2009 Audi A4

Cars.com notes the similarities with Audi’s larger four-door and wagon. The new 2009 Audi A4 “isn't a radical departure from the outgoing model, but it now bears a greater family resemblance to the larger A6,” they report. Motor Trend likes the new “sculpted lines” and the “more aggressive front end,” noting that the changes give the A4 “a planted, sportier stance” that “holds the road with a new sense of confidence and enthusiasm.” Car and Driver approves of the new lighting applied to the nose, calling it “LED eyeliner”; Cars.com says these lights are “an uncommon feature, but they are very good at grabbing the attention of oncoming motorists thanks to the bright, white light they emit.” Popular Mechanics calls the new design “crisp and attractive, with a face resembling the A5 coupe.”

AutoWeek also reviewed the new 2009 Audi A4 Avant wagon and said it’s “good-looking to boot,” with “muscular proportions, short overhangs and gracefully arcing roof.” They argue that “the wagon is arguably more dynamic-looking” than the sedan.

The 2009 Audi A4’s cabin is entirely new, and it’s “a huge step forward,” in Car and Driver’s opinion. “Even without the sunroof, the space feels open and airy.” Motor Trend gives their approval to the “high-quality materials and clean, attractive design [that] continue to live up to Audi's stellar reputation as the industry benchmark.”

In TheCarConnection.com’s stint behind the wheel of the 2009 Audi A4, editors noticed the strong resemblance to the Audi A6—particularly in the “tornado line” that borders the passenger cabin from the front fender to the rear fender. The deeply cut-in grille isn’t a favorite detail, as it leaves a large opening in front framed by headlamps and air intakes that draw a squint on the car’s nose. The LED running lights are an interesting, forward-looking filigree. In general, the exterior shape is more balanced on the wagon.

Inside, the cabin has good materials, but to the staff at TheCarConnection.com, Audi’s stepped away from the styling that put it far above other brands. The new interior has more black plastic facing the front passengers; it’s angled more like a cockpit—or a battleship. It does have some wonderful details, however, like a thick steering wheel, a choice of brushed-aluminum or wood trim, and a more substantial look than either the rival BMW 3-Series or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class—as well as the ubiquitous starter button.

The only engine available on the 2009 Audi A4 Avant wagon—and a future offering in the sedan—is a “zippy gas-powered four-banger,” Car and Driver says. Automobile reports the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is a “211-hp TFSI unit [that] has nothing in common with the outgoing car's heavier and thirstier 200-hp edition.” AutoWeek says this powerplant in the A4 Avant is “smooth, strong and sweeter than ever and, in a sense, not turbolike at all. Throttle response is immediate.”

Two more engine options will surface in the coming model year. The first is a turbodiesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder with “240 horsepower and a kickin' 369 pound-feet of torque,” Car and Driver says, predicting a “6.1-second 0-to-62-mph sprint.” At the other end of the range, a new Audi S4 will “abandon V-8 power in favor of a more frugal and lighter twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 333 hp and matched with Audi's dual-clutch automatic transmission,” Automobile promises.

In the 2009 Audi A4 sedan, four-cylinder versions are “paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic in Quattro models,” Automobile reports, while “front-wheel-drive cars will be available with the continuously variable Multitronic transmission.” In the V-6 sedan, “no manual transmission is available,” Edmunds notes, “only Audi's excellent six-speed automatic.” For the A4 Avant wagon, there’s a single configuration: a “six-speed ZF automatic transmission, quattro all-wheel drive and the latest evolution of Audi's 2.0-liter turbo with gasoline direct injection,” AutoWeek says.

Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system is also standard on the V-6 sedan, and “this is good,” Edmunds adds. “Quattro has been around since the earth cooled, and we're fans. In its present form, the purely mechanical system sends 60 percent of the engine's power to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions. In abnormal conditions, the A4's self-locking center differential redirects that power to the axle with the best traction.” Automobile adds, “Quattro all-wheel drive splits the torque between the axles unevenly at 40/60 percent front to rear, but if need be, up to 90 percent can be directed to the front wheels.”

When it comes to handling, the 2009 Audi A4 has a wide range of choices for drivers. There’s a fully independent suspension across the board, as well as electric power steering and four-wheel disc brakes. There’s also an available Drive Select option that allows the driver to choose settings for steering feel, ride comfort, throttle input, and transmission shifting, and it’s the source of some controversy among reviewers. “Drive Select is a kind of personal onboard tuning service,” AutoWeek says.

In steering feel, Car and Driver liked the adjustable steering feel, calling it “less conspicuous” than similar systems offered on BMWs. Automobile felt the steering was “light and direct” in town, “meatier” on back roads, and “relaxed, thanks to a languid four turns lock-to-lock,” on the highway. AutoWeek took the minority view: “The new variable-ratio steering does require some familiarity to enjoy. It's very light at low speeds, and while it firms up at high speeds, it wants to wander off center a bit, with a hint of twitch.”

Ride comfort is a better proposition with Drive Select. Popular Mechanics says the settings enable the 2009 Audi A4 to amble down the road in “tranquil fashion,” and Car and Driver felt its handling was “innately clean enough.” This time Automobile pointed out, “On predominantly washboard tarmac, the difference in ride between the comfort and the dynamic settings was as stark as the difference in visibility between a lunar eclipse and a power failure in a coal mine.” Edmunds complains that it “defaults to the Auto settings every time you start the car. It shouldn't.” Motor Trend thinks “the system isn't perfect—dynamic's ride is a bit too harsh for everyday driving, and comfort's steering is too uncommunicative in turns. However, auto mode makes the best of both settings.”

Drive Select is an option, however, and cars without it “have precise, nicely weighted steering and firm, tidy ride qualities that are perfectly agreeable,” Car and Driver points out. Automobile observes that “thanks to Quattro and those wide eighteen-inch tires, traction and grip are phenomenal,” and that “handling balance feels a lot more neutral than in the outgoing model.” Edmunds calls it “a very sharp, communicative sedan and it's fun to throw around,” also noting that the brakes are “fantastic.”

TheCarConnection.com sits with the minority on the handling of the 2009 Audi A4. The V-6 engine is a meaty performer, with plenty of power—until you acknowledge the BMW 3-Series in the next lane. It’s the Drive Select feature, like a similar setup in BMW’s 3-Series, that strips some of the basic goodness from the A4. Though it rides well in most modes, the Dynamic mode turns the steering overly tight and makes turn-in too aggressive, while it gives the transmission full license to upshift and downshift a little too frequently. In Comfort mode, the steering’s downright lazy, barely keeping up on highway maneuvers. All of this can be corrected by leaving the car in Auto mode—or not opting for the system at all. However, the biggest omission is in leaving Audi’s fantastic S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox off the options list for now.

Cargo carrying is easier in the 2009 Audi A4, thanks to that “truly huge (i.e. flat, tall, and deep) trunk,” Car and Driver reports. The A4 Avant wagon is even more useful; with 17.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat, it “approaches the trunk space in full-size sedans such as the BMW 7 Series,” AutoWeek observes. And “with the rear seat folded, the Avant's 50.5 cubic feet approaches the space in small SUVs or crossovers such as the Ford Escape and the Nissan Murano.” Though “the vast majority of Americans don't seem to care for wagon variants,” Popular Mechanics thinks “the convenience offered by the A4 Avant's fold-down rear seats, its hatch and its comprehensive array of rear load-support bars, hooks and nets is worth a close look.”

Audi’s interiors have received high acclaim in the past decade, and this time around, the 2009 Audi A4 scores more positive reviews. “The design of the A4's interior sets a new standard for small premium sedans,” Edmunds says. “Not only is it fantastically comfortable, but also it looks beautifully modern and wonderfully constructed — nothing feels cheap.” Car and Driver feels that “clear attention was paid to the haptic quality of the A4's various buttons, switches, and other ditties that one must twist, poke, or pull.”

Here TheCarConnection.com’s editors differ. Though the 2009 Audi A4 has great front seats and plenty of headroom for all, the rear seats aren’t that comfortable. The bottom cushion is short, the seatback angle is more upright than you might expect, and the seating position is low—though there’s plenty of knee room, at last. The interior still looks quite handsome, but TheCarConnection.com’s team prefers the last-generation A4’s cabin by far; its combination of wide swaths of wood trim and tightly grained plastic are superior to the new car’s flat-painted trim on the door handles, for instance, or the dash’s more prominent black plastic. Audi does a better job than most companies in matching plastic textures and colors, though, so the A4’s interior still ranks above those from BMW and Mercedes in this class.

Other standard safety features on the 2009 Audi A4 include anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and LATCH child-seat hooks.

Safety options include the quattro all-wheel-drive system and, Cars.com reports, “Audi Side Assist, which informs the driver when another vehicle is next to the A4, and a backup camera.” TheCarConnection.com notes that the Audi A4’s rear seat also has headrests for all three passengers.

Moving smartly up the pricing scale, the options available on the Audi A4 can quickly run up its sticker. Among the audio options, Motor Trend adds, is “a choice of Bang & Olufsen stereo systems, including the excellent 14-speaker setup we sampled, plus a six-disc CD changer and iPod connectivity.” Of the upmarket sound systems, Edmunds says, “We have no complaints.” Bluetooth connectivity is also available, as is Sirius Satellite Radio.

A cutting-edge feature in the A4 that shares some traits with other German sedans is Audi’s MMI (Multi Media Interface), which commands available audio, navigation, and climate control systems. “It makes [BMW’s] iDrive seem like a cruel joke,” Edmunds reports. “In the A4 and other Audis, a knob and buttons on the center console are used to navigate menus and make selections that appear on a dashboard screen,” Cars.com explains, adding that “MMI can be tedious to use at times, but Audi does provide secondary controls for the air conditioning system.”

A keyless entry system is offered on the new 2009 Audi A4. “It can—like most cars in this segment—recall radio presets, exterior mirror positions, and interior-and-exterior lighting preferences on approach and egress,” Cars.com reports. “But programmability now extends to many more ancillaries, such as deactivating the auto-up feature on the rear windows or turning down the intensity of the steering-wheel warning vibes when the new lane-monitoring option thinks you're veering.”

Popular Mechanics also mentions the Audi’s more exotic options, like “active cruise control, lane monitoring and collision warning—not to mention Audi side assist, a radar-based system that warns against vehicles approaching from the rear three-quarter view—often a potential blind spot for drivers.”