Performance
There's a turbocharged, direct-inection 1.8, a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel and, for the exclusive use of the S5, a 4.2-litre petrol V8. It's remarkable how close the V6 and V8 are for pull, the outcome being that on a straight, the two are pretty evenly matched. What's particularly impressive is how flexible they both are.
Ride & handling
The A5 and S5 are more grand tourers rather than out-and-out sports coupes, although with a far higher level of competence than the current A4. They just lack that incisive edge that makes the rival BMW 3 Series so good to drive. They ride well, however - firm, but without the rock-hard feel that's often been a by-product of Audi's sportier cars.
Refinement
By any standards, these are refined cars. The V6 diesel sounds more like a V6 petrol, while the S5's V8 has a cultured bark that's to be enjoyed rather than endured. Wind noise is apparent only at the motorway limit, and road noise is rarely an issue.
Buying & owning
Audi hasn't been in this sector of the market for many years, so it's hard to tell how the A5 will fare for depreciation, but coupes generally lose value faster than saloons. The A5 is cheaper to buy than its other German rivals, but the weight of the four-wheel-drive hardware hampers economy on some models.
Quality & reliability
Audi is a byword for interior trim quality and the A5 mostly keeps the reputation intact, although the untextured plastics in the middle of the dash are a bit of a surprise. Otherwise, the fit and finish are top class. Audi reliability isn't always as good as buyers have a right to expect, so here's hoping the company has now turned the corner.
Safety & security
From both the passive (seatbelts and airbags) and active (anti-lock brakes and stability control) points of view, the A5 has everything buyers of an expensive, quick coupe would expect.
Behind the wheel
If the devil is in the details, then Audi is hellishly good at car interiors. The dash is a case of 'a place for everything and everything in its place', the driving position is excellent and the instrument graphics are lovely. High sides, a tall dash and an angled back window hinder visibility, though, so it's a good thing that rear parking sensors are fitted.
Space & practicality
Audi describes the A5 as a four-seater coupe. That depends who the four are, really. The rear seats are certainly far too cramped for tall adults, but the worst thing is the inelegant struggle to climb in and out of the back. It's claustrophobic in there, too - kids won't enjoy it. However, there is at least a big boot and folding rear seats.
Equipment
You won't want for luxuries in the A5, but there's plenty more you can add to personalise the car, too. Leather, a concert sound system compatible with MP3 players, climate control, light and rain sensors and xenon headlights are standard. The S5 has sports seats, bigger wheels and some unique trim details.
Audi A5 Coupe
Audi A4 Saloon
Performance
The A4 will be available with five engines. There are three diesel and two petrol versions, and even the least powerful - the 141bhp 2.0-litre diesel - has plenty of pull. The 2.7 V6 diesel's CVT gearbox is a little slow to react, but it soon picks up. The 3.0 V6 diesel and 3.2 V6 petrol channel their prodigious power through all four wheels.
Ride & handling
Although it doesn't live up to Audi's billing as the sportiest car in its class, the A4 is good to drive, with well balanced handling and lots of grip. The steering weights up nicely at speed, but has a rubbery feel. Ride comfort is generally good, although larger bumps can upset the A4's composure.
Refinement
On the whole, the A4's cabin is quiet. Road and suspension noise aren't a problem. Most of the engines are quiet too, but the 1.8 petrol becomes gruff when worked hard. The large door mirrors also create a little too much wind noise at speed
OWNERSHIP
Buying & owning
Audi generally undercuts its rivals from BMW and Mercedes on list price and that's true of the A4. Discounts might be limited, but resale values should be high. The 2.0 TDI falls into the lowest company car tax band and returns over 50mpg, so running costs are sensible. The V6 four-wheel-drive versions will hit your wallet harder, though.
Quality & reliability
Audi's reputation hinges on quality so the A4 is a bit of a disappointment. At first glance it looks great, but the cabin just doesn't feel as special as it should. The plastics aren't as dense and the carpets aren't as thick and some of the switchgear doesn't feel substantial. The previous model only finished 10th out of 13 cars in its class in our 2007 JD Power customer satisfaction survey. As a brand, Audi didn't fare particularly well in our latest Reliability Survey.
Safety & security
The A4 ticks all the boxes for safety kit, with six airbags and stability control as standard. Rear side airbags are available as an option, as are lane-departure- and blind spot-warning systems. Deadlocks and an alarm are fitted as standard to guard against theft.
Behind the wheel
A wide range of adjustment for the seat and steering wheel means that the A4 caters for drivers of all shapes and sizes. Visibility is fine, too, thanks to a large glass area. The controls are logically arranged and Audi's MMI control system is fairly intuitive to use, but the A4's dash layout is busy and can be confusing at times.
Space & practicality
The A4 accommodates four passengers and luggage better than most of the cars in its class. There's plenty of headroom throughout and rear legroom is particularly generous. The boot is larger than those in both the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. It's a usefully regular shape, too, and split-folding rear seats come as standard.
Equipment
Basic SE trim offers lots of equipment. There's the usual creature comforts: a CD player, alloy wheels and four electric windows. On top of that, rear-seat climate control, a 10-speaker stereo system, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel and automatic headlights and wipers come as standard
Audi A4 Avant New
ON THE ROAD
Performance
The A4 Avant is available with five engines. There are three diesel and two petrol versions, and even the least powerful – the 141bhp 2.0-litre diesel – has plenty of pull. The 2.7 V6 diesel's CVT gearbox is a little slow to react, but it soon picks up. The 3.0 V6 diesel and 3.2 V6 petrol channel their prodigious power through all four wheels.
Ride & handling
Although it doesn't live up to Audi's billing as the sportiest car in its class, the A4 Avant is good to drive, with well balanced handling and lots of grip. The steering weights up nicely at speed, but has a rubbery feel. Ride comfort is generally good, although larger bumps can upset the car’s composure.
Refinement
Most of the engines are quiet, but the turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol becomes gruff when worked hard. There’s also a fair amount of wind noise down the side of the car, but road and suspension noise aren’t a problem
OWNERSHIP
Buying & owning
Audi generally undercuts its rivals from BMW and Mercedes on list price and that's true of the A4 Avant. Discounts might be limited, but resale values should be high. The 2.0 TDI attracts a lowly 20% company car tax rating and returns almost 50mpg, so running costs are sensible. The V6 four-wheel-drive versions will hit your wallet harder, though.
Quality & reliability
Audi has a well-deserved reputation for outstanding cabin quality, but the A4 is a bit of a disappointment. At first glance it looks great, but it just doesn't feel as special as other Audi models. The plastics aren't as dense, the carpets aren't as thick and some of the switchgear doesn't feel as substantial. As a brand, Audi didn't fare particularly well in our latest Reliability Survey, either.
Safety & security
The A4 ticks all the boxes for safety kit, with six airbags and stability control as standard. Rear side airbags are available as an option, as are lane-departure and blind spot-warning systems. Deadlocks and an alarm are fitted as standard to guard against theft
IN THE CABIN
Behind the wheel
There’s a wide range of adjustment for the seat and steering wheel, but the pedals are significantly offset on right-hand-drive A4s. The busy dash layout can be confusing, too, but the controls are logically arranged and Audi's MMI control system is fairly intuitive to use. Visibility is fine, thanks to a large glass area.
Space & practicality
The A4 Avant accommodates four passengers and luggage better than most of the cars in its class. There's plenty of headroom throughout and rear legroom is generous. With the rear seats in place, the well-shaped boot is larger than those in both the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes C-Class Estate. However, the seats don’t lay completely flat and the Mercedes offers more space with the seats folded.
Equipment
The basic SE trim comes with the usual creature comforts: a CD player, alloy wheels and four electric windows. On top of that, there’s a 10-speaker stereo, a multifunction steering wheel and automatic lights and wipers. Upgrading to the sporty S line trim brings larger alloys, a body kit, sports suspension, part-leather seats and Xenon headlamps.
Audi A4 Cabriolet
ON THE ROAD
Performance
There are four petrol engines to choose from. There's a 161bhp turbocharged 1.8, a 2.0 turbo with 197bhp, a 3.2 V6 with 252bhp and there's a 339bhp 4.2 V8 in the S4. Diesel buyers can have a 138bhp 2.0-litre unit and a 230bhp 3.0 V6. Performance ranges from brisk to brutal, but we'd recommend the 2.0-litre petrol.
Ride & handling
Both front- and four-wheel-drive versions of the cabriolet grip well and turn crisply into corners, but the steering is light and the A4 isn't as much fun as rivals such as the BMW 3 Series coupe-cabriolet. There's a slightly firm edge to the A4's ride, but it stays comfortable and the body doesn't flex too much over bumps.
Refinement
A well made, triple-layer hood helps the A4 to be one of the most refined soft-tops, and wind and road noise with the roof up is kept to a minimum. With it lowered, things are still civilised, and there’s little buffeting in the cabin. Engine noise is well suppressed
OWNERSHIP
Buying & owning
You could never call the A4 Cabrio cheap, but it's competitive with its other German rivals, and resale values for a much in-demand car are superb. Running costs aren't too bad, either. Most of the engines offer competitive fuel economy figures and insurance groupings.
Quality & reliability
The A4 displays the kind of impeccable build quality for which Audi has become famous. The hood is sturdy and the cabin materials top-notch, while all controls work with satisfying precision. Mechanicals borrowed from the saloon are proven and shouldn't let you down.
Safety & security
Safety equipment is comprehensive with an electronic stability control system and anti-lock brakes as standard, along with twin front and side airbags. A strengthened windscreen surround and solid bars that pop up behind the rear headrests are aimed at limiting injuries should the car roll. A standard-fit alarm and deadlocks guard against theft.
IN THE CABIN
Behind the wheel
The Cabrio has a clear dash and only the mass of climate control switches is rather distracting. The driver’s seat is supportive and has a fine range of adjustment, while two-way steering-wheel movement makes it easy to get comfortable. The hood can be raised or lowered on the move below 19mph.
Space & practicality
Space up-front is plentiful, and there’s decent legroom for two in the rear and plenty of headroom with the roof up. The boot is a good shape, but is shallow with the hood down. Top up, a lever pushes the roof container out of the way to create much more space for bags.
Equipment
The A4 Cabrio is an upmarket car and so is kitted out appropriately. Equipment is generous, starting with an electric hood that folds at the touch of a button five seconds faster than before. Alloy wheels, climate control, driver and passenger airbags, and stability control are all standard.
Audi A4 Avant
ON THE ROAD
Performance
There are 10 engines, starting with a 101bhp 1.6-litre petrol and topping out with a 3.2-litre six-cylinder. Diesel options kick off with a 113bhp 1.9-litre, rising to a 201bhp 3.0-litre. The 2.0 turbo petrol model is swift and flexible. If you’d prefer diesel power, the 138bhp 2.0-litre hauls the Avant's bulk better than the 1.9. The 3.0 diesel offers better performance but is more thirsty.
Ride & handling
Both front- and four-wheel drive versions of the A4 Avant grip well and turn crisply into corners but the steering is light and the Avant isn’t as much fun as a BMW 3 Series Touring. The car rides comfortably over most surfaces but sharp bumps still catch it out.
Refinement
The 2.0-litre diesel is quite raucous when stretched, while the 2.0-litre petrol turbo has a sporty rasp in similar circumstances. The new V6s are models of smoothness and refinement, but the petrol unit is slow to lose revs when the accelerator is lifted making jerk-free gearchanging difficult. Wind and road noise are largely well contained
OWNERSHIP
Buying & owning
Audi's strong brand image and high quality ensures that the car remains desirable, keeping residuals high - higher, in many cases, than some of its rivals, including the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class. It's cheaper, too. Diesels are strong and frugal, with the smaller diesels returning a whisker under 50mpg.
Quality & reliability
Audi’s reputation for trim quality is preserved in this A4, whose engines enjoy a good reputation for reliability. Niggles with other mechanical parts are not unknown, though, and the company’s breakdown record is not as good as it should be.
Safety & security
The A4 gets the latest, cleverest stability system to go with its anti-lock brakes and standard front and side airbags. Active locking head restraints help protect occupants heads in a rear crash situation. Protection against thieves is excellent, the previous model performed impressively in our security tests
IN THE CABIN
Behind the wheel
Audi’s traditional cabin clarity, quality and comfort is present everywhere in the A4. The centre of the steering wheel reflects the shape of the radiator grille. Models laden with options have new switchgear from the A6, apart from the system that controls the A6’s sat-nav, stereo and phone.
Space & practicality
The boot is not huge, but it's fine for a 'lifestyle' estate. There's enough leg- and headroom in the back seats for two people to travel in comfort.
Equipment
Base models lack a few essential items such as a CD player, but SE and Sport trim come with plenty of kit. One new option is adaptive lights which shine around corners according to steering wheel inputs. Also on the options list are a satellite-navigation system and rain-sensing lights and wipers
Audi A3 Hatchback S3 3dr
ON THE ROAD
Performance
The S3's 261bhp 2.0-litre engine feels a little hesitant at low revs, but it delivers a formidable shove in the back when the turbo wakes up and relentless acceleration thereafter. Hike up the revs, drop the clutch and the S3 will sprint from 0 to 62mph in just 5.7 seconds - almost half a second quicker than its main rival, the BMW 130i.
Ride & handling
Traction is hard to fault, thanks to a four-wheel-drive system that shuffles power between the front and rear wheel as needed, while the S3's lowered and stiffened sports suspension provides excellent body control. Unfortunately, overly light steering and an uncompromising ride that jostles occupants in their seats let the side down.
Refinement
The turbocharged engine emits a suitably sporty rasp if worked hard, but it's rather boomy when cruising at motorway speeds, so long journeys can be tiring. As in lesser A3s, there's little wind noise at the national limit, but some road noise does find its way into the cabin
OWNERSHIP
Buying & owning
There's no getting away from it: the S3 is a very pricey hot hatch. Some rivals offering similar performance - but a less prestigious badge - undercut it by over £7000. Average fuel consumption of 31.0mpg and a group 18 insurance rating are par for the course, but residuals aren't as strong as you might expect for an Audi.
Quality & reliability
Audi cabins have a reputation for quality, and the S3 doesn't appear to let the side down. Everything you touch feels built to last, and it's beautifully finished, mixing dense soft-touch plastics with a generous helping of metallic trim. Audi's reliability record is less impressive, but the standard A3 has a good customer satisfaction rating.
Safety & security
The list of standard safety kit includes twin front, side and curtain airbags, anti-whiplash front head restraints and stability control. Security provisions are equally comprehensive, with deadlocks, an alarm, a secure stereo and plenty of marked parts.
IN THE CABIN
Behind the wheel
As in all A3s, the steering wheel moves for both height and reach, and the S3's heavily bolstered sports seats offer a wide range of adjustment, so it's easy to find a comfortable driving position. The controls for the stereo and heater are mostly logical, too, although the display can be a little tricky to read at night when everything is lit in the same red hue.
Space & practicality
The S3 offers front-seat occupants plenty of leg- and headroom, but anyone over 6ft tall will want to avoid the rear seats on a long journey. The boot is well shaped and a decent size, but practicality could be better because you're left with a stepped platform when you flip the back seats forward. The S3 only comes in three-door form.
Equipment
Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, part-leather upholstery, climate control, and an MP3-compatible CD player, but luxuries such as parking sensors, electric seat adjustment and a CD multichanger cost extra. That's disappointing given the S3's hefty price tag
Audi A3 Hatchback 2.0 TDI 140 Sport 3dr
ON THE ROAD
Performance
Four petrol engines are available in the three-door A3, the Sportback gains a turbocharged 197bhp 2.0-litre. The basic and direct-injection 1.6s need to be worked hard, while the 2.0 is stronger and the 3.2 V6 is quick. There are two turbodiesels – a 1.9-litre with 103bhp and a gutsy 2.0-litre that has 138bhp and hefty mid-range pull.
Ride & handling
The A3 is a competent rather than entertaining drive, even following the recent revisions. Body control and grip are both strong, but the steering is short of feel. On base and SE versions the ride is firm without being uncomfortable, but models fitted with the sports suspension jolt too much over bumps.
Refinement
The turbodiesels make themselves heard when cold or stretched towards the red line, while the 1.6 is throaty at high revs, but otherwise the engines are well isolated when cruising. Wind and road noise is not too intrusive, so the A3 makes a fine long-distance companion
OWNERSHIP
Buying & owning
The A3 is marketed as a prestige hatch, but it’s hard to justify the price premium over the closely related VW Golf; the Sportback is £500 more again. Strong desirability means solid residual values, however, particularly for the diesel versions. Running costs should be reasonable for all but the V6s.
Quality & reliability
Audi applies the same high standards of build to the A3 as it does to its more expensive models. It has a well crafted feel throughout, so the new car should have the same hardy cabin as the old model. Engines are a mix of new and tested units, and all should give years of dependable and trouble-free service.
Safety & security
Twin front, side and curtain airbags are standard and there are active front head restraints to reduce whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision. Electronic stability control and electronic brakeforce distribution are also fitted to all cars. Every A3 has deadlocks, central locking and an alarm to deter theft
IN THE CABIN
Behind the wheel
With a full range of movement at the steering wheel and in the driver’s seat, finding an ideal driving position is never a problem. Typical Audi quality and attention to detail are evident in the way all of the controls are clustered around the driver, and all have an excellent feel.
Space & practicality
The five-door A3 offers loads of space for the driver and front passenger, but those in the back seat and those over six-foot tall won’t relish long journeys. Access to the back is better than in the three-door. The boot is a good size and shape with the seats in place, but folding the rear seat backs forward leaves a stepped load platform.
Equipment
Four trims are on offer: standard, SE, Sport and S line. Base models do without air-conditioning but now get a CD player, while SE and Sport have climate control. Electric front windows are standard across the range, as are alloy wheels. The S line can be specified with an aggressive bodykit that includes new bumpers and a rear boot spoiler.
