2009 Audi A4 Quattro Dalton GA

November 3, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Content Editor



2009 Audi A4
DriverSide Overview
If there’s one truth in the entry-level luxury sedan segment in North America, it’s that you’ve got a lot of choices. In fact, the word overwhelming comes to mind. As such, refreshing an entry-level model can be tough, especially once you factor in a tanking US dollar and gasoline prices moving upwards with disturbing determination. While the outgoing A4 model was a superb all-rounder, Audi decided it was time to aim for the top of the podium and grab some of those often touted “best in segment” accolades. In doing so, the 2009 Audi A4 Quattro has grown longer by 6.5 inches and wider by 2.1 inches, leading to more interior legroom and a more stable track. Furthermore, the revised 2.0-liter engine has received a significant torque bump, giving the A4 even better blend of luxury, economy and usability.








What's to Like
The 2009 A4 is much larger overall, but intelligent chassis design has decreased weight by ten percent, while fuel economy rises by the same amount. Best in class rear legroom as well as best in class braking give the A4 a clear advantage in the segment.

What's Not to Like
The 3.2-liter model is significantly more expensive than the 2.0-liter, and pricey options can quickly see 3.2-liter A4 stickers approaching the S4’s base price. Quattro all-wheel drive unfortunately does not come standard.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
While the high-performance sedan segment is where the German automakers prefer to wage their never-ending war against each other – lobbing horsepower-churning V-8s back and forth – the framework for these flagship performance models comes from the entry-level sedan. The biggest criticism of previous Audi S4 and RS4 models was that the engine sat mostly ahead of the front axle, upsetting the car’s forward balance and causing understeer, a design which came as a direct result of the A4’s underlying architecture. Audi has rectified the problem with the 2009 A4, moving the engine back over the front axle to create a superior front-end balance. As a result, the A4 is much more neutral through the corners than the model it replaces, especially the 2.0TFSI model due to its lower weight. When driven hard through slower, second gear corners, there is still some push in the front-end, but the improvement is dramatic, aided by a 40/60 front-end torque split taken from lessons learned developing the RS4. Audi Drive Select is a welcome development and controls engine, suspension, transmission and steering characteristics. The system is best showcased through dynamic steering which turns the A4’s steering rack faster at slow speeds, thus requiring less input to complete sharp turns, and tightens up closer to a 1:1 ratio at faster speeds, though it constantly adapts to conditions. The system has three modes; comfort, au...

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