SINCE ITS LAUNCH in India in 2008, the A4 has been a big- seller for Audi. Comfortable and elegant, it has always had an understated appeal that attracted buyers like flies. As a package too, the A4 has stood out over the years thanks to its inviting prices and frequent discounts, that just sweetened the deal. However, fresher competition revealed chinks in the A4’s armour and by the end of its eight-year run, the Audi was just no match for newer rivals like the Jaguar XE and latest-gen Mercedes- Benz C-class. And that’s where this car, the new A4, comes in. Audi says it betters its rivals on technology, space and efficiency. So, just how good is it?

What is it?

At first sight, you’ll be hesitant to think of this as the ‘all-new’ A4 as the designers haven’t veered too far from the older car’s design. However, look closely and you’ll notice that Audi’s trademark grille has grown in size and the sharply cut headlights with the daytime LED treatment are new too. View it alongside other cars and you can tell the A4 is also bigger. The proportions are neat as ever and the sharp lines on the body give it the right dose of modernity. Details like the side mirrors that are now door mounted to make the shape more slippery and efficient further help to this end. Perhaps Audi could have given the A4 a bit more distinction at the rear but the tail-lamps with indicators that swipe in the direction of the turn are a nice touch.

Under the skin, the A4 uses an all-new chassis which uses lightweight materials. Audi says the new A4 is 95kg lighter than its predecessor and this brings with it improvements in efficiency and performance.

What's it like on the inside?