The A4 is a car that's hard to find flaws in. Except for having a rather small interior that leaves rear seat occupants with their knees dug into the front seatbacks, it is at least capable in essentially every way. It features a good ride/handling compromise, good acceleration and excellent fuel economy, and a high-quality interior, for much less than competing models from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. So why didn't it place higher? Because it doesn't excel in most ways either, succeeding simply for not having serious flaws. So while the A4 is a very good car, more is required for it to place higher.

        The A4 has a rather firm, though still comfortable ride. It is free of ride float or jitters, but it does not isolate occupants from poor road surfaces, as all larger bumps are clearly felt. This firmness helps the car's agility, though body roll is more noticeable than on some competing sportier sedans in this group. But the A4's quick, precise, and communicative steering helps the car feel much nimbler and faster than it actually is, greatly helping the car's fun-to-drive quotient. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder is quick enough, and, while a bit too noisy, is very smooth. The optional continuously variable transmission works very well, and has a well-designed manual shift mode. Wind and road noise is well-suppressed. The A4 delivers very impressive group-leading fuel economy.

         Inside, the A4 has very comfortable front seats. While a bit small, they are well-shaped, supportive, and very comfortable. The rear is nicely-shaped as well, but seriously lacking in legroom. Headroom could also be better. The interior is somewhat bland, but of exceptional quality, with exceptional material quality and perfect panel fit. The gauges are very easy to read, and most instruments are clear, though some are mounted too low. Drivers sit comfortably, and have good visibility. Entry/exit is easy enough to the front, though the doors could open wider. Rear access is very difficult, thanks to the very small rear footwell, the small door openings, and the sloping roofline. The A4's trunk is small, and not especially well-shaped. The trunk opening is inconveniently small as well. 

          The A4 did notably well in IIHS crash testing, earning a Best Pick rating in both their offset and side crash tests, a very rare showing. But the car's performance in NHTSA crash testing was merely adequate, coming in with four stars for both the driver and for the front passenger in the frontal crash test, and five for the driver and four for the rear passenger in the NHTSA side crash test.

      The A4 reviewed here came well-equipped for a reasonable price, which is better than its BMW and Mercedes-Benz competitors, but still no great value. The car features such options as dual power front seats with memory, headlight washers, a sunroof, front and rear torso and head-protecting side airbags, and heated front and rear seats. Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system and a navigation system are also available, but it are rather pricey options.

         Overall, the A4 is a competent car in most ways by the standards of this class, and has notably responsive steering. But the A4 is not the only small entry-lux with a good ride/handling compromise and a high-quality interior, and several others can offer a similar experience for a lower price or with a roomier interior. But it is still worth a look from consumers looking for driving fun in quick, agile handling, traits that can be found in the light, reasonably inexpensive, fun-to-drive A4.

Pros:

-Agility

-Interior Quality

-Front Seats

-Fuel Economy

Cons:

-Interior Space

-Trunk Volume

Overall:

A less-expensive BMW 3-Series.

Version Reviewed:

2.0T

Price of Version Reviewed:

$32,111

Powertrain:

2.0-liter I4