2010 Audi A4

Review

In 2009 the Audi A4 received a significant overhaul that was much needed and added some very nice improvements. In 2010, the A4 receives only minor additions, but minor is no disappointment in this regard according to new car guides.

The Audi A4 is a sport sedan designed to give owners the opportunity to experience some classic, high-end sports driving, with a luxurious interior without necessarily having to pay the $100,000 or more for the true sports cars. The four doors of an A4 give families an opportunity to experience this quality as well, both inside and out. There is no need to worry about your teens feeling embarrassed to be seen in the family car if you’re driving an A4.

The A4 used to have the V6 engine standard, but that has been taken away along with the convertible version of the vehicle. The interior is still immaculate and the power produced by the V4 which, of course not up to the old V6 engine, is still nothing to sneeze at.

Performance

The Audi A4 is renowned for its precision handling and balance which, when added to the vehicle’s beautiful cabin and nice styling combines to give one an extraordinary adventure while driving. The V4 engine however, remains a concern, given that the types of car the A4 is competing with all come with V6 engines. The turbocharged version of the V4 is nice, however and seems capable of keeping up, but it seems like an additional step to have to take just to keep up with the pack. The only other sport sedan in this class that bothers with a V4 is the Acura TSX and Heaven help Audi if it is their intention to drop to that level of competition.

In a road test, the 2010 Audi A4 got its performance power from a turbocharged 2.0 liter engine that delivers 211hp. Four-speed manual, front-wheel drive is standard on the base model, but the 2.0T Quattro has the six-speed manual transmission standard but has an optional six-speed automatic all-wheel drive.

Exterior Features

There are two body styles available with the Audi A4 for 2010: the sedan and wagon (Avant). The standard features for the base model include 17-inch alloy wheels, foglamps and a sunroof. The adjustable suspension on the Audi, which allows the driver to automatically change the car’s tuning depending on the driving method is very nice and well-received in new car reviews.

The A4 is the largest sedan in the midsize class which is great for those looking for a little extra leg and elbow room – available thanks to the A4’s nice, wide stance and 17 inch wheels. Photos of an Audi A4 in action reveal ca car and driver that are out for more than a simple commute from A to B.

Interior Features

When it comes to nice interiors, Audi has a sterling reputation to uphold in the automobile industry according to auto reviews. Standard interior features are elegantly styled and include an electronic parking brake, power front seats with driver lumbar, leather upholstery, a split-folding rear seat and a leather-wrapped very functional steering wheel for those who like comfort in the palm of their hands as well.

The Audi A4 simply screams comfort when it comes to its interior specs, even for the base model, which very few customers decide to stay with. On upgrade (below), the Audi touch has a very nice, exponential growth factor in quality that is well worth every dime.

Safety & Specifications

The 2010 A4 scores perfectly in government crash testing receiving five out of five stars for both front and side impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests concur, giving the A4 its highest ratings of “Good,” even without the optional rear-seat airbags. This will cause your insurance prices to be a little lower, you can see for yourself by getting free car insurance quotes. Premium braking capability rounds out the safety features of the A4, making it one of the best picks in the car safety category.

The A4 comes standard with antilock brakes, stability control full-length side curtain airbags, front-set side airbags and traction control. Rear-seat side airbags are optional as are a blind-spot warning system as long as you choos to have the optional navigation system installed.

Upgrade Options

It’s almost a shame to consider the options available on the 2010 A4 options, because most driver choose to make many of them standard. The choices are varied across three packages that are available, the Premium, Premium Plus and the Prestige packages. The only Audi A4 that has all three package upgrades available to it is the Quatro.

Upgrade options across the packages include Audi’s MMI system (in-dash) and 10-speaker audio system with auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio, bi-xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights and taillights, Bluetooth phone connectivity, three-zone climate control, keyless entry/ignition, auto-dimming rear and side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, 18-inch wheels, a navigation system with real-time traffic and 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and a power tailgate for the premium wagon.

Obviously Audi did not skimp when it came to providing upgrade options for its 2010 A4 shoppers, and the choice can be a difficult to make so we just suggest you take it all under Audi’s reasonable pricing.

How the A4 Compares to Other Sport Sedans

The BMW 35i, Mercedes-Benz C300, Infinity G37 are comparable vehicles in Audi’s class, and while these all come with V6 engines that offer more kick than the Audi’s turbocharged V4, the difference isn’t a deal-breaker at all. The handling for the A4 is secure and steadfast with the potential to become incredibly athletic if the optional Sport package is chosen.

Conclusion: Is the 2010 A4 a Smart Buy?

The 2010 Audi A4 has made some changes that may seem disappointing at first glance, but in overview the luxury sedan is still capable of holding its own against the competition and is well worth a look for shoppers interested in the class. With an invoice price of around $40,000, the car pricing keeps it below the threshold of the competition, though adding options will bring it more in line with the other cars.

With Audi’s standard 4-year, 50,000 mile warranty backing, the A4 is sure to provide a good amount of reliable drive for your investment the Intellichoice 5-year cost of ownership has not yet been released for the 2010 model, but for the 2009 the rating is “excellent”.