Audi aims to keep demand high

As mid-term makeovers go, this is a mild one. The front and rear fascia of the 2013 Audi A4 are slightly updated and there are minor interior and trim changes.

But little change was necessary to keep the A4 in the battle. It has Quattro, an industry-leading interior, the styling will remain contemporary for years and it has one of the best four-cylinder engines in the business.

The A4 received a full redesign for the 2009 model year. For 2013, the most noticeable change is the hexagonal grill, rectangular fog lights and headlights which now incorporate adaptive HID technology with distinctive LED running and parking lights on the Quattro versions. The new tail lights have been reshaped and they too use LED technology.

Inside you are greeted with an example of why Audi is widely held to be the best in the business when it comes to interiors, specifically instrument panels.

Very teutonic in its simplicity, it avoids the glare, confusion, and ‘bling’ so often used today. Instead, you are greeted with subdued, dark colours and brushed aluminum trim.

Two large analogue instruments are easy to read and flank a digital display that can be set to display a variety of information including directional arrows and distances while using the navigation system.

The level of fit, finish and materials unequalled at much greater prices. Audi’s MMI (Multi-Media Interface) is among the easiest of its ilk to decipher and use.

A large, round knob, surrounded by four buttons that allow direct access to critical functions, provides access to and control of everything from the heated seats to the audio and navigation systems in conjunction with a large, crisp display.

As part of the S-line trim package you get a thick, padded steering wheel and similar suede-like material on the seats so neither your hands nor butt will slide when you are enjoying the limits of the car’s very high cornering limits.

The front seats are well bolstered, perhaps too much so for larger frame with the Sport seats. The rear is comfy with little legroom for two.

There is a decent amount of room for your feet under the front seats and those seatbacks and the headliner are scalloped to maximize available space.

 The turbocharged, intercooled, direct-injected 2.0-litre four-cylinder used in the A4 is an exemplary example of what can be attained with a four-cylinder engine in a luxury car.

Audi has gone down this path with the base engine in the A4 for more than a decade.

BMW and Mercedes have recently joined the battle and the upcoming 2013 Cadillac ATS will offer one as well.

 The test vehicle had the 211-horsepower four, Quattro and the eight-speed Tiptronic combination. Other than the four-cylinder sound, this engine is right at home in a luxury car.

The abundance of low-end torque makes for effortless acceleration, hill-climbing or passing.

With ratios speeds on hand, there is a gear for every purpose and speed. You can also ask for shifts with steering-wheel-mounted paddles if that is your want.

 During the test period I managed an average of less than 10 litres/100 km — very good indeed considering the amount of time I spent enjoying the turbo!

With the engine in front of the front axle the A4 inherently under steers when pushed in the corners i.e. the front end plows, but the limits where this occurs are very high.