Stu’s Reviews – Audi A4 Diesel Saloon 2.0 TDI Ultra 4dr

It has been a little while since the last edition of Stu’s Reviews, but I couldn’t resist having a test drive in the Audi A4 Diesel Saloon when it was offered to me! This car is one of our special offers at the moment, and so the management team thought it’d be a good idea if I had first-hand experience driving it. Being a real team player I “begrudgingly” agreed to get behind the wheel of this highly spec’d luxury vehicle!

The last car I reviewed for the Intelligent Car Leasing blog, the Volvo XC60 Estate was also a 2L diesel engine, so it was fun to compare what different manufacturers have to offer in this spec range.

Exact Model Reviewed: ‘Audi A4 Diesel Saloon 2.0 TDI 163 Ultra SE Technik 4dr’

Outer Appearance
On first impression the car gives off a smart appearance that is clean cut and professional, typical of what consumers expect of the Audi brand. This car could be described as the automotive equivalent of the modern day minimalist office. Design led but not too many individual bells or whistles that try to steal the show. This is something that takes real skill to be able to pull off, but Audi does it time after time and the A4 Saloon is no exception.

The Iconic Audi front grille remains as always… I think I’d be a bit disappointed if Audi tried to break the mould and take a new direction here as it’s such a striking look. Taking a quick walk around the car what you see really reinforces the feeling of reliability and quality. It isn’t anything in particular that creates this feeling, but Audi has done a great job of subtly building up an image of quality and class.

The alloy wheels are a nice touch, but in my honest opinion aren’t anything above average. However they blend in well to the style of the bodywork and contribute to the overall professional/business brand Audi is building with the A4’s design.

The model I tested was solid white paint, but I can imagine that metallic would really make the lines pop and add another layer to the external appearance as a whole.

Interior
The first thing I noticed when I sat down in the driver’s seat was the sheer amount of controls on the dashboard. It looks like everything is adjustable inside the A4, which is great for those who want complete control but maybe not so much for those who just want to turn the key and take off.

The seating is comfortable and the driving position is fully adjustable between the front-seat and steering column. This makes the A4 diesel saloon an ideal vehicle for long distance trips and regular commuting.

You’re not going to be blown away by the interior, it’s by no means up to Aston Martin standards inside… but it’s definitely a cut above average! Audi has made the effort to go above and beyond the standard plastic dash and firm seating you so often come across in the saloon market. What you get here is a neutral, comfortable and roomy interior which subtly reinforces the quality factor that drivers seek from the Audi brand.

Handling
Now for the most important part of the review, how the car actually drives… I haven’t tried out other variations of the A4 but I think that the 2.0 litre diesel version is just about the right amount of power for most uses. The A4 is sizeable and will likely be doing a lot of travelling (if being put to business use) so you don’t want a hair-dryer engine. However at the same time you need to find a balance in terms of fuel economy as well.

The car handles extremely smoothly and gives a very controlled driving experience. It’s by no means sporty, but you definitely feel the power of the engine when pressing down on the accelerator. When you’re cornering the vehicle grips the road strongly and is well balanced which is always the sign of a strong build. Overall I am very impressed with this and I think the A4 will be able to handle whatever you throw at it under normal driving conditions.

You won’t hear much engine noise from inside the car which is always a bonus if you’re traveling long distances. The suspension and wind noise is also minimal so you’ll be travelling in relative peace in the A4 diesel saloon. Again these are all signs of a mechanical design that is refined and well thought through; Audi has put in the hours to deliver a quality product here.

Economy
The specific variant I tested out has fantastic fuel economy giving the driver 67.3mpg making it an ideal vehicle for fleet or business use. As it was only a 1 day test period I didn’t need to refuel but I think the figures speak for themselves here; you’re going to get your money’s worth out of each tank of fuel!

Overall this is a fantastic car and the fact that it’s available from only £179.99 per month makes it an absolute steal. This is a stock-tied offer and so the volume of units we can do at this price is limited. Make an enquiry today to get yourself in the queue and in with a chance of securing one of the biggest Audi bargains we’ve ever offered!

About Stu – Stuart Law is a business development executive at Intelligent Car Leasing. He helps customers maximise their car budget, negotiate better terms with funders and get the best leasing deals possible.