In fact anyone considering a car in this class would be wise to hang on until later this year until they can take a test drive the new A4 before making their final decision. It’s hard to tell for sure without a group test on UK soil, but early signs from our time with a variety of preproduction models suggest that Audi may not have only built the best car in this class, but perhaps even the best all-round car in the company’s history.
Essentially the new car feels more connected to the road in all the right ways, but less so in the wrong ways. As good as a rear drive BMW 3 Series? In Quattro guise - which operates a 60:40 biased to the rear – maybe. Though a back-to-back test in the UK is required to finally decide that.
All this tech helps create a contemporary feel inside the A4s well built, high quality cabin, which just has a touch more class than that of its rivals - though people after a bit of bling may find it a bit subdued next to the shiny and showy Mercedes C-Class. Regardless, there are some nice touches such as an extra wide vent in the centre of the dash that acts as a subtle diffuser which Audi calls 'air shower'.
Interior space is better than before. Even though the new A4 stands at the same height as before headroom front and back is improved as the comfy seats, which are now thinner and lighter than in the old car, are mounted lower. A wider body creates more shoulder room while a longer wheelbase means there's a 23mm increase in legroom. This may not sound like much, but it means that six footers will be comfy in the back seat - which they most certainly won’t in the cramped Jaguar XE. Overall the new A4 feels like the most spacious car in its class, though once again we need to compare it against the 3 Series, which was the class leader for rear passenger space.
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