Driving Impressions

Audi's 3.0-liter V6 puts the A4 among the more powerful cars in the class. It's rated 220 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 221 pounds-feet of torque. By comparison, the BMW 330i and Mercedes C320 make 225 horsepower, 214 pounds-feet of torque, and 215 horsepower, 229 pounds-feet, respectively. Audi remains the only luxury carmaker with advanced five-valve-per-cylinder technology across its product line. Introduced for 2002, Audi's 3.0 features an aluminum engine block cast using the latest technology for maximum strength and durability. Cleaner and more fuel-efficient than the old 2.8-liter engine, the 3.0 earns California's Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle certification. Like everything else about the A4, the V6 engine is very smooth. Press down on the throttle and power comes on linearly, evenly. It does not paste you to the back of the seat, but delivers solid torque throughout the rev range. Variable-timing intake and exhaust camshafts optimize air/fuel delivery and combustion, boosting horsepower and presenting 90 percent of peak torque from 2200-5200 rpm. So there's a deep well of power available whether you're winding up on an empty country road or just cruising along. Jab the gas pedal, and the A4 responds immediately. With the six-speed manual, the A4 3.0 is a match for BMW's 330i, long the performance benchmark in this class. The six-speed's 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 shift less frequently, allowing the engine torque pull the car along. It's a nice gearbox, though not the easiest to coordinate with the clutch for smoothness. An A4 Quattro with the six-speed manual can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and can turn the standing quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds. That's comparable to a BMW 330i. The A4 is quick, 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 have two options: A4 quattros are available with a five-speed Tiptronic automatic. A4 FronTrak models offer Audi's Multitronic continuously variable transmission. Audi's CVT was designed to handle high torque loads, such as those from its 3.0 V6. It's lighter than conventional automatics, has fewer moving 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. An A4 3.0 FronTrak with the CVT accelerates as quickly as an A4 3.0 quattro with the six-speed, according to Audi, and gets about the same mileage as an A4 with a manual transmission. CVT takes some getting used to, however. Its clutch can take a second to 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, that act like gears. It can be managed by a Tiptronic sequential selector, so drivers can operate it like a conventional automatic with a sport shifter. We recommend driving the CVT before buying it. The five-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission is a good choice for A4 3.0 models. Put it in Drive and leave it there. It offers responsive performance and communicates well with the 3.0-liter V6. Fuel economy for the A4 3.0 automatic nearly matches that of the A4 3.0 six-speed manual. Enthusiast drivers can slap the Tiptronic shifter to the right and shift manually. Pull the handle back to downshift, push it forward to upshift. The automatic does, of course, diminish acceleration performance when compared with either the CVT or manual gearbox (by 0.5 seconds in the quarter-mile, according to Audi). Still, the five-speed automa

Final Word

Audi A4 combines high quality, thoughtful design, and invigorating performance at a compelling price. A4 is one of the most respected cars in a class that includes some of the best cars in the world. A4 delivers good performance in a practical package. It offers amenities and safety features found in large luxury sedans at a much lower price of entry. And it offers the option of all-wheel drive. There are at least 14 sedans in this category 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 this latest-generation A4 is a much better car than its predecessor. The A4 3.0 sedans are outstanding small luxury sport sedans. Avant wagons are a great choice for families of two or three and a dog, offering big cargo capacity and sport sedan handling. A4 1.8T delivers the luxury and performance of a true European sports sedan at a price that puts it in reach of many new-car buyers. Anyone shopping this class should take a long look at Audi.