Dec 05, 2016 04:43 AM
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Audi will tell you that the A4 has class-leading boot space. It does but it shares the honor with the BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class, both of which have an identical boot capacity. Only the Jaguar XE falls short in this respect. In fact, the only area in which the A4 falls down slightly is in storage space.
However, for its passengers, the A4 does feel a little more spacious than most of its rivals. In the back, there’s more headroom than all except the BMW 3-series, while up front, the A4 beats the 3-series and matches the C-class. Again, the XE comes up short.
In fact, the only area in which the A4 falls down slightly is in storage space. The glove box is small, the door bins are slim, the bin between the two front seats is shallow, and even the cup holders are rather mean.
Having said all of this, it’s worth pointing out that if you’re after a spacious car, and can live without the prestige of the Audi badge, the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Pastas both offer even more room.
Another reason to steer clear of larger wheels is road noise. It’s fine with the standard 17-inch wheels, but anything larger, and you’ll spend your life praying for those lovely new stretches of Tarmac with quieter surfaces.
You can opt for adaptive suspension, which should give you the best of both worlds – a comfortable ride most of the time, firming up to offer sportiness when you want it. It isn’t overly expensive, either, which makes it a tempting option – but the reality is that it has a mallow-like springiness when in “comfort” mode.
But keep it simple – that is to say, a lower-end model with the standard wheels and suspension – and the A4 is a comfortable enough companion.
If you’re willing to pay for it, you can also specify Audi’s clever virtual cockpit, which replaces the conventional instruments with a huge screen that can be customized to show the satnav map, radio station, or car information, among other things.
As well made as it is, though, it’s a little bit of a shame that the A4’s dash isn’t a little more imaginative. Both the Jaguar XE and Mercedes C-class make you feel more special thanks to their more interesting designs. Still, at least you can specify a fancy multi-colored lighting pack to brighten things up a little for a small fee.
While we’re picking out quibbles, we’d also mention that the menu system you have to scroll through to access some of the car’s functions isn’t as intuitive as the one you’ll find in the BMW 3-series, but it's less distracting than the touchscreen in the XE.
The choice of automatic gearboxes available in the A4 range is expansive – in fact, every model except for the entry-level petrol version is available with one.
It’s probably marginally preferable to the manual gearbox, which has a satisfyingly slick and precise change, but can be a little stiff when it’s cold.
Versions with the optional variable power steering can feel a touch on the heavy side at maneuvering speeds, too, so we wouldn’t bother ticking this option.
Better news comes in the form of the A4’s visibility. Intelligently-placed mirrors mean your view at roundabouts is unobscured, while the metalwork around the windows isn’t too thick. What’s more, it’s easy to judge where the ends of the car are located.
