2017 Audi A4 Road Test & Review

2017 Audi A4 front ・ Photo by Audi

Keen eyes will notice that the all-new 2017 Audi A4 looks an awful lot like the old version of the Audi A4. The changes are there, and they are substantial, but Audi wasn't really looking to transform the Audi A4. Instead, they are looking to transform people's attitudes about it. Normally, we devote limited attention to the elaborate marketing presentations that are part and parcel of the press launches where we drive new models. But Audi showed us a TV commercial that we found of interest in this case. It showed a gentleman, young and presumably hip, going through his house: He touches his old-fashioned thermostat, and it transforms into one of those fancy new digital units. He touches his analog watch and it turns into a smart watch. Then he goes outside and brushes his hand along the hood of his Mercedes—and it turns into an Audi A4. Ouch! The message from Audi is clear: Younger people are buying luxury cars, technology is what they want, and the new Audi A4 is the car that delivers. And oh, man, does it deliver.

The virtual "wow" factor.

Start the Audi A4 and prepare to be amazed. If you happen to be driving an A4 with the Technology Package, you're about to meet what Audi calls the "virtual cockpit"—which simply means that the gauge panel is one big LCD screen. On the face of it, this is no biggie—you'll find these LCD panels in Mercedes, BMWs, Jaguars, and even Kias. What sets the Audi's panel apart is the gigantic moving map that makes up the background. Audi is known for incorporating Google Earth satellite imaging in their navigation systems, and now it's on the dash, in living color, behind two video reproductions of Audi's analog speedometer and tachometer. (By the way, Audi went to great lengths, and used massive processing power, to make those gauges look and move like the mechanical gauges they replace.) If you like, you can shrink the gauges down to a smaller size and have a mostly-map instrument panel. And if that's not enough map for you, the A4 offers a beautiful full-color head-up display (HUD) that projects relevant information right into the windshield. Are these things gimmicks? Yep. Did they work on us? You bet your life they did. We will sheepishly admit to staring in slack-jawed amazement at the Audi's dash display before remembering that we were there to evaluate the whole car, not just admire the dash.

The technology onslaught continues!

Once you peel your eyes away from the magic instrument panel and let them wander over the rest of the dash, you'll find that the technology blitz continues in earnest. Audi still uses a dial controller for their stereo and infotainment system (they call it MMI, for Multi-Media Interface). Dials can be an infuriatingly slow way to pick and choose letters, so the top of the A4’s dial serves as a touch pad allowing you to write out letters and numbers with your finger. I dismissed this as a novelty when I first encountered it in pricier Audi models a couple of years back, but I've come to find it an extraordinarily handy way to enter information (provided I can ignore the heckling from my spouse about my lousy handwriting). More niftiness can be found on the climate controls, which feature temperature dials flanking a set of rocker switches with a lovely crisp black-and-white display above. When your finger gets close to one of the buttons, the display for the setting you are changing grows larger, making it easier to see (and adjust) when driving. Way cool.

Photo by Audi Media Services

A forgettable shifter.

But not all of the improvements are really improvements. Like so many other automakers, Audi is looking to improve the transmission shifter, this despite the fact that it was perfected some decades ago in the form of a simple lever with distinct places for P, R. N, D and sometimes L. The A4 has a rocker-type lever, similar to the one used by BMW, but with a big T-handle that is a bit too chunky for petite hands. The idea is that one rocks the lever backwards for Drive and forwards for Reverse, unless you're already in Drive in which case forward is Neutral and further forward is Reverse... er, no, that's not right, because if you are already in Reverse, backwards is Drive... or is it Neutral? (Take heart, there’s a 50/50 chance you’ll get it right.) Park, as far as I can tell, is best accomplished by wishes and/or prayers. This is the type of setup to which the A4's primary driver will adjust, but will continue to confound his or her spouse for as long as they own the car. Memo to Audi: Some things simply don't need to be reinvented.

Photo by Audi

Behind the technology, more practicality.

A few other improvements that will be of note to existing Audi owners: Rear seat legroom is up from the old car, albeit only slightly (0.5"). The A4 still gives you more back-seat space than you'll find in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but there’s a full three inches less legroom than you get in a plain ol' Toyota Camry. It's a similar story with cargo space: Compared to the outgoing car, the new A4’s trunk is bit larger at 13 cubic feet, but that's still less room than you get in most mid-size cars (and, come to think of it, many compacts). On a happier note, Audi has finally ditched their proprietary phone connecter, replacing it with two plain ol' USB ports—and that means you can plug in your phone with a $5 cable from any electronics store instead of a $50 cable found only at the dealership. And as if that little bit of democratization wasn't enough, the stereo is now compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. We tested the system with a Samsung S6 and it worked perfectly.

Photo by Audi

Real leather is nice for some.

One more thing to keep in mind about the A4: While most of the competitors offer some sort of fake leather as standard with an upcharge for genuine cowhides, Audi fits the real stuff to every A4, even the base model. Modern leather substitutes aren't bad—they wear well and feel convincing—but unless you are a die-hard vegan, it's nice to have the real stuff under your tuchas.

Photo by Audi Media Services

The power to move you.

For now, the A4 will come with just one engine: A 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder. This is a new version of the motor in the old car, and its output is up to 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. With more power and less weight to haul around—the new A4 is about 100 lbs lighter than the car it replaces—Audi says the A4 will scoot to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds with front-wheel-drive or 5.7 seconds with all-wheel-drive, an improvement of about half a second over the old car. In our opinion, 0-60 isn't the best way to judge a turbo four like the one in the A4; because of the way the turbo works (it's a power-boosting device that is driven by the exhaust, so it doesn't start to do its thing until the engine winds itself up a bit) there's always some lag before the car really gets going. (That can be a real Achilles' heel if you're trying to make a quick left turn against heavy oncoming traffic.) Where this engine really excels is in on-the-move acceleration—merging onto the freeway or passing a truck on a two-lane road. Audi has switched over to the S-Tronic twin-clutch automatic for both front- and all-wheel-drive A4s. We'll save you the dull and boring details; suffice it to say that this type of transmission is favored in both performance cars for its fast shifting and economy cars for its... well, for its economy. The A4 benefits from both; the EPA claims 25 MPG city, 33 MPG highway, and 28 MPG combined for the front-wheel-drive A4 and 24/31/27 for all-wheel-drive. Those aren't bad numbers for a luxury car that is this fleet-of-foot.

Photo by Audi

Agility meets technology.

Audis have a reputation as decent driver's cars, and we had a good time jetting through curvy country lanes in this new A4. The steering is light and a bit lacking in feel, but the A4 changes directions quickly and crisply, which is what we expect from a German performance car. The A4 we sampled had Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, which definitely helps matters by maximizing the A4's grip on the pavement. (And it does wonders for traction in snow and rain, just as it does for SUVs.) You get the sense when you drive the A4 (or any Audi for that matter) that it was designed by the smartest people in the industry. There are cars that are more fun in the turns—the BMW 3-Series and Cadillac ATS, both of which are available with either rear- or all-wheel-drive come to mind, and surprisingly the Lexus IS is getting better in this regard—but the A4 feels like it will get you where you are going efficiently and expediently. And it may even do some of the work for you. Options include Lane Assist, which will identify dotted lines on the road and try to prevent you from drifting out of them, and adaptive cruise control, which maintains a set distance from the car in front even if it slows down or stops. Audi has taken this helpful technology two steps further: The A4 can actually read speed limit signs and use the navigation system to scan for curves in the road ahead, and slow itself down accordingly (though we found it a little too conservative for our five-over-the-limit-and-damn-the-torpedos driving habits). A low-speed traffic mode not only works the gas and brakes, but steers to follow the car ahead. The A4 evaluates situations, such as turning left into busy traffic, and can override the driver, preventing him or her from making what it thinks is a turn into oncoming traffic. And the active safety features don't quit when you park the car: The A4 will even warn you if you're about to open your door when there's a car (or a bicycle) bearing down on you.

Photo by Audi

Value versus the competition.

Audi knows that if the buyers they seek love technology, they also love a bargain. The 2014 A4 starts at $38,250 (including a $950 destination charge), undercutting the Mercedes C300 and just about matching the Lexus IS200t. BMW comes in way cheaper with their cut-rate 3-Series, the $34,145 320i, but it's probably more fair to compare the A4 to the 328i, which lists for closer to $39k. A top-trim A5 Prestige model with all-wheel-drive lists for around $49k, and with all of the options ticked (except for custom paint, which adds another $3900) the A4 lists at $56,525. That's not bad, considering that one can easily spend more than 60 grand on a BMW 3-Series or a Mercedes C-Class. Overall, we think Audi has taken the new A4 in the right direction. They've updated a good design with a bit more space, a bit better driving dynamics, and much more dazzling technology. With such an offering, Audi thinks potential buyers will come to them—and we think they're right.

Photo by Audi

2017 Audi A4 Pros and Cons

Pros: •    Quiet, comfortable ride and good driving dynamics •    Loaded with useful technology •    Good user interface makes using the technology relatively easy Cons: •    Back seat and trunk space are still limited •    Fussy transmission shifter •    Not as engaging to drive as some of its rivals