Most A4s come with quattro, Audi's all-wheel drive system. It makes acceleration easier and has differential locks for best low-speed traction. The default split sends 60 percent of engine output to the rear wheels for better driving dynamics and balance. The system is completely transparent to the driver and requires no action. All-wheel drive is more effective for acceleration than traction control because the latter achieves grip by reducing the accelerative force of the front tires. But remember that all-wheel drive merely provides accelerative force to propel the car, and to a lesser extent steer it in low-traction conditions. It does not repeal the laws of physics and uses the same tires and brakes to slow the car.
Brakes have been upgraded on the new A4. The new brakes deliver impressive slowing even on base-model wagons with a load in them. Outright stopping performance depends a great deal on tires so we're guessing the Sports package cars might stop the best. An electronic parking brake, operated by a switch on the center console, can give close to maximum effort when needed and hold a decent grade.
Weight and its distribution play a part in virtually every aspect of a car in motion. For 2009 most of the A4's suspension pieces are forged aluminum, as is the new front crossmember, the antiroll bars are hollow and the steering rack has been moved for less weight in the moving parts. The rear suspension is sort of a small-scale A6 setup with toe-control trapezoidal links and separate spring and shock mounts that allow a lower floor but more suspension travel, a win-win situation.
For better balance Audi put the battery in the trunk and made a change in the drivetrain layout. That movement of the differential a few inches and extra wheelbase it allows pays huge dividends in ride quality, stability, steering reaction, and braking. With the wheels farther apart and carrying closer to equal weight it's easier to make each do its own share of the work, so despite the nose-heaviness caused by the engine and driven front wheels the A4 feels lighter than it is and surprisingly adept at swallowing bumps and road imperfections while still delivering decent cornering. With quattro it's even better, and the wagon's extra weight over the rear wheels makes it entertaining.
Our first exposure to the A4 was in a base model Avant: 2.0T, automatic, and generic tires. We were sent out on an active racetrack ahead of Mazda's sportiest RX-8 R3 and behind Audi's mid-engine R8 supersports car running hot laps. The next six miles were laugh-out-loud fun as the R8 never got away and the RX-8 never caught up. In short, we were chasing an R8 in a station wagon. Of course, we're excellent drivers but it was plainly obvious the new A4 is a superb road car, one developed and tuned by people that commute at 130 mph.
Over a few hundred subsequent miles we found the A4 equally capable on any road. Longer wheelbase means more time between the bumps and everything gets smoother as wheelbase lengthens. But it never becomes soft or mushy and an impromptu speed bump test that began at 20 mph and progressed to 50 mph rode better the faster we went.
We really couldn't find any behavior the A4 does wrong. Yes, stability intervenes on some roads because no sta?AudiA4�&Driving_Impressions??????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ????? ????? ? ???????????? ????? ??? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???????????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???????? ??? ? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????????????? ?????????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??????????? ????? ?? ??????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ???????? ????????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?????????????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?? ? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??????? ????????????�????????????????A\211-hp 2.0-liter I4 turbo; 265-hp 3.2-liter V6?AudiA4� Engines_standard??? ?????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????????�?????????A?Any recent Audi owner will find the A4 interior familiar, though some of the basic black German efficiency has given way to a warmer, more contemporary cabin a bit north of Germany into Scandinavian territory. Unlike its C-Class, 3 Series and Lexus IS competitors, leatherupholstery is standard in every A4, and the fit and finish match recent Audis commonly used as benchmarks.
Front seats are electrically adjusted with four-way power lumbar adjustment for the driver and manual headrests that adjust for height but not angle (for safety reasons). With generous travel in the tilt-and-telescoping steering column everyone should be both comfortable and properly positioned for driving, and seat support will easily last a tank of fuel on the highway. The sport seats in S-Line or sport packages are even better at keeping you secure without taking away any comfort; only those of wide girth may prefer the less-bolstered standard seat. A driver memory system for seat and mirrors is available.
The rear seat is best for two adults or three kids; the center floor hump and console are similar to what you find in most compact four-doors. Seat cushions are pleasantly long and the low-profile headrests on the back seats ensure good rearward vision without passengers yet lift enough to provide passenger comfort and protection. A substantial center armrest offers cupholders and storage within, and doesn't make you fall inward or outward to relax on one arm. The split backrest folds with the narrow part behind the driver, each released by a simple latch withoubility system reads the road ahead, but it can be dialed back in increments to reward the smooth driver. On sports suspension and tires the ride goes firm but never stiff, and the fun quotient goes even higher. At the highest level, the Drive Select system with dynamic steering and variable damping that calculates shock rates 1000 times/second gives the widest spectrum, comfort-like a base car on 17-inch wheels to stick-like a Sport on 19-inch wheels, and you can program one mode to your liking.
We would advise caution considering 19-inch wheels for bad roads like you may encounter in the rust belt or Arkansas I-40. They look great and stick well but cost a lot to replace when you bend or break them.
Outward visibility is good in all directions, aided by low-profile rear headrests, sensibly sized pillars, fog lights front and rear, good wiper coverage (including the rear with dual washer jets). More expensive models also benefit from bi-Xenon headlamps that adjust aim at more than 75 mph, a backup camera with parking assist, and side assist for lane changes.
The A4 is also quiet to allow hours behind the wheel without fatigue. Despite the largish outside mirrors wind noise is hushed, road noise is kept to a minimum and the engine is heard only when you're working it. Next Page