2017 Audi A4 Diesel Review
Car Tested: 2017 Audi A4 35 TDI; Road Test No. 826
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 55.38 lakhs
The 2017 Audi A4 diesel offers a blend of performance, comfort & technology
We drove the new generation Audi A4 last year and came out mighty impressed with the way the car has been packaged. It comes packed with a lot of gadgetry, features and is a comfortable premium sedan. We sampled the petrol variant that comes with the 1.4-litre TFSI engine and this time, we’re driving the A4 with the popular 2.0-litre TDI oil-burner.
Motor Quest: Audi has very good snob value in India and the older A4 was one of their highest selling cars. The earlier A4 was also offered with a 3.0-litre diesel engine but since the higher capacity engine didn’t get much demand, the automaker now offers only 1.4-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines with the A4 for now.
The A4 looks stately and the minimalist design is a winner
Exteriors – The new generation A4 might not look very different compared to the older car, but make no mistake since Audi has made many significant changes to the sedan and it is a whole new product underneath. The exteriors of the A4 have clean lines and the usual Audi styling is apparent. The front features sharp headlamps with uniquely-styled DRLs along with the imposing Audi grille. The side profile is neat but I really wish the automaker provided better-looking alloy wheels. The rear again has a premium appeal to it but what catches the eye are the dynamic turn indicators which look simply beautiful. The diesel variant comes with a dual exhaust setup, unlike the petrol trims.
The insides of the new A4 are a huge leap forward
Interiors – The interiors of the A4 diesel are similar to the petrol model that we drove earlier. Our test car had an all-black theme with wood inserts and it looked sporty. The steering wheel gets an aluminum insert at the bottom while the centre console gets the familiar MMI system with the control knob and other buttons. The MMI is intuitive to use and has a lot of functions. Sound quality from the audio system is good but not as eargasmic as other high-end cars. The Virtual Cockpit is the best part about the A4 and the inbuilt navigation which shows detailed information is very good. The front seats are comfortable and have good adjustment options while at the rear, space is a bit restrained and kneeroom is tight while the seats continue to remain a good place to be in.
The 2.0-litre TDI mill offers refined performance, 0-100 km/hr takes 7.7 seconds
Performance – The 2017 Audi A4 is offered with the same 2.0-litre diesel engine with the 35 TDI nomenclature. The engine produces 188 HP of power at 4200 RPM and 400 Nm of twisting force between 1750 to 2500 RPM. The engine is now mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, unlike the earlier A4 which came with a CVT unit. Power is sent to the front wheels and there is no quattro on offer. The engine feels refined and isn’t too noisy. Power delivery is smooth and instantaneous and the sedan responds well to throttle inputs. Turbo lag isn’t felt much and the surge of power post 2000 RPM is very strong and continues till a notch above 4500 RPM. Top speed is a claimed 237 km/hr but progress dulls post 200 km/hr.
The diesel engine is power-packed and offers efficiency too
The dual-clutch gearbox is smooth shifting & way better than the older CVT
The A4 feels sprightly and eager. The gearbox understands driving styles well and responds very quickly. Gear shifts also happen fast. The new A4 is lighter than the older model by around 150 kgs and thanks to that, it feels even more livelier to drive. You also get paddle shifters and the option of shifting gears with the gear knob too. The TDI mill is also very efficient and churns out 14-15 km/l on the highways if driven sedately while under hard driving, efficiency drops down to 9-10 km/l (ARAI rating is 18.25 km/l). You get driving modes like Comfort, Dynamic, Individual and Auto though the A4 doesn’t come with an Eco mode.
The A4 is a very comfortable car but not too involving to drive
Driving Dynamics – The Audi A4 has a very good ride and the suspension soaks up bumps with ease. There is no stiffness and the sedan remains fairly composed most of the times. The suspension also feels very silent and there are no unnecessary thuds on sharp undulations too. Talking about the steering, it is direct and precise but lacks feel and even though it provides safe and predictable handling, it just lacks the involvement that rivals in the same segment provide. You can better the steering feel by switching to Dynamic mode which stiffens the wheel. The suspension remains the same in all the modes though. The tyres have excellent grip and even the stopping power is very good.
The 2017 Audi A4 35 TDI can be a good bet if you want style and technology
Verdict – The Audi A4 diesel offers a blend of looks, luxury, technology, performance and comfort. It is a very superior package and the German automaker has hit most of the right strings to make it a well-rounded sedan. It isn’t very engaging to drive but makes for a comfortable cruiser and the not-too-big size makes it perfect to potter around the city too. You’ll like the new A4 if you want to go somewhere in style and don’t mind losing out on some of the fun factor to compensate for all the other wonderful things that this Audi has to offer.
The new A4 uses a lot of aluminium components and hence is lighter
What’s Cool
* Looks classy and understated
* Interiors are awesome, lots of cool tech
* Ride quality is plush & comfortable
* Engine has good punch, transmission is smooth & quick too
What’s Not So Cool
* Could have been more fun to drive
* Slower than the BMW 320d
Alternatives: Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3-Series, Jaguar XE, Volvo S60
The A4 35 TDI competes with the C220d, 320d and XE 20d