Audi’s slick looking A4 hardly needed any improvements when it comes to design. Most critics still consider the outgoing model

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one of, if not the most stylish in its compact luxury D-segment, and as you can probably tell by looking around while out on the road, sales were still strong. Still, the German brand is currently undergoing a visual overhaul and therefore all models must comply, the new 2017 A4 sedan and A4 Allroad crossover sport wagon pulling many of their edgy new cues from last year’s ultra-modern TT sports coupe and convertible.

The result is a thoroughly modernized A4 four-door featuring a bigger, broader, more sharply angled hexagonal grille, new scalloped headlamp clusters with standard HID projectors or as-tested rectangular LEDs surrounded by squared-off LED DRLs, a crisp lower front fascia with new corner vents, reshaped LED turn signal-infused mirror caps, a familiarly arcing rooftop, a nice upswept rear deck lid that no doubt aids the new model’s unfathomably low, category-best 0.23 coefficient of drag, similarly scalloped LED taillights, and other small changes all-round. My 2.0 TFSI Quattro Technik model came rounded out with gorgeous new

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18-inch twinned five-spoke alloys featuring machine finished edges and softer shaped grey painted centres that form a unique five-pointed star design. The new A4 is stimulating from all vantage points.

Likewise for the A4’s cabin, which gets Audi’s new “horizontal interior design” theme that should be appealing to all but those still enamoured with olde-world glossy walnut and tufted leather luxury. It’s all contemporary modernism, my tester devoid of available gloss or matte-finish open-pore natural woods and instead filled with textured aluminum and, thank goodness, zero piano black lacquered surfaces, the latter favoured by dust and scratches and therefore not me. Instead Audi features nice high quality yet understated matte plastic trim, while

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soft synthetics cover the dash top as well as both sides of the centre stack right down to where inside knees might rub up against. This is unusually good, but it misses the mark with respect to the glove box lid that’s hard plastic and therefore not as rich as some in this class. Then again, where others don’t finish their door panels with soft synthetics from top to bottom the A4 doesn’t miss such a good opportunity to impress both front or rear occupants, although once again the plastic gets hard on the inside lower front console panels. Still, this is similar to most others in the A4’s class, none seeming to go all the way with higher end pliable plastics like most midsize segment sedans.

Where

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the newest Audi wows is in graphic interfaces, or at least it should make previous A4 owners smile. Some of its rivals have already been leading in such respects, but now there’s no need to look elsewhere if wanting to duplicate the high-resolution, deep, rich contrast and stimulating graphics of your smartphone or tablet inside your ride. It all starts with one of the nicest driver configurable full-TFT primary gauge clusters in the business, an option that’s well worth the upgrade. The graphics are clear and plenty colourful, while a favourite feature includes a steering wheel-mounted “VIEW” button that shrinks the size of both tachometer and speedometer while simultaneously enlarging the multi-information display at centre, the latter filled with most any feature you could want or need. It’s amazing that the wonderfully thin steering wheel spokes have room enough for all the switchgear included, but it’s impressively replete with all that’s required to gain quick-access to

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myriad functions without removing eyes from the road, while the permanently fixed tablet-style infotainment display poking up from dash central does likewise.

The old display was integrated within the centre stack portion of a more driver-focused cockpit, this new one still slanting towards the driver albeit more easily accessible by the front passenger. Audi does the do-si-do with the lower console-mounted MultiMedia Interface (MMI) system’s rotating dial controller and gear selector, with the latter much flatter and lower and therefore acting like a hand/wrist rest when actuating the former, while surrounding buttons are mostly touch sensitive for ease of operation and a very slick feel, the row of eight programmable

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preset keys ultra handy. The 8.3-inch display isn’t a touchscreen like your tablet, so it doesn’t respond to pinches, swipes and other finger gestures, but the top of the rotating controller does, while the various go-to buttons recognize hand movements before actually being pressed-very cool. Overall Audi has increased system speed and simplified all MMI processes for a much quicker, more intuitive and streamlined operating system. Voice recognition actually works more often than not, this probably to do with the integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, one of the other automatically coming into play when connecting your smartphone, and while the system’s digitized voice sounds better than ever it’s clearly not the best reason to spend more for the fabulous sounding Bang & Olufsen audio upgrade. My tester also included navigation, the graphics and colours clearer and brighter than ever and

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overall functionality much better than before, while the backup camera, mine complete with a 360-degree overhead view, provides better than average visibility all-round.

The tri-zone auto HVAC interface (there’s another panel in back) is also mostly touch-sensitive, while a set of touch toggles line up just below, featuring Audi’s drive select, an auto stop/start on/off switch, and more. While these are elegantly designed and ultra-easy to use, the controls suffer from cheap hollow plastic construction, but at least they don’t wiggle like the aforementioned row of HVAC buttons. Such questionable tactility might put some premium buyers off, but take note this is perceived quality, not real quality. To the latter more important end Audi

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achieved first place in Consumer Reports latest Report Card on Reliability and scores above average in J.D. Power’s most recent Vehicle Dependability Study, so long-term durability shouldn’t be a problem.

The A4 will keep you plenty comfortable too, with more head and shoulder room up front than its predecessor and 23 mm (0.9 inches) of extra rear legroom. The former can be experienced from some of the best leather-clad sport seats in the business, the driver’s power-adjustable with true four-way lumbar support and optional memory settings, while the rears offer good lower back support without any electrical provocation. A leather-covered centre front armrest lifts up to expose Audi’s Phone Box, where you’re supposed to leave your smartphone. A coiled connector cable joins a wireless charger,

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while those in back can enjoy the comfort of a fold-down leather armrest featuring two of the slickest transformer-like cupholders in the business.

That centre position also folds down for a pass-through to the extremely accommodating 480-litre (16.9 cubic-foot) trunk, allowing two rear outboard passengers to keep heated via optional seat warmers while everyone’s skis lay down the middle. If more than two’s a crowd the 40/20/40-split rear row can be fully lowered, providing even greater expansion of the cargo compartment, while your luggage will feel ultimately pampered thanks to soft carpeting on the floor and sidewalls, little mesh pockets at each corner, and chromed metal tie-down hooks.

The flat and low gear selector mentioned earlier is one of the best bits of new kit in

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this redesigned A4, not only because it’s wonderfully compact, looks ultimately cool and seems as if it’s constructed of billet aluminum along with the finest leathers, but also because it works very well. Like so many other shifters that have been thoroughly rethought due to electronics replacing what were previously purely mechanical systems, park mode is no longer found by sliding the lever all the way forward, but rather is a thumb-operated button located on the left side of the T-handle. This allows for a single push forward to engage reverse or one tug rearward for drive, with manual mode available when pushing the entire lever to the right, at which point DIY shifts are available from the lever or via paddles on the backside of the steering wheel.

Unlike

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its predecessor that used an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic, the new A4 incorporates Audi’s even quicker shifting yet more efficient seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automated gearbox, so swapping gears is almost instantaneous and much smoother than I remember this transmission being in previous iterations. Oddly, I find Dynamic sport mode the smoothest of its three drive select settings being that its shift increments occur faster, but even when left in default Auto mode or the car’s thriftiest Comfort setting it went about its business quietly behind the scenes, never letting on that it wasn’t simply a regular automatic. The engine shuts off at stoplights to temporarily eliminate emissions and make the car EV-silent,

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this feature joining a kinetic energy recovery system that also contributes to a reduced five-cycle rating of 9.8 L/100km city, 7.7 highway and 8.8 combined, which is considerably better than last year’s 10.9 city, 7.2 highway and 9.2 combined mileage, at least in the city, while there’s absolutely no compromise when it comes to driving dynamics.

It wouldn’t seem like a complete redesign without more power from the base engine, and fortunately Audi’s engineers have tweaked the direct-injection and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder to put out 32 more horsepower and 15 additional pound-feet of torque, the new model now producing 252 of the former and 273 of the latter, and all of this from a slightly longer albeit marginally lighter car, the new one shedding 30 kilos (66 lbs) for an as-tested curb weight of 1,645 kilograms (3,626 lbs). Audi claims 120 kg (260 lbs) less mass, but that number probably

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reflects different trims available in other markets, Quattro AWD now standard in Canada; the old front-drive CVT version is still available south of the 49th, in Europe and elsewhere. Alas, the six-speed manual has also been pulled from our market, no doubt due to a lack of interest. I’m guessing, and hoping, the upcoming redesigned S4 will once again offer one.

Fortunately the A4’s wonderfully sorted fully independent suspension does carry over, although the five-link front and rear design feels more agile than I remember its predecessor being, and that was a wonderfully capable sport sedan. Maybe it’s just the chassis tuning or the way the speed-sensitive electromechanical steering’s been set up, but I love the way this new A4 handles sharp two-lane switchbacks even when the pavement underneath is less than prime,

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while it remains the best highway cruiser in its class, the A4’s ride quality a noticeable notch above all challengers and all-round high-speed stability at the very least on par with its main rivals, while that class-leading drag coefficient mentioned earlier makes for an ultra quiet cabin. Braking is strong too, while all the expected electronic aids come standard, including traction and stability control for keeping the car pointed in the chosen direction even when inclement conditions tempt it off track.

As you may have guessed some of my tester’s features aren’t standard, the 2017 A4 nicely outfitted in $43,200 base Komfort trim yet not anywhere as fancy as this top-line $50,600 Technik version, or for that matter mid-grade $47,000 Progressiv guise. Standard Komfort features include auto on/off HID headlamps, LED DRLs and taillights, pushbutton ignition, aluminum doorsill plates, an electromechanical

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parking brake, Audi drive select, rain-sensing wipers, an automatic anti-glare rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped multi-function sport steering wheel, cruise control, the tri-zone auto HVAC system mentioned earlier, three-way heatable seats, the MMI infotainment system with Bluetooth and satellite radio, a powered glass sunroof and more, not to mention all the usual active and passive safety equipment including a knee blocker airbag for each front occupant.

Progressiv trim replaces the base 17-inch alloys with unique 18-inch rims, adds proximity access with a foot-activated trunk release, increases the entry-level 7.0-inch MMI display to 8.3 inches and adds MMI touch while upgrading it with navigation and a rearview camera, goes further by adding front and rear parking sensors,

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makes the rim of the steering wheel heatable, and finally includes memory for the driver’s seat and side mirrors, a colour multi-information display, auto-dimming interior and side mirrors, a HomeLink garage door opener, and those textured aluminum inlays noted before.

Lastly, Technik trims upgrades the headlights to full LEDs with auto high beam and makes the side mirrors power-folding, while the interior gets the driver configurable TFT instrument display, 360-degree Top-View camera and superb Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system noted before, plus ambient lighting with custom colour selection, rear cross-traffic alert, Audi Side Assist monitoring that detects approaching vehicles from both sides and behind, and the brand’s Pre Sense Rear pre-collision system.

Safety in mind you can upgrade your A4 with the $2,000 Advanced Driver Assistance

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package that adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, active lane assist, Audi’s pre sense front and pre sense city automated braking systems, traffic congestion assist and traffic sign recognition, all of which should qualify it for an IIHS Top Safety Plus rating, although it has yet to be safety tested so we’ll have to wait and see. Likewise the NHTSA hasn’t crash tested this 2017 model yet, but the outgoing A4 received five stars in all categories so this new one will most likely achieve a perfect score as well.

Additional options include a $2,250 S Line package that features unique front and rear fascias, 19-inch titanium-finish alloys, a sport suspension, a flat-bottom sport steering wheel, stainless steel pedals, sport seats and more; while a $1,000 adaptive damping suspension is also available; as is a $1,000 head-up display; $1,350

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front Comfort Seats with a unique sport design and forced ventilation; $350 heatable rear outboard seats; $300 rear window sunshades; $500 rear side-impact airbags; various hardwood inlays for $500, and more.

The A4 will likely never be Audi’s most popular model, the Q5 and Q7 crossover SUVs taking first and second respectively, but this newest version is so good it should at the very least maintain its heavily contested third position amongst 10 (soon to be 11) compact D-segment rivals. It’s got a long way to catch up to the first of its two front-running compatriots, but it’s closer to one than Stuttgart would like, while the four-ringed model is ahead of all Japanese contenders as well as every domestic and the lone Swede, whereas the upcoming Brit will no doubt take plenty of time to gather speed.

Gathering speed won’t be a problem in the quicker yet more efficient, ultra stylish, tech-infused 2017 A4. It’s a clear winner that deserves your attention.
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