2016 Audi A4

In a competitive segment that gets tighter every year, the Audi A4 hits the sweet spot. The 2016 Audi A4 faces stiff competition from rivals such as the 2016 BMW 3-Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Volvo S60. In this review of the 2016 model year Audi A4, we discuss the good and the bad, and help you conclude whether getting an A4 home would be a sound investment. 

The 2016 Audi A4 sedan is offered in two trims, 2.0T Premium, and the 2.0T Premium Plus. The 2016 A4 comes at a price of $35,900 in the FWD configuration and $37,000 for the AWD variant. Audi offers a 220 hp 2.0L Inline-4 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission in the AWD version and 6-speed manual transmission with the FWD variant. The top-end 2.0T Premium plus tops out at $41,100 with the AWD configuration. 

We recommend

If you’re planning on getting a 2016 model year Audi A4, we highly recommend taking home the 2.0T Premium Plus trim, in the FWD configuration. The Premium Plus gets you a lot more for your money than the base Premium trim. Additionally, while AWD can improve overall driving performance and quality, FWD will help you save fuel in the long run. 

Under its hood, the 2016 model year Audi A4 offers a fairly potent 2.0L Inline-4 engine that churns out 220 hp along with 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine feels refined and punchy, but ends up being a little underpowered when compared to its rivals. The FWD variant comes with a CVT as standard, while the AWD variant offers a choice between either a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

While the CVT is great for city driving, the 8-speed automatic transmission works wonders on the highway. The overall powertrain is highly optimized, and delivers the right amount of power with the perfect responsiveness. There’s minimum NHV, but the engine might get a tad noisy when you’re pushing it really high up the rev band. 

The 6-speed manual transmission feels natural and makes the rider feel connected to the car while the 8-speed automatic allows quick gearshifts and thus feels smooth and responsive. When taken for a quick spin, the Volvo S60 takes the crown, as it takes just 6.0 seconds to reach 60 mph. The BMW 328i closely follows it by taking 5.8 seconds. The A4 takes 6.6 seconds to reach 60 mph and thus lands at fourth place.

The 2016 Audi A4 offers fairly average fuel economy, with competitors offering slightly more value in this font. The 2016 Audi A4 manages to return 22 MPG in the city, and a decent 32 MPG on the highway. This helps the sedan return a combined gas mileage of 26 MPG. The Audi A4 also offers a sizable 16.1 gallon fuel tank, which helps the sedan deliver fairly respectable driving range, and increased distances between refuels. 

Comparing the competition, the Volvo S60 offers the best fuel economy, measuring 29 MPG combined. In the city, the Mercedes-Benz C300 and the Volvo perform equally well. On highways, the Volvo stands as the clear winner, while the Audi A4 falls on the opposite end of the spectrum. Additionally, the 2016 Volvo S60 comes with a large 17.8 gallon fuel tank, which helps the Swedish sedan deliver an impressive driving range. 

With a dated look, the interior looks a few years behind, but still manages to keep up with present times. The interior feels a little serious with standard leather upholstery but looks sophisticated. The crisp gauges and the red nighttime illumination adds a touch of modernity to it. The seats offered with the 2016 Audi A4 feel comfortable, plush, and extremely well bolstered. 

There’s no dearth of comfort features in the cabin, with Audi offering several other convenience features in the form of options and packages. All in all, the 2016 Audi A4’s cabin feels extremely comfortable and well put together, and offers a far better experience than most vehicles in this segment and price range. 

With plenty of room in the front and the rear, the A4 proves to be quitespacious and roomy. The rear seats are also comfortable and spacious with enough room to fit adults with ease. Cargo space, on the other hand, is a little less in the A4 as it offers just 12.4 cu.ft. On the other hand, the BMW 328i provides a class-leading cargo space of 13 cu.ft. Some highlight interior features offered with the 2016 Audi A6 include:

• Power-Adjustable Seats. 
• Heated & Ventilated Front Seats. 
• Leather Upholstery. 
• Metallic Interior Inserts. 
• Front Cup Holder. 
• Driver Foot Rest.
• Leather Steering Wheel. 

2016 Audi A4 Infotainment 

The 2016 Audi A4 comes with a host of impressive infotainment features, which help it in setting itself aside from most tech-deprived competitors in this segment. The 2016 Audi A4 offers an impressive 8.0-inch infotainment screen mounted atop the dash. You get an impressive 10-speaker sound system with the base A4, while going for the Premium Plus fetches you the compelling Bang & Olufsen audio kit. 

Bluetooth Audio Streaming is offered as standard, while you also have the option of plugging your device in via USB and Aux. Paying a little extra can also get you some premium options such as a Hard Disk storage, and WiFi hotspot. Some of the key infotainment features offered with the 2016 Audi A6 include:

• 8.0-inch Infotainment Screen. 
• 10-Speaker Sound System. 
• Bang & Olufsen Audio. 
• Audi MMI Technology. 
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming. 
• Aux and USB Support. 
• MP3 Playback. 
• Optional Hard Disk. 
• Optional WiFi Hotspot. 

With a simple and handsome design, the 2016 A4 feels more diginied on the skin than on the inside. The straight lines blend elegantly with the curves over the wheel well, giving the car more sophisticated look like a well-dressed person. With minor styling updates, the A4 looks more at home. With a wide grille at the front that sits perfectly with its angular headlights and taillights, the A4 stands as a relaxed car that boasts an athletic personality underneath its stance.

Among the competition, the 2016 model year Audi A4 actually measures the heaviest in the lotm while the nimble BMW 328i weights the least. The Volvo S60 measures the longest in the lot, while also being the widest car in this comparison. The 2016 Audi A4 hangs the closest to the ground, while the Volvo S60 comes with the greatest ground clearance. The Volvo also comes with the longest wheelbase, which measures a whopping 112.4 inches. Some highlight exterior features offered with the 2016 Audi A4 include:

• LED Daytime Running Lights.
• Advanced HID Headlamps. 
• Chrome Grille Surround. 
• 18-inch Alloy Wheels. 
• Sporty Dual Exhaust Setup. 
• Optional Decklid Spoiler. 
• Mirror Turn Signals. 

Much like the rest of the Audi lineup, the 2016 model year A4 stands as an immensely safe passenger vehicle. The 2016 Audi A4 has been acknowledged by the NHTSA with a compelling 5-Star Safety Rating. Additionally, the IIHS has awarded the A4’s safety merit with an impressive “Good” score under most categories, which speaks volumes about the German carmaker’s commitment to safety. The A4 is offered with several standard features, and more can be opted for in the form of affordable packages. Some key safety features offered with the 2016 Audi A4 include:

• ESP and ABS. 
• Traction Control. 
• Blind-Spot Monitor. 
• LED DRLs. 
• LATCH Anchors. 
• Forward Collision Alert. 
• Auto-Leveling Headlights.
• Lane Departure Alert. 

With its minimalistic design that still carries some cues from its predecessor, the 2016 A4 feels like a car from the past but with everything better. The A4 is perfectly dignified, sophisticated, and refined to be classified as a proper executive sedan. With a unique blend of luxury and practicality, the A4 makes its entry as a versatile luxury sedan with everyday capabilities in its DNA. While slightly underpowered than most of its rivals, the 2016 model year Audi A4 compensates for its lack of athleticism with unparalleled class, comfort and technology.