This is a class of car in which Audi would love to catch BMW and Mercedes. The A4 is the most popular Audi ever and they appear to be making more and more subtle changes in an effort to catch the front runners.
Power comes from a range of ten engines: 1.6 to 3.2ltr petrol and 1.9, 2.0 and 3.0ltr diesels. A 2.7 V6 turbodiesel is standard on SE and S line models.
Steering is light, but the ride is good over almost any surface. Noise is hushed, although the smaller diesels can be a little loud when driven hard.
An area of competition between these giants is initial price and Audi scores considerably in this area, with residual values remaining good.
Lots of electronics have gone into devices to keep the car on the road and in the direction the driver intended, with anti-skid brakes and active head rests complimenting these to keep the passengers safe.
From the driver's seat, the interior is the usual Audi quality, with clarity, finish and comfort all scoring top marks. The boot is cavernous for this class of car, but the transmission tunnel gets in the way of this being a proper five-seater.
There is a vast list of optional extras, but the standard equipment is a little restricted.
Insurance groups should be between 10 and 20, with the highest groups attained by the RS4 Quattro.
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Audi A4.