2009 Audi A4 Vehicle Overview

2009 Audi A4 Vehicle Overview

Introduction

Despite being a longtime top seller in Europe, the Audi A4 has historically trailed a distant 3rd behind those other German automakers' compact luxury sedans in the North American market. Audi is hoping to change all that with the newly redesigned A4.

The 2009 Audi A4 sedan is nearly 5 inches longer and 2 inches wider than the previous model. The wheelbase has been stretched and the hood is longer. That size increase makes a difference on the inside, too. There's more headroom, more shoulder room and an additional 1.4 inches of rear knee room, as well as class-leading trunk space. Also new on the A4 this year is a pair of direct-injection engines -- a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder on all models and an available 3.2-liter V6 on the sedan. The 2009 A4 also offers a plethora of newly available techno-gadgets, including radar-based adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system, a new park distance control system and revised controls for Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) system.

But the differences on the new A4 aren't just cosmetic. The front axle and the engine have been slightly repositioned, which improves the Audi's traditionally front-heavy 60/40 weight distribution to about 55/45. In addition, an optional adjustable suspension creates multiple ride/handling balances that range from cushy to sporty. Packaged with this adjustable suspension is an adjustment system for steering feel and throttle response, which has three different set modes and a personalized mode where you can mix and match settings (for instance, soft suspension and tight steering). It sounds complicated, but like Burger King, the A4 allows drivers to have it their way.

All of this adds up to being the best A4 yet. Of course, the 2009 A4 faces stiff competition from all-stars in the mid-$30,000s to high-$40,000s, such as the more engaging BMW 3 Series, the affordably priced Infiniti G35 and the solidly built Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Since the convertible A4 didn't get the latest updates, we'd definitely hold out on the soft top. But for those in search of a sharp-looking compact luxury sedan or wagon with all-wheel drive, the latest technology features and a range of handling characteristics, the 2009 Audi A4 is an excellent choice.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2009 Audi A4 is a four-door compact luxury vehicle available in three body styles: a sedan, a convertible (Cabriolet) and a wagon (Avant). Sedans and wagons seat up to five passengers and convertibles seat up to four. There are three trim levels for sedans and wagons with the 2.0-liter turbo engine. The base Premium trim comes standard with 17-inch wheels, foglamps, a sunroof, air-conditioning, power front seats, leather upholstery, cruise control, a split-folding rear seat, cruise control and a 10-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.

The Premium Plus level adds bi-xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lamps (modeled after the Audi R8's), auto-dimming side and rearview mirrors, Bluetooth phone connectivity, three-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and a six-CD changer. In addition, the auxiliary audio jack is replaced by a dedicated iPod connector. The Prestige trim ups the wheel size to 18 inches and adds rear park distance control, keyless ignition/entry, a lane-change warning system and an upgraded 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. All sedans and convertibles with the 3.2-liter V6 are available in these latter two trim levels only.

Options on the base 2.0 T models include wood interior trim, rear-seat side airbags and a Sport package with 18-inch wheels, high-performance tires, shift paddles and sport seats. Optional on the upper trim levels is a Sport package with 19-inch wheels, a navigation system with a back-up camera, adaptive cruise control with an active braking guard (which monitors the distance between the car and traffic ahead), the Audi Drive Select adjustable suspension system, rear-seat side airbags and a choice of wood trims. Many of the standard features on the upper trim levels are available as stand-alone options on base 2.0 T models, with the exception of navigation, adaptive cruise control and the adjustable suspension driving settings. An S Line Package for Prestige trim levels includes 19-inch wheels, high-performance tires, a sport suspension, shift paddles and front sport seats with side bolsters.

The convertible 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet 2.0 T comes standard with 17-inch wheels, an automatic soft top, power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a 10-speaker audio system with a six-CD/MP3 changer. The 3.2 model adds 18-inch wheels and heated front seats. Major options include adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a navigation system, the last-generation MMI system and upgraded Bose speakers.

Powertrains and Performance

Two updated engines make their debut in the 2009 Audi A4 sedans and convertibles. A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 makes 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 3.2-liter V6 boosts output to 265 hp but cuts torque to 243 lb-ft. The corresponding engines in the convertible make 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, and 255 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, respectively. Sedans and wagons all come standard with Audi's Quattro AWD system and use a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. The 2.0 T convertible is available with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), or Quattro AWD and a six-speed automatic. Convertibles with the 3.2-liter engine are available only with the latter drivetrain.

In our tests, a 3.2-liter sedan made it from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which is 0.3 second slower that what's listed on the A4's spec sheet and a full 1.3 seconds slower than BMW's estimated 0-60 time for the 335i sedan with automatic transmission.

EPA-estimated fuel economy for the 2.0 T sedan with the automatic is 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. Going with the V6 drops those numbers to 17/26/20. Convertibles with the 2.0-liter engine achieve 24 mpg combined on front-wheel-drive models and 22 mpg combined with Quattro. The drop top with the 3.2-liter gets a combined 20 mpg.

Safety

All 2009 Audi A4s come standard with antilock brakes, traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags (except on Cabriolets). Rear-seat-mounted side airbags are available as an option for the sedan and wagon. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash testing, the A4 Cabriolet received the best rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset test and the second-worst rating of "Marginal" in side-impact testing. The all-new sedan and wagon have yet to be crash tested.

Interior Design and Special Features

The build quality of the new A4's cabin maintains Audi's good reputation. Smooth leather surfaces, along with durable-looking plastic and soft-touch materials, make for a nice combination of colors and textures. Small touches, like ambient lighting for passengers underneath the driver seat, add to the premium feel.

For 2009, Audi has relocated its MMI controls aft of the gearshift, which makes them easier to access. (Frustratingly, the Cabriolet's remain on the dash.) Other controls, such as those on the center stack and steering wheel, are intuitive and well laid out -- although operating certain features, like the climate control and navigation systems, still takes some getting used to. An electromechanical parking brake eliminates the need to yank up on a traditional lever and saves space on the center console. The convertible's aging interior looks outdated by comparison, but is still well-constructed from high-quality materials. Trunk space in the sedan is an impressive 16.9 cubic feet. The drop-top's trunk is smaller but still respectable, with 13.4 cubic feet of space.

Driving Impressions

The new body styles of the 2009 Audi A4 have improved balance and handling over previous models. But even with the new engines, the A4 isn't going to win any drag races. That said, acceleration is smooth, and the shifts from the six-speed automatic transmission are consistent. Braking performance on the sedans and wagons is excellent.

On twisty roads, the new model is the best A4 yet in terms of handling balance. It's sharp and communicative and fun to drive spiritedly. The vehicle's mass and slightly nose-heavy layout conspire to keep it a step behind BMW's 3 Series in terms of ultimate performance, but the A4's AWD provides added security and traction in wet weather conditions. With the new optional driver-adjustable suspension, ride and handling varies from soft and comfortable to stiff and responsive. The accompanying adjustability of steering and throttle settings is a very welcome feature. There are three set driving modes (Dynamic, Auto and Comfort) and a personalized mode to allow the driver to set the car up to his or her preference, or depending on driving conditions. We wish more cars offered this.

And although the A4 can come equipped with some of the latest technology (such as radar-based adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system and park distance control), drivers who loathe these types of systems will likely find the A4's high level of beeps and squawks to be particularly annoying.