2016 Audi A4 vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

The Audi A4 is set up differently from its main German competitors, offering front- or all-wheel drive instead of the normal rear-drive basis of BMW and Mercedes cars.

It manages to act mostly like a sport sedan despite this, although more serious drivers may feel the added weight and subsequent understeer of the layout.

The BMW 3-Series is a perennial benchmark in this class, but it's also heavier and more expensive than it has been in the past.

That said, it's hard to argue with the turbo six's performance, and BMW is adding even more power for 2016.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class comes in flavors ranging from the efficient C300, all the way up to luxury-performance C400, but it's perhaps more oriented to comfort than ever before, aping the larger S-Class in both looks and dynamics.

Cadillac's ATS offers fantastic handling and its high-tech CUE infotainment system, in a package that may be one of GM's most compelling vehicles built in recent history.

The Infiniti Q50 is loaded with technology and comes with a hybrid option, while Acura's TLX promises to offer performance and technology in droves, and matches the A4 with front- and all-wheel-drive models.