The current Audi A4 on sale is the fifth generation of models with A4 tail mark, the first generation A4 is called B5, because this car series was called 80 before A4, there are four generations of models, based on the B platform, so the first generation of 80 is called B1, and the latest generation of A4 is called B9. A4 has lengthened the wheelbase in China, which belongs to the domestic special supply, and the official name is A4L, but in order to unify the name, the following are called A4.
 
The appearance of the A4 has not changed much from B8 to B9, it is nothing more than a few more ridges, the shape of the headlights has changed, and the grille has changed from a rounded inverted trapezoidal shape to a new hexagonal family design, which, according to designer Frank Rimili, is to make the A4 sharper and more masculine. Conservative design is in line with Audi's usual style, and you could say that it doesn't do anything, but potential A4 customers don't really pay much attention to the appearance, they just want to buy an Audi A4.
 
The powertrain is significantly different from the previous generation model, the gearbox is changed from CVT to S Tronic 7-speed dual-clutch, and the engine has also changed significantly, because A4 has a 1.4T model under the national five standard, but in order to meet the national VI emission standard, the original 1.4T engine is changed to a 2.0T engine, with a maximum horsepower of only 150 horsepower, which belongs to ultra-low power tuning.
 
A4's best-selling is the 2.0T low-power version, with a maximum horsepower of 190 horsepower, and a 000 acceleration score of 7.9 seconds, with good book data, but due to the power tuning, the output of this engine is low in daily driving, and the 1.4T engine feels very similar. The tuning of this gearbox emphasizes fuel economy, 6 and 7 gears are super ratio gears, and the enthusiasm for upshifting is also very high, and the daily driving is basically around 1200 rpm, if the power demand is put forward at 60km/h, at least two gears must be lowered to output enough power, and the power response will be slightly slower. The 2.0T high-power version will be much faster than the low-power version due to its higher output power, with a 000-100 acceleration of 5.9 seconds, which is as much as two seconds faster than the low-power version.
 
This generation of A4 uses the MLB platform, front and rear 5-link independent suspension, the low-end model is front-wheel drive, and the high-end model is equipped with quattro full-time four-wheel drive. In the United States, "Consumer Reports", A4 scored 88 points in the road test project, ranking first in the same class, and also won praise because of the small body roll and fast steering response, but the A4 suspension tuning in China is soft, and the overseas version is quite different, and the comfort has been improved, but the roll will be obvious when cornering, giving people a sense of confidence is not particularly sufficient. Hong Kong offers the option of sports suspension at the time of sale, and the domestic market can only be modified through the aftermarket. If you buy a quattro full-time all-wheel drive model with sports suspension, then the A4 will be a fast car that combines family and sports well.
 
Compared with the previous generation, the sound insulation of the A4 has improved significantly, and it is at the same level as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the same class. Although the windows only use single-layer glass, the ambient noise isolation is very good, and the 2.0T engine will not produce disturbing noise, and the most obvious noise source still comes from the tires, but this is not because the sound insulation is not done well, but the noise suppression of the tires themselves is general.
 
This generation of A4 was widely praised for its interior at the beginning of its launch, because there were not many Audi models that used virtual cockpits at that time, only Q7 and TT, and competing models in the same period did not have fully functional LCD instruments, but this set of LCD instruments will not be equipped until 45 TFSI, and low-end models are still mechanical instruments. The multimedia system of this generation A4 is the same as the previous generation MMI, which is controlled by a rotary knob and is very intuitive to operate, which will be more convenient to use on the road than the latest generation of touchscreen MMI systems.
 
Since the domestic A4 is a long-axle version, there is no need to worry about the rear space, but because there is a four-wheel drive model, the central platform is relatively high, and the passengers in the middle will not be too comfortable. The length of the seat cushion is longer than that of the Mercedes C-Class, but the padding is on the hard side, which is not as soft as the BMW 3 Series, and the headrest is very stiff and not very comfortable to lean on. The rear configuration of the low-end model is not high, and there will be a cigarette lighter socket and two USB charging ports, and the high-end model has a rear air conditioning outlet.
 
The quality and reliability of the A4 is still a shortcoming, which is a problem that the entire Volkswagen Group is currently facing. The main problem of the previous generation A4 is that the second generation EA888 seriously burns engine oil, and the oil circuit system and engine circuit system are not reliable, while the common problem of this generation A4 is that the cooling system will leak coolant, and the gearbox also has a large number of abnormal noise complaints, and the failure rate of the air conditioning system is also very high, and the reliability problem is very serious.
 
In the IIHS safety test, the previous generation model was selected as the High Safety Level (TSP) for seven consecutive years from 2007 to 2013, and the current generation A4 was selected as the Top Safety Level (TSP) in 2017, and TSP in 2018 and 2019. In the E-NCAP European crash test for the safest family car, the A4 won fourth place in 2015 and eighth place in 2009.
Audi A4 test report