A udi’s all-new A4 is quite an impressive luxury car. Although it looks a bit too familiar, it’s a smart design and the car is beautifully put-together. The only chink in its armour was that it couldn’t be had with a diesel engine, but now, Audi has addressed that too.
You can blame Indian fuel quality for the delay in Audi launching the new A4 with a diesel engine. Audi’s sophisticated new 2.0-litre TDI unit that powers this A4 was built to run only on Euro 6 grade diesel, which is not available in India. As a result, the carmaker had to undertake the long and costly exercise to retrograde the engine to run on India’s Bharat Stage 4 grade diesel.
Save for the ‘35 TDI’ badge on the bootlid, there’s nothing that distinguishes the diesel A4 from its petrol sibling. That’s until you open the hood, of course, where you’ll find a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel engine that makes 190hp and 400Nm. These figures are identical to what the BMW 320d’s engine cranks out, and fall right between the Mercedes-Benz C220d and C250d diesels on the power scale. Transferring the power from the engine to the front wheels is Audi’s quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Remember, the last A4 diesel featured a CVT, so the driving experience promises to be better here.
Like on the outside, there’s nothing new to report about the diesel A4’s cabin. That is to say it’s a very modern Audi cabin that scores big on material quality and ambience. Audi’s brilliant ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital instruments, MMI infotainment system and haptic buttons for the air-con that preview the function as you run your finger on them make the cabin look and feel cutting-edge. Front seat comfort is good and passengers in the back also get plenty of room to sit comfortably. The all-important rear seat is well-bolstered but it’s a place best suited for two occupants.
The last-gen A4’s diesel was the quietest in the class, and the new engine keeps that flag flying high. It’s really quiet at idle, and though there is a mild grumble at low revs and you can hear the engine when you floor the accelerator, it’s never loud or harsh. In average driving especially, cabin noise levels remain admirably low.
Performance is really impressive. Sure, its 8.08-second 0-100kph time is well off the BMW 320d M Sport’s launch-control-enabled 7.25-second figure, but you’ll never feel left wanting for power in the A4. It’s responsive even at low revs, but really comes into its element as the engine spins past 2000rpm; keep the pedal to the metal and the engine will happily rev to 4700rpm before the electronics step in and upshift automatically. As always, the dual-clutch gearbox is quick to shift and adapts well to your driving style. You can also use the paddle-shifters and the chunky gear lever for manual control of gearshifts.
Now, it’s not as exciting to drive as its rivals. However, the handling is safe and predictable, and you always get the sense of being in control at the helm.
You can fine-tune the experience to some extent, thanks to the four driving modes on offer — Normal, Dynamic, Auto and Individual. Of these, the car works best in the ‘Individual’ setting, with the steering in Dynamic and engine in Normal. While the suspension isn’t adjustable, the set-up is rather nice as is. Bump absorption is excellent and the A4 diesel feels well-damped at all times. That the suspension does its work quietly also helps maintain the calm in the cabin.
Recommending the new A4 to anybody so far has always included a caveat about the petrol engine.
It’s a good engine, no doubt, but comes across as a bit underwhelming for a luxury car. With this diesel engine, the A4 finally gets the power it always deserved. It is strong, refined and, with an ARAI-tested fuel-economy of 18.25kpl, promises to be fuel-efficient too.
Audi is yet to reveal the prices for the diesel A4, but expect the car to cost in the region of Rs 45 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom, Delhi). Your wait for the A4 diesel could just be worth it.
