

A4 is on the quiet side at highway speeds. With a low 0.27 drag coefficient there’s little to no wind noise even when chancing an encounter with the State Patrol. Push hard into a corner and that improved weight distribution becomes a tangible thing. Cornering ability is very impressive. Driving from Seattle to Portland I exited I-5 to play on some backroads and had a great time. During a nasty downpour I was very happy to be quattro equipped.

All things to all people

Ride quality can be tweaked with Audi Drive Select ($2,950). That’s simplistic though because Drive Select doesn’t just adjust the suspension firmness. It also changes the steering ratio, transmission shift points and the response of the gas pedal. Buttons on the instrument panel offer a few broad choices. If you want to adjust them individually do it with MMI.  

The dynamic steering that changes the steering ratio depending on your speed also enhances the electronic stability control with small bursts of steering intervention. It works seamlessly, the driver never feels the corrections. In fact it was two days before I checked the equipment list and found it was installed on my tester. A4's antilock brakes are terrific in both modulation and stopping power.

Stocking up on TP?

A4 now has a larger cargo hold. The previous generation A4 was just barely able to handle five packs of Kirkland brand bath tissue. And while these bundles of TP are the bedrock of my trunk test, they were slightly smaller when I did the previous generation A4. So while the larger space can still only swallow five, those packs are bigger and there’s definitely room left over. Bag hooks that drop down are a nice touch. Those who don’t go for the Avant wagon version will appreciate that the rear seats split 60/40.

So many choices …

Let’s review. A4’s classy and roomy cabin is best in class. Evolutionary styling is subjective but it competes with the chiseled Mercedes C-Class for attractiveness. Audi’s signature LED running lights rival the distinctive Cadillac CTS for instant recognition. BMW's 335i, Lexus IS 350 and Infiniti G35 will outrun the Audi, the Bimmer gets my nod when it comes to high speed handling. Running in the luxury sport sedan category, the new Audi A4 excels at the pampering part and its driving dynamics will please everyone but the discriminating buyer who attends track day. I suggest test driving as many of these cars as possible to find the one that suits your personal balance. In these days of unprecedented choice, A4 rises toward the top.