2016 Audi A4 review test drive

Audi’s readying the all-new A4 for its India launch. Our first driving impression in the UK suggests there’s lots to wait for.

Published on May 10, 2016 01:18:00 PM

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What’s it like to drive?

Audi India is yet to disclose the final engine-gearbox options for India but we’ve learned a 150hp, 1.4 turbo-petrol, a 190hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 272hp, 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel are likely candidates for our market. However, the mainstay of the range will be a 190hp 2.0 diesel, a VW Group engine that’s just been introduced in the Superb. VW plans to locally assemble the EA288 to save costs, which makes it the de facto 2.0-litre engine for any of the VW Group brands, including Audi. Interestingly, there is a high possibility this engine will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox in entry level trim. However, we drove the version with a seven-speed dual clutch which is likely to be the most popular among A4 buyers in India.

It takes less than a kilometre to realise that the new A4 scores big on refinement. Engine, road and wind noise are so well contained that at cruising speeds, the car is remarkably hushed. It’s only when you accelerate hard that you hear a murmur from under the hood. Still, compared to the coarser sounding BMW 320d and Mercedes C 250 d, the Audi 2.0-litre TDI feels quite un-diesel like.

And unlike the 320d, which packs quite a punch in the mid-range thanks to its peakier torque curve, the A4’s power delivery is more progressive. That’s not to say the A4 isn’t quick. In fact, the Audi sedan builds up speed deceptively thanks to the smooth engine and linear way in which the healthy peak torque of 400Nm kicks in.

Engine response is pretty good thanks to reduced turbo lag and the 7-speed DSG transmission gives a far more connected driving experience than the old A4’s CVT. In Sport mode, it waits for the redline before upshifting, and downshifts are more aggressive too. You really don’t need to manually intervene by using the paddle shifts except on a twisty road where you would want more control.