Audi A4 Saloon 3.0 TDI quattro S line 4dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
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List Price: £35,715
Tax Band: G
Insurance Group: 34
MPG: 48.7
CO2: 152
0-62 Mph: 6.1 secs
BHP: 242 BHP
Range: 653 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
The 3.0 litre TDI Quattro S line is a great car with a massive engine and good fuel economy. The 2.0 litre diesel is a more economical engine however, and will be cheaper to run and maintain.

The S line trim adds a lot to the price and only improves on the cheaper SE version in a few ways, such as sport suspension (which is actually quite uncomfortable) and larger alloys as well as a few style additions.

PROS:  An incredibly fast engine and good fuel economy. The S line trim adds leather/cloth seats as standard, larger alloys and sport suspension.

CONS:  The S line trim adds a lot onto the SE version as does the four-wheel-drive option. The huge engine is not really necessary on a practical car like the saloon and as it loses a lot of its economy, the smaller 2.0 litre diesel engine is a better bet.

Behind the Wheel

The petrol engine does not suit the A4 as well as the diesel as it needs far more revs to get going. The car is not a particularly sporty car, but has good grip and handling, with the four-wheel-drive offering much more stability than the two-wheel-drive versions. The suspension however, can be a little uncomfortable.

The engine is 2967cc and uses diesel with a fuel tank capacity of 61 litres. There is a six-speed manual gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.

Although the cabin is quiet with little road and suspension noise, there is still quite a bit of wind noise around the wing mirrors.

The 3.0 TDI quattro S line has a 242bhp engine delivering 368lb-ft of torque at 1400-3250rpm and reaches 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.

Looks & Equipment

The interior of the A4 is a little bit of a disappointment, as it feels a little cheaper than an Audi normally does.

The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably, although the pedals are set off to the right, which can be a bit uncomfortable over long distances. The controls are straightforward and without too much complication, but the dash is a bit cluttered. Rear view visibility is not great.

The S line trim comes with cloth/leather seats power steering, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and stereo as standard, with optional extras including satellite navigation for £1620 and metallic paint for £615.

For fuel economy, the A4 has a start/stop system and electromechanical power steering as standard, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The A4 comes with stability control, electronic brake force distribution, with twin front and side airbags as standard, although without the hatchback’s full-length curtain airbag. The immobiliser and alarm add to security.

The boot is fairly sizeable offering 480 litres with the rear seats up and 962 litres with the seats folded down. The saloon sits four adults comfortably and is definitely one of the best for space in its class. The leg and head room in the back in very generous.

Value for Money

The running costs are good with the A4 and CO2 emissions are fairly low. The 3.0 TDI quattro S line model costs £37,155 and has a combined economy of 49.6mpg and CO2 emission rate of 149g/km.

The diesel engine has good efficiency, but needs to be justified by high mileage due to the costly price over the petrol engine and rising diesel prices.

The S line trim is not as good value for money as the cheaper SE version, which comes with everything you need in the cabin. It does not improve much except to add sport suspension, leather/cloth seats as standard and larger alloys.

The Audi A4 is much cheaper than its rivals, such as BMW and Mercedes and the resale values on the A4 saloons are great so it is a worthwhile investment. Audi promise good service and reliability as well.

Audi A4 Saloon 3.0 TDI quattro S line 4dr Car Review - by 
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