If you're shopping for a compact executive sedan, be prepared to be overwhelmed. On one hand, we have the potent BMW 3 Series and the resurgent Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Then there's the spectacular new Jaguar XE and the recently revised Lexus IS that have joined the fray too.
Tackling all that might from Ingolstadt is the new Audi A4, which is set to appeal with a lighter and stronger body, a knockout cabin, much improved dynamics as well as advanced technology.
Exterior
At first glance, the ninth generation A4 doesn't look vastly different to the model it replaces but despite the familiar appearance, not a single panel is the same. A lot of work has gone into the sheet metal and every line and crease exists to improve the aerodynamics of the car.
One example of the clever developments is the location of the side mirrors - now mounted directly on the door rather than on the A-pillar. This means that more air can now glide smoothly down the car's profile.
The new car also gets the company's latest Singleframe grille and looks cleaner and more sophisticated than its predecessor.
Tackling all that might from Ingolstadt is the new Audi A4, which is set to appeal with a lighter and stronger body, a knockout cabin, much improved dynamics as well as advanced technology.
Exterior
At first glance, the ninth generation A4 doesn't look vastly different to the model it replaces but despite the familiar appearance, not a single panel is the same. A lot of work has gone into the sheet metal and every line and crease exists to improve the aerodynamics of the car.
One example of the clever developments is the location of the side mirrors - now mounted directly on the door rather than on the A-pillar. This means that more air can now glide smoothly down the car's profile.
The new car also gets the company's latest Singleframe grille and looks cleaner and more sophisticated than its predecessor.
Complementing the refined new face are headlamps that are sharper and brighter, with standard all-LED bulbs, while a new, more muscular clamshell-style bonnet rounds out to a stronger character line running down the entire length of the car.
Tail lamps are now wider than before and feature the brand's nifty dynamic turn signal strips that make turning a corner a slightly disco affair. At the same time, the rear fascia centres on the spoiler that's stamped into the boot lid, which adds to the A4's tougher all-round stance.
Measuring 4,726mm wide, 1,842mm wide and 1,427mm tall, the new A4 is 25mm longer and 16mm wider than before and the extra millimetres liberate more space inside the car.
Tail lamps are now wider than before and feature the brand's nifty dynamic turn signal strips that make turning a corner a slightly disco affair. At the same time, the rear fascia centres on the spoiler that's stamped into the boot lid, which adds to the A4's tougher all-round stance.
Measuring 4,726mm wide, 1,842mm wide and 1,427mm tall, the new A4 is 25mm longer and 16mm wider than before and the extra millimetres liberate more space inside the car.
Interior
Open the door and the first impression is of a thoroughly modern interior, which makes the superseded A4 look out of date. Looking more like a shrunken Q7 inside, the new A4 is brimming with technology - both visibly and behind the scenes.
Fresh and easy to live with, the horizontal dashboard treatment flows with sculptured surfaces, lush materials and a machined aluminium accent that spans its width, allowing Audi to stay away from the black look that has plagued some of its models in the past.
Then there is the eye-catching instrumentation, be it the attractive standard, classically analogue, dials or the sprawling vista of the optional Virtual Cockpit with its customisable digital instrument cluster, which adds to the tech-infused lustre.
Open the door and the first impression is of a thoroughly modern interior, which makes the superseded A4 look out of date. Looking more like a shrunken Q7 inside, the new A4 is brimming with technology - both visibly and behind the scenes.
Fresh and easy to live with, the horizontal dashboard treatment flows with sculptured surfaces, lush materials and a machined aluminium accent that spans its width, allowing Audi to stay away from the black look that has plagued some of its models in the past.
Then there is the eye-catching instrumentation, be it the attractive standard, classically analogue, dials or the sprawling vista of the optional Virtual Cockpit with its customisable digital instrument cluster, which adds to the tech-infused lustre.
More importantly, it's how everything is put together that makes the cabin feel so impressively opulent. On top of the visual entertainment and technological trickeries, the A4 feels very spacious inside with generous amounts of shoulder room and headroom.
A high transmission tunnel takes up a little bit of foot space across the back, so it can get a little bit awkward trying to seat three in the rear, but it's the same story in all of the A4's major rivals. Similarly, trunk space, at 480 litres, is on par with the rest of its peers in this segment.
The Drive
Downsizing trend means the old 1.8-litre TFSI unit in the B8 has made way for a 1.4-litre TFSI motor that kicks off the A4's engine range in Singapore. It is teamed with a seven-speed S-tronic transmission that bids goodbye to the Multitronic CVT of the past.
Despite being a small capacity engine for a car of this size, it's no slouch. It'll happily tap into its modest peak power, but for most driving, it relies on the useable swell of torque that makes lower speed work fairly easy.
The real surprise, though, is the level of refinement and general quietness afforded by this small displacement four-cylinder turbocharged mill, without sacrificing the pleasant snarl it also emits when you're having fun at higher revs.
Likewise, the new gearbox is infinitely more refined and enjoyable than the transmission used previously, and offers beautifully crisp gearshifts via the shift lever or the convenient paddle shifters.
Downsizing trend means the old 1.8-litre TFSI unit in the B8 has made way for a 1.4-litre TFSI motor that kicks off the A4's engine range in Singapore. It is teamed with a seven-speed S-tronic transmission that bids goodbye to the Multitronic CVT of the past.
Despite being a small capacity engine for a car of this size, it's no slouch. It'll happily tap into its modest peak power, but for most driving, it relies on the useable swell of torque that makes lower speed work fairly easy.
The real surprise, though, is the level of refinement and general quietness afforded by this small displacement four-cylinder turbocharged mill, without sacrificing the pleasant snarl it also emits when you're having fun at higher revs.
Likewise, the new gearbox is infinitely more refined and enjoyable than the transmission used previously, and offers beautifully crisp gearshifts via the shift lever or the convenient paddle shifters.
Ride and handling is exemplary across the entire range, thanks to a new lightweight suspension system that provides a sensible balance between comfort and control. This also means the A4 is a lot easier to live with than the previous model, as main criticisms of that car mainly concentrated on the ride quality.
In that sense, the focus on ride comfort and refinement has paid real dividends because the A4 now drives and feels like a much bigger, plusher car.
Conclusion
If you value comfort, space and refinement, the Audi A4 should definitely be on your shopping list. It's so much quieter than before, rides beautifully and has a truly upmarket interior.
Combine that with great efficiency and strong performance, it's hard to argue with this compact executive's overwhelming appeal.
