Audi A4 Review
The Audi A4 that arrived in the car park wasn’t the standard, ‘straight out of the box’, A4. It was packed with all the best bits from the extensive options list. Alive with technology? You bet!
All this munificence is nice but it does make our job harder - it’s a wood and trees, thing. I’m not really complaining but I would have been just as happy, safe in the knowledge that Audi’s renowned 3.2FSI engine was under the bonnet. But bristling with electronics that clearly weren’t standard issue, it was; so much so that this report could simply be about the available gizmology.
So, what is standard issue for the £29,340, mid-range, A4 SE saloon? Well, for a start all A4s have halogen daytime running lights, fog lights front and rear, 17-inch alloys, climate control, a space-saving electromechanical parking brake via a switch on the central tunnel, powered and heated door mirrors, an Audi Chorus audio system comprising a single CD/MP3/radio with a 6.5-inch, monochrome display, 6 speakers (80 Watts) and a nice feeling of well being, amongst other things.
The SE adds automatic headlights and wipers and Audi’s Concert audio system with a colour screen and ten speakers (180W), 3-zone climate control so the rear passengers have a say in their environment and aluminium trims inside and out, some with a holographic effect.
The standard S-line is a much sportier car with larger, 18-inch alloys, lowered sports suspension, part-leather upholstery and body-styling including exclusive bumper designs.
Bearing in mind the price of the standard SE, the total test-car price totted up to £42,260 giving an indication of just how many options were on board. Some of it was taken up by the very nice Liquid Blue metallic paintwork (£550) and £1,290 for the light grey Milano leather upholstery.
