Introduction

For years the Audi A4 has been one of the best cars in its class. Completely redesigned for 2002, it gets even better. Some 90 percent of the A4's parts are revised, and there are significant improvements across the board. The new A4 is the first luxury-brand automobile with a continuously variable automatic transmission offered as an option. The cabin, the stereo, the electronic controls and the V6 engine-everything is bigger or more powerful. Perhaps best of all, Audi promises to minimize price increases when the 2002 A4 reaches showrooms in October. Expect hikes of 3 percent or less. Audi's resurgence as a luxury brand has run concurrent with the A4. This compact sedan has been Audi's bestseller since its introduction in 1995. A combination of thoughtful design, build quality, invigorating performance and sane pricing have made the A4 one of the most respected cars in a class that includes some of the best cars in the world. The redesigned 2002 model has exactly the stuff required in the fiercely competitive market for small luxury sedans.

Walkaround

The 2002 A4 is shaped in the signature Bauhaus style established by the larger A6 sedan. It's less angular and more curvaceous than its predecessor. Its beltline is higher, its roof and side glass longer. From the headlights to the door handles to the rear bumper, flush is the theme. Little chrome or other adornments detract from the A4's basic shape--not even an antenna. (Antennae for the radio, telematics and navigation systems are embedded into the rear glass.) The A4 takes styling cues from both the TT roadster and A6, including a more prominent chrome-trimmed grille and notched-in flush taillights. In short, it's a particularly handsome car. Complaints? The new A4 may be too much the little A6, and not distinct enough it its own right. The body panels cover lots of changes underneath. For starters, the new A4 is larger than the old. Wheelbase increases 2.1 inches to 104.3, and length 2.7 inches to 179, for dimensions roughly comparable to the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The A4's unitized body and frame is 45 percent stiffer than it predecessor's, according to Audi, yet substantially lighter. Thicker side windows -3 millimeters thicker--account for a three-decibel reduction in interior noise, by Audi's measure. We found nothing in our road test to discredit these claims.

Interior Features

The A4's slick new look includes smaller, sculpted side mirrors. They may be more stylish or aerodynamic, but from the driver's seat they offer a smaller viewing range. We would sacrifice the look for wider coverage. This is a still a compact sedan, yet the new design makes great use of the floor space. Every interior dimension is larger, but it's most obvious in the back seat, where taller passengers will find a bit more room to stretch their legs. There's room in back for three, with three-point harness at all positions, but average-size adults will feel much more comfortable with only two. The front seats adjust to accommodate people in the six-foot, five-inch range, and the view out is nearly unobstructed in every direction. The theme inside the A4 is cool and efficient, as it is in Audi's other sedans, and not deliberately snazzy in fashion of the TT. Materials look and feel richer than those in many cars in this price range, and trim matches flawlessly. A thick, grippy, leather-covered steering wheel and shift lever are standard, with a choice of fabric or leatherette (vinyl) upholstery. The cabin beltline is edged with aluminum in the 1.8T and real wood in the 3.0. Switches could be larger, yet those most frequently adjusted, including stereo volume, are large enough. After a bit of familiarization, everything in the A4 is easy to find with minimal distraction, and nearly all temperature, ventilation and stereo adjustments can be completed with buttons on the steering wheel hub. Audi's red and white gauge lighting, its warning lights and LEDs, are among the sharpest, most readable going. Its radial sunroof switch is the best; turn it a quarter, half or full turn and the roof opens a corresponding distance. Flow-control switches on each dash vent are illuminated. Wipers make a final sweep several seconds after the washer button is released, cleaning droplets blown back up the windshield. We found nothing to gripe about during a long drive through Vermont's Green Mountains, with the possible exception of the seats. They are comfortable and supportive in nearly all circumstances. Yet a sedan this good should have buckets with more side bolstering to keep occupants firmly in the center. The 2002 A4's trunk is among the largest in the class (13.4 cubic feet, compared to 10.7 in the BMW 3 Series and 12.2 in the Mercedes C-Class). Moreover, the lid swings high and backs for easy access. There are four tie-down hooks in the carpeted floor and a removable grocery net. The cold-weather package includes a nylon ski sack that allows snow skis to slide through the trunk and into the cabin without leaving a damp mess.