Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Audi A4 2.0TFSI
Prices: from £24,625 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 15 [est]
Emissions: 154g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 6.9s / Max Speed 155mph
Fuel Consumption: (combined) 42.8mpg
Safety: Twin front, window & side airbags, ESP, ABS, traction control,
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height, 4703/1826/1427mm

BALANCE OF POWER

Our Rating: 7.4 / 10

Striking the balance between performance and economy isn’t always easy but Audi’s A4 2.0 TFSI does an admirable job. Steve Walker reports

Audi’s 2.0-litre TFSI engine has always been good but in its latest form, it’s even better. Specified in the Audi A4 compact executive model, it produces electric pace with great flexibility and combined economy of 43mpg. The A4 package is also at the top of its game these days with the latest model offering high levels balance and grip with Audi’s usual high standards of build quality.

How much power is too much in a car? A great deal will hinge on the type of car we’re talking about as150bhp can be like watching paint dry in a large 4x4 or absolutely loony tunes in a Caterham but for most of us, 200bhp is good amount in a mid-sized vehicle like Audi’s A4. With around 200bhp, the capacity should be there for entertainment but the costs should be manageable and when that ballpark 200bhp comes from Audi’s 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine, we can expect even greater things.

Audi has an exceptional powerplant at its disposal in the 2.0-litre TFSI. Versions of it have powered numerous other Volkswagen Group products including leading hot hatchbacks like the Golf GTI, where it delivers 197bhp in basic form, and SEAT’s Leon Cupra where 237bhp is generated. It even powers Audi’s own S3, pumping out an addictive 261bhp. The A4 is notably less highly-strung than these performance hatchbacks but with 208bhp coming from the latest iteration of this highly regarded engine, it still looks an inviting prospect.

The key to the A4 2.0 TFSI is not how much power it generates but in the way it generates it. In this guise, the turbocharged engine not only has the FSI direct injection system but also uses Audi’s valvelift technology. Together, these innovations work to adapt parameters in the combustion process to maximise power and efficiency. By precisely controlling the fuel/air mixture in its cylinders according to the driver’s throttle inputs, the engine can produce maximum performance when needed or work to maximise efficiency when more sedate progress is called for. The result is 208bhp at an accessible 4,300rpm but more crucially, torque of 350Nm from only 1,500rpm. This is a serious amount of grunt in the low to middle sections of the rev-range and it enables the A4 TFSI to post a 0-62mph sprint of 6.9s.

Less sophisticated turbocharged engines than the 2.0 TFSI can appear quite meek and mild-mannered at low revs before indiscriminately dumping a huge rush of power into proceedings. The Audi unit, by contrast, builds gradually and stays on song for longer. This smooth delivery in which the action of the turbo is all but imperceptible is what makes the A4 TFSI so pleasurable to drive. And it is pleasurable, Audi products haven’t always been blessed with dynamics on the same level as their engineering and build quality but the A4 is a sign of how far things have progressed. The car is not as communicative through its steering and suspension as the finest compact executive driver’s cars but it corners with real security thanks to an abundance of grip, especially in all-wheel-drive quattro form. The gear change has a rewarding snappiness and the ride is a good compromise between firmness and comfort.

The latest A4 sits on the longest wheelbase in its class. This enables a 36mm increase in rear leg room, with the added bonus of a 20-litre boost in boot capacity. Compact executive customers prioritising space have met their match here. The interior is still worthy of the plaudits that routinely head Audi’s way for its robust build and effortlessly classy design. The cabin is an evolution on the marque’s successful themes, offering nice rubberised finishes for the switchgear and the user-friendly MMI control interface. There might be a few chinks in the A4’s armour with the odd bit of trim not as high quality as it could be but the cabin is still a mightily impressive environment for travelling in.

The increase in size of the latest A4 has also helped improve it from a driving perspective. The lengthening of the wheelbase entailed the repositioning of the front axle 154mm further forwards than in the MK2 model. Complemented by a state-of-the-art suspension and steering configuration, this more stable foundation allows improved handling balance and agility. It doesn’t ma