Driving Impressions

We tried all of the new A4s in the gorgeous Green Mountains, where the twisting roads climb up and down and are seldom clogged with traffic. Yet we spent the most time in the sportiest and-as in often the case-most expensive variant: the A4 3.0 quattro. It was a pleasant, thoroughly satisfying experience. Audi's new 3.0-liter V6 is a big improvement (though the old one was already pretty good), and it makes the A4 one of the more powerful cars in the class. Displacement has been increased 200 cubic centimeters. The new aluminum engine block is manufactured using the latest casting technology for maximum strength and durability, and Audi remains the only luxury carmaker with advanced five-valve-per-cylinder technology across its product line. The company says the new 3.0-liter engine is more fuel-efficient and cleaner than the old 2.8-liter engine, allowing the 3.0 to earn California's Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle certification. Horsepower increases by 30 to 220 at 6300 rpm, while torque increases by 14 to 221 pounds-feet. For comparison, the BMW 330i and Mercedes C320 make 225 horsepower, 214 pounds-feet of torque, and 215 horsepower, 229 pounds-feet, respectively. The first thing you notice at the wheel of the A4 is the engine. The 3.0 is smoother and stronger than the 2.8, and very even in its power delivery. Whether you're putting along in a residential neighborhood or wound up on an empty country road, there's a deep well of acceleration-producing torque. Even with an automatic transmission, the A4 responds immediately when you jab the gas pedal. With the new six-speed manual, the A4 3.0 is more a match for BMW's 330i-long the performance benchmark in this class. Its gear ratios are nicely matched if you want to shift frequently and really work the engine. Yet the new V6 is flexible enough that you can choose a gear -- second, third or fourth -- and drive it about 80 percent of the time like an automatic, rarely changing gears. We'd guess that the 2002 A4 3.0 will hit 60 mph from a stop in a tick under 7 seconds. That's a bit slower than the 330i, but this new Audi is quick, and it's the fastest A4 yet. Rarely will you fall into the passive mode at the wheel. More often than not you'll want to stretch it. If you prefer an automatic transmission, you'll have two options. A4s with quattro offer a conventional five-speed automatic, while front-drive models have the new continuously variable transmission (CVT). Until now, CVTs were reserved for economy cars, and unable to cope with the high torque of a V6 engine. Audi's CVT has an electric clutch (like that on a manual transmission, without the pedal). It's lighter than conventional automatics, with fewer working parts-and theoretically fewer things to go wrong. The practical advantage of a CVT? It provides the best transmission ratio for optimum performance or economy in any particular driving conditions. Audi claims that with the CVT, the A4 accelerates as quickly and gets the same mileage as an A4 with a manual transmission. (Fuel economy typically suffers significantly with a traditional automatic.) Those claims aside, the CVT takes some getting used to. Its clutch can take a second engage, much like a torque converter that's slow to lock up. To the driver it can feel like sloppiness in the drivetrain. Depending on circumstances, you get rolling too slowly, or with a jerk, and working the throttle can require some practice. It's really a matter of getting used to different behavior. Audi has programmed its CVT with six pre-defined ranges, or gears, which can be managed by a Tiptronic sequential selector. Drivers can operate it like a conventional automatic with a sport shifter. Nonetheless, we recommend driving the CVT before buying it. Whatever the engine/transmission combination, the A4 had plenty of punch to climb from the valleys into the mountains of southwestern Vermont. We never tapped the steering wheel impatiently, waiting for the acceleration to

Final Word

The so-called small-luxury or near luxury or entry luxury or sports sedan market includes some of the best cars in the world, whatever your taste or preference. The status conscious can find a high-end nameplate in the $25,000-$35,000 price range. Driving enthusiasts get good performance in a practical package, and the frugal get most of the amenities and safety features found in large luxury sedans, with decent fuel economy and a much lower price of entry. The A4 covers all these bases and goes a step further with the option of all-wheel drive. There are at least 14 sedans in this category -from 10 different manufacturers--and sales are strong. Yet the competition is brutal, and today's hot ticket can quickly become tomorrow's has-been. It's no fluke that the A4 has remained near the top in sales since its introduction seven years ago, and the 2002 A4 is a much better car than its predecessor. Anyone shopping this class of automobile would be foolish not to take a long look at Audi.