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2009 Audi A4 Performance Review

November 5, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

A BMW 335i can blow its doors off
Edmunds

Turbo four is “smooth, strong and sweeter
AutoWeek

The 2009 Audi A4 has a wider range of engines and a narrower offering of transmissions from last year’s version. It also gets a new driver-adjustable set of handling features that meet with mixed reviews from TheCarConnection.com’s editors and other auto writers around the Web.

For this model year, the 2009 Audi A4 comes to the U.S. with a 3.2-liter V-6 engine. It’s “capable of an impressive 265 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque,” Car and Driver reports. Though it’s “capable of a 0-to-62-mph time of 6.2 seconds” with an available manual transmission, that’s “nowhere near the 4.8 seconds we achieved in a BMW 335i sedan we tested,” though it’s “on par with the segment for the most part,” they also note. Edmunds is more succinct: “a BMW 335i can blow its doors off,” they report, clocking their own 0-60 mph run of “6.9 seconds,” which is “a full second quicker in both tests than the last V6 automatic Audi A4 we tested way back in 2005”—performance that’s strong, but still a “bit lethargic considering our test car's lofty sticker price.”

The only engine available on the 2009 Audi A4 Avant wagon—and a future offering in the sedan—is a “zippy gas-powered four-banger,” Car and Driver says. Automobile reports the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is a “211-hp TFSI unit [that] has nothing in common with the outgoing car's heavier and thirstier 200-hp edition.” AutoWeek says this powerplant in the A4 Avant is “smooth, strong and sweeter than ever and, in a sense, not turbolike at all. Throttle response is immediate.”

Two more engine options will surface in the coming model year. The first is a turbodiesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder with “240 horsepower and a kickin' 369 pound-feet of torque,” Car and Driver says, predicting a “6.1-second 0-to-62-mph sprint.” At the other end of the range, a new Audi S4 will “abandon V-8 power in favor of a more frugal and lighter twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 333 hp and matched with Audi's dual-clutch automatic transmission,” Automobile promises.

In the 2009 Audi A4 sedan, four-cylinder versions are “paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic in Quattro models,” Automobile reports, while “front-wheel-drive cars will be available with the continuously variable Multitronic transmission.” In the V-6 sedan, “no manual transmission is available,” Edmunds notes, “only Audi's excellent six-speed automatic.” For the A4 Avant wagon, there’s a single configuration: a “six-speed ZF automatic transmission, quattro all-wheel drive and the latest evolution of Audi's 2.0-liter turbo with gasoline direct injection,” AutoWeek says.

Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system is also standard on the V-6 sedan, and “this is good,” Edmunds adds. “Quattro has been around since the earth cooled, and we're fans. In its present form, the purely mechanical system sends 60 percent of the engine's power to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions. In abnormal conditions, the A4's self-locking center differential redirects that power to the axle with the best traction.” Automobile adds, “Quattro all-wheel drive splits the torque between the axles unevenly at 40/60 percent front to rear, but if need be, up to 90 percent can be directed to the front wheels.”

When it comes to handling, the 2009 Audi A4 has a wide range of choices for drivers. There’s a fully independent suspension across the board, as well as electric power steering and four-wheel disc brakes. There’s also an available Drive Select option that allows the driver to choose settings for steering feel, ride comfort, throttle input, and transmission shifting, and it’s the source of some controversy among reviewers. “Drive Select is a kind of personal onboard tuning service,” AutoWeek says.

In steering feel, Car and Driver liked the adjustable steering feel, calling it “less conspicuous” than similar systems offered on BMWs. Automobile felt the steering was “light and direct” in town, “meatier” on back roads, and “relaxed, thanks to a languid four turns lock-to-lock,” on the highway. AutoWeek took the minority view: “The new variable-ratio steering does require some familiarity to enjoy. It's very light at low speeds, and while it firms up at high speeds, it wants to wander off center a bit, with a hint of twitch.”

Ride comfort is a better proposition with Drive Select. Popular Mechanics says the settings enable the 2009 Audi A4 to amble down the road in “tranquil fashion,” and Car and Driver felt its handling was “innately clean enough.” This time Automobile pointed out, “On predominantly washboard tarmac, the difference in ride between the comfort and the dynamic settings was as stark as the difference in visibility between a lunar eclipse and a power failure in a coal mine.” Edmunds complains that it “defaults to the Auto settings every time you start the car. It shouldn't.” Motor Trend thinks “the system isn't perfect—dynamic's ride is a bit too harsh for everyday driving, and comfort's steering is too uncommunicative in turns. However, auto mode makes the best of both settings.”

Drive Select is an option, however, and cars without it “have precise, nicely weighted steering and firm, tidy ride qualities that are perfectly agreeable,” Car and Driver points out. Automobile observes that “thanks to Quattro and those wide eighteen-inch tires, traction and grip are phenomenal,” and that “handling balance feels a lot more neutral than in the outgoing model.” Edmunds calls it “a very sharp, communicative sedan and it's fun to throw around,” also noting that the brakes are “fantastic.”

TheCarConnection.com sits with the minority on the handling of the 2009 Audi A4. The V-6 engine is a meaty performer, with plenty of power—until you acknowledge the BMW 3-Series in the next lane. It’s the Drive Select feature, like a similar setup in BMW’s 3-Series, that strips some of the basic goodness from the A4. Though it rides well in most modes, the Dynamic mode turns the steering overly tight and makes turn-in too aggressive, while it gives the transmission full license to upshift and downshift a little too frequently. In Comfort mode, the steering’s downright lazy, barely keeping up on highway maneuvers. All of this can be corrected by leaving the car in Auto mode—or not opting for the system at all. However, the biggest omission is in leaving Audi’s fantastic S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox off the options list for now.

Conclusion

The 2009 Audi A4 has ample V-6 power and the secure handling of front- or all-wheel drive, but Drive Select needs more refinement.

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:A BMW 335i can blow its doors offEdmundsTurbo four is “smooth, strong and sweeterAutoWeek The 2009 Audi A4 has a wider range of engines and a narrower offering of transmissions from last year’s version. It also gets a new driver-adjustable set of handling features that meet with mixed reviews from TheCarConnection.com’s editors and other auto writers around the Web. For this model year, the 2009 Audi A4 comes to the U.S. with a 3.2-liter V-6 engine. It’s “capable of an impressive 265 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque,” Car and Driver reports. Though it’s “capable of a 0-to-62-mph time of 6.2 seconds” with an available manual transmission, that’s “nowhere near the 4.8 seconds we achieved in a BMW 335i sedan we tested,” though it’s “on par with the segment for the most part,” they also note. Edmunds is more succinct: “a BMW 335i can blow its doors off,” they report, clocking their own 0-60 mph run of “6.9 seconds,” which is “a full second quicker in both tests than the last V6 automatic Audi A4 we tested way back in 2005”—performance that’s strong, but still a “bit lethargic considering our test car's lofty sticker price.” The only engine available on the 2009 Audi A4 Avant wagon—and a future offering in the sedan—is a “zippy gas-powered four-banger,” Car and Driver says. Automobile reports the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is a “211-hp TFSI unit [that] has nothing in common with the outgoing car's heavier and thirstier 200-hp edition.” AutoWeek says this powerplant in the A4 Avant is “smooth, strong and sweeter than ever and, in a sense, not turbolike at all. Throttle response is immediate.” Two more engine options will surface in the coming model year. The first is a turbodiesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder with “240 horsepower and a kickin' 369 pound-feet of torque,” Car and Driver says, predicting a “6.1-second 0-to-62-mph sprint.” At the other end of the range, a new Audi S4 will “abandon V-8 power in favor of a more frugal and lighter twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 333 hp and matched with Audi's dual-clutch automatic transmission,” Automobile promises. In the 2009 Audi A4 sedan, four-cylinder versions are “paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic in Quattro models,” Automobile reports, while “front-wheel-drive cars will be available with the continuously variable Multitronic transmission.” In the V-6 sedan, “no manual transmission is available,” Edmunds notes, “only Audi's excellent six-speed automatic.” For the A4 Avant wagon, there’s a single configuration: a “six-speed ZF automatic transmission, quattro all-wheel drive and the latest evolution of Audi's 2.0-liter turbo with gasoline direct injection,” AutoWeek says. Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system is also standard on the V-6 sedan, and “this is good,” Edmunds adds. “Quattro has been around since the earth cooled, and we're fans. In its present form, the purely mechanical system sends 60 percent of the engine's power to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions. In abnormal conditions, the A4's self-locking center differential redirects that power to the axle with the best traction.” Automobile adds, “Quattro all-wheel drive splits the torque between the axles unevenly at 40/60 percent front to rear, but if need be, up to 90 percent can be directed to the front wheels.” When it comes to handling, the 2009 Audi A4 has a wide range of choices for drivers. There’s a fully independent suspension across the board, as well as electric power steering and four-wheel disc brakes. There’s also an available Drive Select option that allows the driver to choose settings for steering feel, ride comfort, throttle input, and transmission shifting, and it’s the source of some controversy among reviewers. “Drive Select is a kind of personal onboard tuning service,” AutoWeek says. In steering feel, Car and Driver liked the adjustable steering feel, calling it “less conspicuous” than similar systems offered on BMWs. Automobile felt the steering was “light and direct” in town, “meatier” on back roads, and “relaxed, thanks to a languid four turns lock-to-lock,” on the highway. AutoWeek took the minority view: “The new variable-ratio steering does require some familiarity to enjoy. It's very light at low speeds, and while it firms up at high speeds, it wants to wander off center a bit, with a hint of twitch.” Ride comfort is a better proposition with Drive Select. Popular Mechanics says the settings enable the 2009 Audi A4 to amble down the road in “tranquil fashion,” and Car and Driver felt its handling was “innately clean enough.” This time Automobile pointed out, “On predominantly washboard tarmac, the difference in ride between the comfort and the dynamic settings was as stark as the difference in visibility between a lunar eclipse and a power failure in a coal mine.” Edmunds complains that it “defaults to the Auto settings every time you start the car. It shouldn't.” Motor Trend thinks “the system isn't perfect—dynamic's ride is a bit too harsh for everyday driving, and comfort's steering is too uncommunicative in turns. However, auto mode makes the best of both settings.” Drive Select is an option, however, and cars without it “have precise, nicely weighted steering and firm, tidy ride qualities that are perfectly agreeable,” Car and Driver points out. Automobile observes that “thanks to Quattro and those wide eighteen-inch tires, traction and grip are phenomenal,” and that “handling balance feels a lot more neutral than in the outgoing model.” Edmunds calls it “a very sharp, communicative sedan and it's fun to throw around,” also noting that the brakes are “fantastic.” TheCarConnection.com sits with the minority on the handling of the 2009 Audi A4. The V-6 engine is a meaty performer, with plenty of power—until you acknowledge the BMW 3-Series in the next lane. It’s the Drive Select feature, like a similar setup in BMW’s 3-Series, that strips some of the basic goodness from the A4. Though it rides well in most modes, the Dynamic mode turns the steering overly tight and makes turn-in too aggressive, while it gives the transmission full license to upshift and downshift a little too frequently. In Comfort mode, the steering’s downright lazy, barely keeping up on highway maneuvers. All of this can be corrected by leaving the car in Auto mode—or not opting for the system at all. However, the biggest omission is in leaving Audi’s fantastic S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox off the options list for now. ConclusionThe 2009 Audi A4 has ample V-6 power and the secure handling of front- or all-wheel drive, but Drive Select needs more refinement. 2009 AUDI A4 STYLING | [8 out of 10] AutoWeek: “Grows from one of the smallest…to one of the largest” Car and Driver: “Infinitely more presence” Motor Trend: “Planted, sportier stance” Motor Trend: Interior has “clean, attractive design” The 2009 Audi A4 sports a larger body with a ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Audi A4’s chief rivals are the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The BMW 3-Series is perhaps the most popular, though in its current edition, it’s become heavier and quite expensive, yet its turbocharged in-line six offers brilliant power. The Mercedes C-Class has more capable handling than before, but rear-seat room is still cramped and its interior styling a little complex. The Infiniti G35 sports BMW-like handling with a distinctly Japanese flair, while the Cadillac CTS is perhaps GM’s best effort yet, with remarkable European-style handling, ample V-6 power, and a world-class entertainment system.

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See the Audi A4 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Comments (12 total)

  1. By Adel El Husseiny #1, Posted: 7/24/2008

    Chairman

    Top Rated car for year 2009

  2. By  bbscan #2, Posted: 8/4/2008

    Wish the performance was a little stronger

    Sounds like a great new audi a4, but performance wise it doesnt seem like it can compete with some of the makes.

  3. By Staci #3, Posted: 9/13/2008

    Don't know about yours, but I LOVE mine!

    I took delivery of my new 2009 Audi A4 1.8T exactly a week ago today. Not only is it a total head-turner, the performance has eclipsed the previous model. Biased is probably an understatement - this is my 6th Audi - but this is a truly awesome vehicle. Much quicker, holds the road with confidence, and the hesitation experienced with the previous model has been eliminated. Even with the increase in horsepower and torque, my first tank of gas averaged 30.9 mpg!
    With Bluetooth and an intuitive cockpit, the hands-free media experiences couldn't be easier.
    The longer wheelbase smooths out the ride, and the roomier interior is a joy for extra passengers.
    And don't you just love the LED running lights?
    My only complaint so far: I use a Blackberry which syncs with Outlook. Since I have 600+ contacts, they won't download so that they can be accessed solely through the car instead of dialed from the handset.

  4. By Andy Constantinou #4, Posted: 10/6/2008

    Mr

    I've just turned my first 1000 miles on my 2009 A4 3.2 quattro. The factory 0-60 est. of 6.3 sec is an understatement. It is no doubt under 6.0. My '05 TT 225hp is rated at 6.3 sec and this is much quicker. The new longer wheelbase gives the A4 a luxury "E-class" feel with a sportier command. I test drove this car (July'08) at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma and compared it against the BMW-3, MBZ C-class and Lexus-IS. None come close to the feel of the Audi. I prefer to drive this car as a daily driver over ANY other car and I own Audi's, VW's, Porsche and MBZ.

  5. By  auto car #5, Posted: 11/27/2008

    2009 audi review

    2009 audi review

  6. By xor #6, Posted: 1/1/2009

    Love this car

    I truly think this car is supreme.

  7. By Kavan #7, Posted: 1/14/2009

    New A4 09 2.0T Canada

    Have had the car for about 3 weeks now, cannot complain a bit. It moves effortlessly.
    Only thing i hate is that the exhaust is a little too quite. It needs a mean rumble a quite tone tho. You dont notice the car going from (km/hr) 0-100.
    This car goes 0-60 in under the 6.9 seconds for shore.

  8. By tevisman #8, Posted: 4/23/2009

    Car Mechanics

    Audi. A word that brings immense smiles to car mechanics everywhere. I speak from personal experience.
    -sincerely,
    Audivictim

  9. By Unhappy Owner #9, Posted: 6/24/2009

    I have had this car for about 3 months now and couldn't be more disappointed. As a previous A4 owner I went with the car because I loved my car. BUT BEWARE the 2009 has a defect in a number of the cars which AUDI has decided to ignore and just sell the cars. The defect which they claim is not a "safety issue" leaves you frustrated with every other shortcoming the new A4 seems to have. PLEASE protect yourself and don't buy the car. I've been working on taking care of the defect for as long a I've had the car. There are 4 other owners in the dealership I bought my car from alone that have the same issue and AUDI is refusing to fix the problem. And aside from that the car is a total disappointment. I wish I could take my decision to purchase the car back but now I'm stuck in this hell so PLEASE PROTECT YOURSELF and don't buy the 2009 A4. The defect is in the steering wheel of the car and leaves me just disappointed and sad to be spending money on a defective car.

  10. By Dan S #10, Posted: 10/5/2009

    To: Unhappy Owner
    What is the defect in the steering? What happens with the steering? Did it start as soon as you started driving or did the defect start after some time?
    Thanks.

  11. By C Holly #11, Posted: 10/16/2009

    I have a 2009 Audi A4 which has steering issues AND a transmission that doesn't like to upshift from 2nd gear sometimes (they tell me it goes into limp mode). It's been in for service 3 X and this time they've had it for 3 days. Beautiful car but VERY quirky!

  12. By Michael R #12, Posted: 10/21/2009

    Have to agree with C Holly. My son's Audi, which is a 2009 is a great car to drive but there do seem to be minor issues with it that seem to keep repeating.

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