Introduction

Audi's A4 remains one of the best cars in this class. It combines clean looks, excellent handling, a brilliant interior, and granite build quality. For 2001, the 1.8 T turbocharged engine gets a big boost in power. There's also a boost in safety: An electronic stability program is available to help keep you on the road during those moments we try to avoid, along with Audi's superb quattro all-wheel-drive system. Curtain-style side-impact airbags with rollover protection are standard.

Walkaround

The A4 has always been a great-looking, understated vehicle in both sedan and wagon formats. Though the current design is more than five years old, it still works. The A4 looks the part of a sophisticated European sports sedan. Few competitors can match its clean, distinctive styling. Its dimensions have enough heft to hint at sporting intentions without being flagrant, yet the car also looks classy and timeless. Audi has a lock on subtle elegance, and the A4's graceful design presents a strong rival to the BMW 3 Series. From the outside, there is little to distinguish the 1.8T from the 2.8 except for unique wheels and a badge in back. For 2001, the design is unchanged. (An update is in store for 2002. The newer car will borrow visual elements from the larger A6 sedan. Most notable will be a new horizontal crease running the length of the car and more modern trapezoidal taillights. Upfront, the headlight shape gets massaged, and the bumper will incorporate a chrome-lined lower grille that mimics the main grille up above.) The Avant wagons are just about the slickest small haulers ever conceived. In some ways the Avant is more eye-grabbing than the sedan. While most U.S. manufacturers have turned their backs on wagons, Audi has demonstrated that light cargo capability and svelte sheetmetal are not mutually exclusive concepts. It's not quite an inch taller than the sedan, and its sloping tailgate lends the same graceful touch as the sedan's curved rear roof pillars.

Interior Features

The instrument cluster includes a digital clock with date, plus an ammeter and oil temperature gauge in addition to the usual array of instruments. Gauges have white lighting with red pointers. Like the more expensive A6, the A4's buttons are illuminated and offer improved feel. Air vents on the dash panel have illuminated markings to simplify operation at night. The climate control system automatically adjusts according to the season by sensing the angle of the sun. Auto up and auto down power windows in front, with auto down power windows in the rear are among the standard features that show this is a luxury sports sedan. The center console got a complete redesign in 2000. Storage cubbies are padded to keep small stuff from rattling. Cup holders have been redesigned. The spacious, comfortable interior transports occupants in understated elegance. Audi's "Atmospheres" allow customers to select coordinated interior schemes to match their personal tastes at no extra cost. I love the Ambiente with its lighter, bolder colors and Sycamore wood in the Mediterranean-style, with fine, supple materials. The front seats are comfortable. Optional sport seats add side bolstering for additional support. A large dead pedal is one of the many indicators that Audi views driving as an active, rather than a passive, activity. Optional leather upholstery is a high-quality treat. It is still possible for three people to sit in the rear, but it's more comfortable with two. Audi's attention to detail is impressive. The latch for the trunk lid (or hatch on the Avant) is automatically covered when the rear hatch is opened. Doors close with a solid "thunk." The Avant wagon offers 63.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the seats folded down. It won't hold as much cargo as many sport-utilities, but it holds quite a bit of stuff. And it stops, goes and handles far better than any SUV. Like the sedan, the Avant comes with a new lining for the cargo area and a luggage net is standard. Avant also includes a 12-volt power socket in the rear.