Audi A4 – Back to Basics

Audi A4 35 TFSI Pro Line

€45,782

Of the German premium mid-range cars, the Audi A4 is currently the oldest model. However, the A4 received a facelift in 2019, including the lighting and the MMI system being overhauled. In terms of engines, with the exception of the RS4, only mild-hybrid petrol engines are on the price list. Diesel engines shine through absence. The offer starts with the 150 hp 35 TFSI with 1.5 four-cylinder turbo engine with seven-speed DSG automatic transmission, which is listed as a Pro Line for the above amount. You can also order it as an Avant, then you pay a minimum of €48,082. So the extra space has its price.

Black and white

Gone are the days when you got hubcaps on a base model of a premium mid-range car. Audi puts the A4 on 16-inch five-spoke light-alloy wheels as standard. They are a bit smaller than at Mercedes-Benz and BMW, because the C-class and 3-series are on at least 17-inch alloy wheels. You can’t tell from the bumpers that you’re dealing with the slip-on. The basic A4 also gets a rear bumper with large rectangular exhaust trim pieces. However, there is still enough distinction with the more expensive versions: the A4 as Pro Line, for example, has black window frames for the side windows and LED headlights, but no LED taillights.

Audi A4

Other things that Audi supplies as standard on the A4 are electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, a light and rain sensor and rear parking sensors. At no extra cost, you can order the A4 in two colours: the Ibis White or Brilliant Black shown. If that’s not quite your thing, you can choose from seven metallic paint colors for €1,260. Do you also want other wheels than the standard 16-inchers? Then you will lose at least €700 for a set of 17-inch ten-spoke light-alloy wheels.

old stamp

Inside the A4, the analog clock shop immediately catches the eye. This is mainly because both the 3-series and the C-class today have a digital dashboard. In addition, the information screen between the counters is not a color screen by default. That creates a rather dated impression in an otherwise still modern-looking interior. After the facelift, the MMI screen of the A4 can only be operated via the touchscreen on top of the dashboard. The Pro Line does not yet have the more extensive MMI Plus on board, but the Audi Smartphone Interface with integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included.

Audi A4

Below the touchscreen and the ventilation grilles is the control for the climate control with three temperature zones. Furthermore, the interior decoration of the Pro Line consists of seats upholstered in black fabric, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters and silver-coloured moldings. As for safety systems, Audi supplies the basic A4 with ‘pre sense city’, which consists of a collision warning and an autonomous emergency braking system that works up to a speed of 85 km/h. In addition, we actually only detect cruise control on the list of standard equipment. Compared to the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, which, for example, have lane assistance and traffic sign recognition as standard, that is on the meager side.

You have to pay extra for the other safety and assistance systems – such as a lane assistant. Audi bundles all-round parking sensors, a reversing camera, blind spot assistant, pre sense basic and rear cross-traffic alert for €1,459 in the City assistance package. With the Tour assistance package, you get adaptive cruise control for €1,073 with a traffic jam assistant, active lane assist, an avoidance assistant and traffic sign recognition.

Check

Where some brands exclude the basic model from certain options, that is not the case with the A4 Pro Line. In principle, you can tick all the options separately, but that will of course drive up the price considerably. You can also opt for a more expensive trim level instead. The Advanced edition includes 17-inch wheels, LED taillights with dynamic indicators, front sports seats, MMI Navigation Plus and Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, aluminum window frames and an automatically dimming interior mirror for an additional cost of €1,647. For €4,317 on the S edition, you get all the options of the Advanced Edition and a sports suspension, S Line interior, 18-inch alloy wheels and the Audi Sound System with 10 speakers.

As an S edition, the A4 costs at least €50,099, which puts it roughly on par with the €50,108 318i. Then you have a richer equipped car at your doorstep. As a Pro Line, the A4 has a pretty competitive starting price, but then it also lacks some attributes that the 3-series and C-class do have on board as standard.