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Audi A4 Avant TDI Multitronic
Advancement through diesel
Many people think that the only logical motivation for using choosing a diesel vehicle is fuel economy. Audi gives Botchi Santos other reasons
Photography by Lucky Besa
The engineer at Audi who thought about installing a CVT transmission into the sexy Avant body, powered by a two-liter CRDi lump coupled with the latest variable turbine geometry blower, must be given a million-Euro bonus.
The A4 Avant is a perfect daily commuter tool, thanks to a very comfortable cabin with lots of space. Six-foot linebackers fit snugly in the rear seat, and the front Recaro LS seats can be quasi-SUV-commanding or sports-car low. The interior, even without the de rigeur leather trimmings, feel smooth, comfortable and very posh indeed.
Visibility is excellent, thanks to the large glasshouse.
The controls for the audio, HVAC, side mirrors and windows have that very satisfying micro-fine click. The exposed plastics are soft to the touch, and the red illumination is soft to the eyes. Even at full brightness, it can lull passengers to sleep should they stare at them for even short periods.
But the driver of this fine Avant will have no danger of falling asleep, no siree! You see, it is fast, very fast, but it doesn't feel so until you're well over the speed limit and the unloaded suspension gets a bit floaty. Accelerating hard is breathtaking—you wonder if there's a nuclear reactor from a Typhoon-class sub on board.
Smoothness is the CVT's primary concern, so you reach city speeds with little drama. But show it a proper autobahn, and she simply keeps going until about 180kph, when you slow down again to soak up the driving experience that is uniquely Audi: vorsprung durch technik.
"Advancement through technology" has been Audi's motto for the longest time, and now it gives us aluminum space-frame chassis structures. Aluminum suspension has long been a BMW trademark for lighter unsprung weight, better ride quality and handling balance, but Audi has taken it further by utilizing it in the entire car.
Driving the A4 is scintillating. In sports mode, the CVT performs like a six-speed SMG; the shifts are punchy if a bit slow. Slot it into the parallel gate and you can live your fantasies of Walter Rorhl conquering the Col de Turini stage at Rally Monte Carlo in an Audi Coupé Quattro.
Turn off the ESP version 8.0, take destiny into your own hands, and watch the fireworks light up as the mighty 16-valve OHC TDI spins the front wheels and torque-steers the wheel from your arms.
This A4 is not 100-percent perfect, but nothing is. There's some steering numbness on-center from the reach- and rake-adjustable four-spoke tiller. Though weighty, it still doesn't have the precise feel of, say, a BMW steering wheel, nor the fluid grace of a Merc's, but the two others are undergoing some quality issues interior-wise. But the Audi has never felt more solid, stately and classy inside.
Of particular note is the Bose audio system, playing clean, clear and crisp tunes—you'll hear the softest clap of cymbals even with the volume practically mute. And thanks to double insulation, there's minimal noise entering the cabin, the better for you to continue your intellectual conversations. That's another of this Audi's strengths: You feel you made the smart, informed decision by not following the typical yuppie set in their BMWs or buying a Merc reminiscent of your father-in-law's.
The brakes are strong and positive in action, and once mastered, easy to modulate. But it's over-boosted. It took me an entire day to learn how to modulate the middle pedal properly. Thank the porky 1,590kg weight, majority of which is on the front axle. The rear cargo space loads up to a maximum of 1,184 liters of stuff, and the standard tonneau cover hides your precious belongings from prying eyes. There's a luggage rack at the back, plus a net divider to keep Bruno from slobbering on you. Should you need more cargo capability, there are standard-fit roof-rails mounted, and the roof's rated for an extra 75kg of added weight.
Helping in the handling department is a firm suspension that keeps the smallish 16-inch tires in constant contact with the tarmac. Credit goes to the four-link front and trapezoidal rear fully-independent suspension.
However, with all-season 205/55 R16 Continental sports tires, it's barely enough to keep the powerful engine from breaking the tire's grip on slippery surfaces. And under heavy braking, the heavy diesel lump forces the chassis to pitch, triggering the ABS-EBD brakes at times you think it wouldn't. Bigger 18-inch wheels from Audi's S-line accessories should help.
| A4 Avant TDI |
| We say: Its rivals may have a headstart, but as Audi continues to release good models, catching up is easy |
Price: P2,990,000
Engine: 2.0L, OHC 16V CRDi
Power: 140hp
Torque: 320Nm
Transmission: 5-Speed AT
Layout/Seating: FWD/5
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Should things go out of kilter, there are six airbags and an active head restraint system along with the three-point seatbelts. At the rear, ISOFIX child seat mounts are also standard.
Loads of utility and is engaging to drive, plus the knowledge that you could get 19 kilometers to the liter, as PGA Cars (Philippine Audi distributor) claims.
It's almost a sin to drive sanely, though, in a car this competent, this complete. You'll be compelled to V-max it to its 201kph top speed, and feel that chest-tightening sensation as the TDI's torque accelerates you to the next level.
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Top Gear Philippines - September 2006
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