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2010 Audi A4 Overview

The A4 Sedan and Wagon (Avant, in Audi-speak) has remained the German automaker's volume leader, thanks to its ability to blend spirited dynamic performance with highest passenger comfort. Although other midsize luxury sedans - like the Infiniti G, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class - may have been the headliners in latest years, the accomplished A4 has always been there, biding its era in the wings and waiting to speedily enter stage right. Finally, it deserves the focus once more: debuting last year with bolder exterior style, a more roomy interior, a re-tuned 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged TFSI engine and an enriched list of offered content, the 2010 Audi A4 is prepared for its close up.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you are seek for a midsize luxury sedan that appeals to drivers with its on-road drive and to passengers with its well-made interior, the 2010 Audi A4 deserves your attention. Noteworthy list of standard equipment, a reasonable starting price, and a class-leading fuel economy surely don't hurt, either.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Even though the 2010 Audi A4 is well packaged, it can still climb above $50,000 area when fully-loaded - more than the Lexus IS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The A4 has also grown much since its introduction in 1996, rather changing the feeling of driving a small, agile performance sedan.

What's New for 2010

The 3.2-liter V6 engine has been dropped from the lineup. Other changes for 2010 are limited to some reshuffle of content. Homelink and Bluetooth are now packaged together as optional equipment on Premium models, while Prestige and Premium Plus trims gain LED taillights. Prestige model feature typical 3D navigation and the Bang & Olufsen premium audio is now optional on the Premium Plus.

Driving Impressions

Thanks in part to a longer wheelbase and wider track, the 2010 Audi A4 Avant and Sedan we drove felt very comfortable inside and well-balanced on the road. The fuel-thrifty and nearly lag-free 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-inline definitely offers numerous bangs for the buck; we just wish the excellent 6-speed manual was available on all models, not just the Quattro Sedan. Inside, the vehicle's new wheelbase translates to more rear legroom, allowing adults to comfortably sit in the back seats for long periods of time, a huge improvement over the previous production A4.

Favorite Features

Welcoming Interior
There is nothing like the welcoming feel of supportive and supple leather seats, touch-worthy surfaces and intuitively placed controls to make being a traveler inside the A4 just as pleasing as getting behind the wheel.

Bang & Olufsen Audio
Standard on Prestige models, this sidereal 10-channel, 505-watt, 14-speaker sound system is a greet addition to the A4's interior for those who want to listen to their CDs and MP3s loud, truly loud.

Interior

Audi's careful attention to ergonomically-placed controls, touch-worthy surfaces and supportive seats makes just sitting inside the A4 an practice. Although it does offer some cool extras - like the impressive 505-watt Bang & Olufsen hi-fi - the A4 is equipped at base level to meet most people's desires. The trunk of the A4 Sedan boasts an impressive 16.9 cubic feet of space, but those wanting more will find a better fit in the Audi A4 Avant: With best-in-class reversible cargo floor, electric tailgate, luggage retainer set, and cargo room this wagon can be customized to suit a number of needs.

Exterior

The 2010 Audi A4 is stronger, sportier, and longer than the previous A4 models. Up front, a short front overhang highlights the A4's long hood and typical extra-large Audi grille in stone gray or high-gloss black. If you wish to draw even extra attention to the A4's front end can opt for the bi-xenon headlights with daytime running lights. Rounding out the A4 2.0 TDI Premium's look are usual 7-spoke 17-inch wheels, while moving up to the Prestige model nets flashier 5-spoke 18-inch wheels or optional 19s.

Notable Standard Equipment

The A4 offers up to three well-equipped trim levels: Prestige, Premium, and Premium Plus. Premium vehicles include an electric parking brake, sunroof (panoramic on the Avant), leather seats, Multigrain Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), automatic climate control, a 180-watt 10-speaker sound system, and Audi Multi-Media Interface with 6.5-inch screen. Moving up to the Premium Plus/Prestige trims brings 3-zone climate control, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, an iPod interface and a 6-disc in-dash CD player. A Bang & Olufsen 505-watt hi-fi and 3D navigation is standard on the Prestige trim. All trims come with electronic stability/traction control and six airbags. Audi A4 Quattro models also come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Notable Optional Equipment

When it comes to outfitting the new Audi A4 2010, most options are tied to trim level. The Premium trim offers Homelink and Bluetooth, while opting for Premium Plus permits acquisition of the Bang & Olfusen sound system, a hard drive-based steering system and a rear view camera. Audi's most desirable options are tied to the Prestige trim and include the S-line styling package, Audi drive select (adjusts the navigation, shift points and suspension), driver assist package (rear ultrasonic parking sensors, side assist monitor, and rearview camera) and 19-inch wheels. Several options are available regardless of trim, like rear side airbags, quattro AWD and Tiptronic automatic transmission with or without paddle shifters.

Under the Hood

The Audi A4 offers only one engine option: a direct injection, turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (known as TFSI). The A4 can be equipped with three different transmissions, including a Multitronic Continuously-Variable Transmission (CVT), a paddle shifter-equipped Tiptronic 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual. Unlike many of its rivals, Audi chose to equip its base model with the CVT and not the manual transmission, thereby boosting fuel economy to best-in-class ratings of 23/30 city/highway mpg.

2.0-liter in-line 4 turbocharged
211 horsepower @ 5300-6000 rpm
258 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1500-4200 rpm
EPA City/Highway Mileage: 23/30 (FWD, CVT), 22/30 (AWD, manual), 21/27 (AWD, automatic)

Pricing Notes

The 2010 Audi A4 2.0 TDI has MSRP starting just over $32,000. A quattro AWD sedan with a manual transmission bumps the price closer to $33,000, while the audi a4 Avant Wagon starts around $36,000. A fully loaded Prestige sedan can easily surpass $50,000. When it comes to residuals, we expect the A4 to deliver average resale values, remaining higher than the Cadillac CTS, lower than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS, BMW 3 Series, and just shy of the Infiniti G.

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