TRADITIONAL STRENGTHS

The world might have gone SUV crazy but there’s still space for a high-quality saloon, reckons Matt Allan

The world might have gone SUV crazy but there’s still space for a high-quality saloon, reckons Matt Allan

It is fair to say that, like most car makers, Audi has embraced the idea of the SUV with open arms.

There is a Q2, Q3, Q5, Q7 Q8 and e-tron, which between them fill most niches in the market and meet the neverending demand for chunky, high-riding machines with big features and big presence.

But that’s not where Audi made its name. After lots of complicated post-war wranglings, Audi was relaunched by VW in the late 1960s, and it gradually carved a niche as a purveyor of large, comfortable, high-end saloon and estate cars. And despite the rise of the SUV it still builds a few of these traditional models.

Model like this A4. Freshly updated for 2019 it slots into the still-competitive executive saloon segment taking on the BMW 3 Series,

Mercedes C-class, Volvo S60 and Lexus IS.

The update follows the usual theme of gentle tweaks to lights, bumpers and grille on the outside, a refresh of the interior and the addition of some new infotainment and driver assistance technology.

The exterior design remains understated, almost to the point of being dull – a trait it shares with its German rivals. It’s immediately recognisable as an Audi thanks to the onepiece grille and new standardfitledheadlights,butit’shardly earth-shattering.

The inside, too has been lightly refreshed, staying true to the ideathatifitain’tbroke,don’tfix it. As before it’s a haven of highqualitydesign,layoutandmaterials. The seats are fantastically comfortable, there’s plenty of space for four adults and around you it’s a cohesive mixtureofglossblackandbrightsilvertrimsalongwithbeautifully knurled switches, and leather and soft-touch finishes.

Instrumentation is taken care of by a 12.3-inch digital virtual cockpit and there’s a new 10.1inch media and navigation screen. This features the third generation of Audi’s excellent MMI user interface and brings everything from smartphone mirroring and standard navigation to live parking informationandgooglestreetviewinto the cabin (although some of these are subscription-based).

The A4 is also set up to take advantage of vehicle to infrastructure communication. It’s in its early stages and only works in certain locations but allows the car to gather information on things like traffic lightstatustogiverecommended optimum speeds and alter the adaptive cruise control for best efficiency.

In fact, the only disappointment in the interior is Audi’s move away from the rotary controller, with the infotainment now all controlled via the touchscreen or steering wheel buttons.

Ten years ago the mainstream mile-muching A4s were all diesels and a petrol engine signified a performance model. Now, the “hot” S4 models feature a diesel lump and alongside the range of more run-of-the-mill diesels there’s a basic petrol that’s expected to take up 35 per cent of sales.

The 148bhp, 2.0-litre turbo might lack the torque of diesel equivalents but it still feels ideally suited to eating up big miles in refinement and comfort. Linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission it makes smooth, quick and easy progress. Official figures are 42.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 135g/km.

On the road the A4 continues the tradition of trailing behind its BMW rival in the engagement stakes but ups its game in comfort. There’s no doubt the 3 Series is more fun to drive but the A4 is calm and composed and rides far better than any other Audi I’ve driven recently.

In fact, for me, the A4 epitomises what has made Audi such a success, offering a slick, stress-free environment in which to cover big distances. It’s understated, spacious, beautifully built, easy-to-drive and packed with the latest technology.

If you can tear yourself away from the SUV section, there’s a lot to recommend it.