Review

New Audi A4 review, test drive

Mid-life facelift brings with it a whole lot of subtle improvements.

RATING
8 / 10
DETAILS
9
photos
The facelift is subtle and you have to really stare to spot the differences.
The facelift is subtle and you have to really stare to spot the differences.
The facelift is subtle and you have to really stare to spot the differences. The performance is satisfyingly brisk but not blindingly quick. The ride is pliant and beautifully absorbent, but some pitching at high speeds. The cabin gets a lot of small upgrades that make it feel a lot plusher. The 1.8-litre, 168bhp petrol engine is very refined, adequately powerful. Most spacious cabin in class, but rear seats lack thigh support.

It’s hard to tell the new A4 apart from the old one and so we took the help of the 38-page Audi press kit to spot the changes. The most obvious difference is the headlamps, which now sport a continuous band of LED daytime running lights, which look pretty good. But, the tail-lamps and the new rear bumper are so lightly tweaked that they could slip under your radar.

The car’s lines are cleaner and more elegant, and points out that the grille is now hexagonal and the fog lamps rectangular. There is some truth in all this because after staring at it for a few days, admittedly, the new A4 does look fresher and from some angles and there’s a bit of A6 in it too.

Being a mid-life update, Audi has understandably not splurged on completely changing the A4’s interiors. Instead, the cabin quality and design have been subtly improved. The gear lever is new, as is the steering wheel, which is similar to the one in the Q3, and the MMI system gets an interface like the one in the A6. It’s easy to overlook some of the minor upgrades, but as a whole they lift the feel of the cabin substantially. In fact, the A4’s cabin quality is now simply the best in its class. 

Engine & Gearbox >>

New Audi A4 review, test drive

notSet

The facelift is subtle and you have to really stare to spot the differences. The performance is satisfyingly brisk but not blindingly quick. The ride is pliant and beautifully absorbent, but some pitching at high speeds. The cabin gets a lot of small upgrades that make it feel a lot plusher. The 1.8-litre, 168bhp petrol engine is very refined, adequately powerful. Most spacious cabin in class, but rear seats lack thigh support. The MMI system gets Audi’s latest interface and graphics.
Two highly anticipated cars and a whole lot more in the June 2013 issue
What's in this issue?

Most Read
Find a car review
Latest Car Reviews
New 2013 Mercedes E-Class review, test drive

New 2013 Mercedes E-Class review, test drive

5 hours ago
Mercedes has given its best-selling E-class a facelift. How much of an ...
2013 Tata Indigo eCS review, test drive

2013 Tata Indigo eCS review, test drive

6 hours ago
Tata gives the Indigo eCS a detailed mechanical and cosmetic update.
Tata Nano 2013 review, test drive

Tata Nano 2013 review, test drive

6 hours ago
The 2013 Nano tries to appeal to the urban youth.
New Porsche Cayman S review, test drive

New Porsche Cayman S review, test drive

1 day 13 hours ago
The old Cayman was the best handling sportscar around. Has Porsche topped ...
New 2013 Honda CR-V 2.0 review, test drive

New 2013 Honda CR-V 2.0 review, test drive

4 days ago
We comprehensively road test the all-new CR-V and find out how much better ...
Latest News
Tata launches Nano CNG and updates five other models
Tata offers more equipment, new suspension setups and refreshed styling ...
10 hours ago   9 pictures
Lamborghini launches limited edition Gallardo for India
Only six India edition LP550-2s being made; priced at Rs 3.06 crore.
11 hours ago   3 pictures
Suzuki Swift facelift leaked
Suzuki to update Swift with minor updates for European market, will India ...
1 day 11 hours ago   5 pictures
Porsche launches Cayman S
The Cayman S puts out 321bhp and 37.7kgm of torque. It's priced at Rs 93.99 ...
1 day 14 hours ago   1 picture
Suzuki to return to MotoGP in 2015
The Japanese firm has been developing a new 1000cc MotoGP racer for the past ...
1 day 14 hours ago   1 picture
Autocar Magazine

Issue: 166 | June 2013

Two highly anticipated cars and a whole lot more in the June 2013 issue
Autocar Magazine
Latest Poll
Would you spend Rs 22 lakh for a luxury hatchback?



or View results
Yes
  15%
 
No
  56%
 
Yes, but only if it has a premium badge
  29%
TOTAL VOTES: 2852

Vote now
View previous Polls »