Driven: new A4 is sublime but sparse

By: Jesse Adams

George - If there’s one feature we’ve come to expect in modern Audis as standard, it’s impeccable build quality – and the all-new A4 launched in South Africa last week certainly lays it on thick.

The fit and finish of the ninth-generation German junior-exec is second to none, with clinically precise panel gaps inside and out, an immaculately laid out dashboard, and high quality switchgear which could teach some lessons at the premium end of the medium-sized sedan segment.

Obsessive compulsive types can rest easy knowing that every button push happens with a satisfying click, rotary knobs turn with roller bearing smoothness, and all material choices seem chosen from the posh back pages of suppliers’ catalogues. It really is a master class in refinement.

LACKING FEATURES

But what else comes standard? Well, unfortunately the reputation that most high-end carmakers have gained for offering simply-specced base models and then charging extra for everything on top, rings very true with the new A4. While all variants come with full colour 10” central display screens, keyless ignition, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers and a handful of expected items such as airconditioning and power windows built in, you’ll have to open your chequebook for all other nice-to-haves.

Let’s start with Audi’s newest and very flashy party trick, the ‘virtual cockpit’ instrument panel. This 12.3” LCD screen placed where traditional speedos and rev-counters go, screams 21st century with its series of selectable backgrounds ranging from digital needles, to trip data to extremely detailed navigation maps, is an optional extra. The good news is it only costs R6980. The bad news is you’re forced into nearly R40 000 worth of other options, including satnav, to have it. Audi says it expects less than ten percent of customers to pay for this very nifty but very expensive feature.

Headlights come standard as bi-xenons but you’ll have to pay in R16 580 for full LEDs or R27 850 for Matrix LEDs which can “bend” light around corners and other cars.

Rear airbags will tack on R5010, active lane keeping is R5900 and adjustable suspension is R13 640. Other cool extras include removable rear-seat tablet screens (R29 700), head-up display (R13 650), alcantara upholstery (R4050) and acoustic glass (R6700) which gets an extra layer of lamination for a quieter cabin at high speed.

TWO PETROL ENGINES

As of now the A4 comes with a choice two new petrol engines: a 110kW/250Nm 1.4 turbo and a 140kW/320Nm 2-litre turbo. Both come with seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch autoboxes, but the 1.4 also comes as an entry-level model with a six-speed manual. Both engines proved smooth and spirited when I drove them at the media launch in George last week, pulling the slightly bigger but significantly lighter four-door sedan bodies via the front wheels with low-revving composure.

Audi’s quick-changing S tronic transmission is also an absolute delight, selecting ratios with spooky intuition – it settles quickly into high gear when roads straighten, and seems to instinctively kick down within a whiff of a slow truck for overtakes without prompts of the throttle. This gearbox, also known as DSG in VW-speak, is still one of the best in the business.

SUPERB RIDE

But, while that jazzy virtual cockpit cluster steals the limelight, there’s another less conspicuous party trick happening underneath. Ride quality of the A4 is absolutely superb, and whether cruising at slow speeds over brick paving or hustling over the Outeniqua Hop’s often irregular surface at pace, the well-sorted five-link suspension was unperturbed.

Interestingly, I speak only for the standard and non-adjustable Sport systems only – I can only presume the two types of optional Comfort systems which I didn’t get to drive, are even more agreeable on rough roads.

THREE TRIMS

Each engine option comes with a choice of three trim gradings: Base models come with the aforementioned standard equipment as well as 16” alloy wheels; Design Line adds 17” ten-spoke wheels, a high-gloss exterior package, and a leather steering wheel with satellite controls; and Sport Lines come with 17” five-spoke wheels, sport suspension, the same leather wheel and deeper sport seats. And yes, USB ports come in all variants. This, as any previous A4 driver knows, is a big deal.

The new A4 really is all new, with Audi saying that only around 10 percent of its composition is carried over from the previous generation. Every last square millimetre of the body is new, but I’d be lying if I said it looked this way. Styling is very evolutionary, especially considering how different the current C-Class and 3 Series look to their forebears. Four-ring fundis will easily spot the slender new tail lights and telltale LED headlight embellishers, but the average person might hardly notice.

MORE MODELS COMING

A more powerful 2-litre turbo model with 185kW and 370Nm driving through a quattro all-wheel drive system is expected in May, and 2-litre turbodiesels with 140kW and 400Nm should land in October. The recently announced S4 with a twin-turbo 3-litre V6 pushing 260kW and 500Nm is due next year, and the RS4 performance flagship should come in 2018.

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PRICES:

1.4 T FSI manual (110kW/250Nm) – R441 000

1.4 T FSI S tronic (110kW/250Nm) – R459 000

1.4 T FSI S tronic Sport (110kW/250Nm) – R492 000

1.4 T FSI S tronic Design (110kW/250Nm) – R488 000

2.0 T FSI S tronic (140kW/320Nm) – R496 000

2.0 T FSI S tronic Sport (140kW/320Nm) - R517 000

2.0 T FSI S tronic Design (140kW/320Nm) – R513 000

RIVALS

BMW 318i manual (100kW/220Nm) - R415 000

BMW 320i auto (135kW/290Nm) - R450 321