Audi A4 Facelift Review: Will be happy between performance and comfort

The year 2020 as you know was a tough year but still Audi launched Audi Q8, RSQ8, RS7 Sportback, A8L and Q2 in India with a slew of vehicle launches. After this the new year 2021 started and this year has also been celebrated by Audi by launching its A4 facelift. Well, now after that the company is launching 5 models of e-tron and recently the new Made in India Q5 as well. We will review the Q5 later but before that we are going to review the Audi A4 facelift for you.

Looks and Design

Starting with the design, the A4 facelift looks quite beautiful. The front end has been completely redesigned and gets redesigned bumpers. The signature single-frame grille is available, which is also wider than before and gives an aggressive look. The LED headlights are also completely new and the LED daytime running lights come with a new pattern, which looks quite beautiful if compared to the old model. However, one more thing that may be overlooked by many is the small gap found on the bonnet, which runs from front to side. It may be part of the design language of the A4.

It looks very clean and a bit sporty in appearance from the side as well. 17-inch alloy wheels are available, but the company could have given them a sporty look by not keeping them a bit simple. Coming to the rear section, it also gets redesigned LED taillights, a new bumper and a chrome strip joining the lights. Overall, it looks great from the rear and its sporty design is well maintained with dual exhausts.

interiorThe Audi A4 facelift gets several major updates on the exterior as well as the interior. The dashboard and center console look quite familiar and the design of the AC vents given in it is tremendous. Also, I find this flat gear selector quite interesting and sporty. The biggest change on the Audi A4’s interior, which is also a party piece, is the 10.1-inch high-resolution touchscreen that comes with flat bezels. In this, the company has also given Audi’s new MMI system. It is good that the company did not give a twin-touchscreen setup in it, which we are seeing in the recent Audi cars. Only a single panel is available for infotainment in A4. At the same time, buttons and dials have been given for HVAC and other systems. The rotary controller dial to access this touchscreen has been removed by the company and the touchscreen and physical buttons are easy to use. But yes, you get an acoustic feel when you touch it. The overall fit and finish gives you exactly the same luxury feel you would expect in this segment.

The space in the A4 facelift is still the same as what you used to get in the pre-facelift version. First of all, talking about the seats, they look great, they are comfortable, but the company could have made them a little more comfortable. The company could have increased the reclining backrest a little more in this. At the same time, legroom is sufficient and headroom can be a bit of a problem for a tall person. Three people can also sit comfortably at the back as the transmission tunnel is a bit wide so the feet of the person sitting in the middle can easily come. Overall, in the interior of the car, whether you come on the front seats or on the rear seats, you get a very premium and classy feel. The color scheme has also been given by the company very well.

Now let’s talk about its luxury features, even though you get more features in other vehicles like Volvo S60 in this segment, but in the technology packed variant of A4 you will get 3-zone climate control, powered front seats, auto park assist, ambient lighting. And wireless phone charging is available. At the same time, as a safety, it gets features like 8-8 airbags, ABS and stability control.

Engine and performanceThe new Audi A4 gets a 2.0 liter turbo petrol engine that gives 187 bhp power and 320 Nm torque. The engine comes mated to a 7-speed S-tronic gearbox. Diesel engine is no longer being given in the new A4 and in this vehicle will you not get a diesel engine in any new Audi. To drive this car, 5 types of setup are available through Audi Drive Select buttons. That is, you can drive it through Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic, Auto and Individual drive modes. The feel of the engine and steering depends on these drive modes as each mode has a different story. Its torque is really visible in the mid-range and to tell all, this vehicle is refined as well as sporty. You will be happy while driving it all the time. It takes 7.3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph, as the Audi claims. The engine looks quite attractive as it comes mated to a 7-speed gearbox with much smoother shifts. However, the steering input is not as good as you get in the 3 Series from BMW. Yes, even during cornering you will not find it as much fun as the BMW 3 Series. Talking about the ride quality, it also feels a bit harsh. The car will keep you in a comfortable position as long as you don’t drive it on bumpy roads at high speed.

our decision

The Audi A4 facelift is a comfortable and spacious sedan with enough room for 4 people. The upholstery looks great and gives a premium feel. The rear seats also get good headroom and knee room for those who like to spend maximum time in the rear seats. The new Audi A4 may not look as good as the Volvo S60 in terms of looks and features, but it will keep you quite happy between performance and comfort. The vehicle comes in two variants, Premium Plus and Technology, with a starting price of Rs 43.19 lakh which goes up to Rs 47.16 lakh (ex-showroom).