Vehicle: 2006 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro Tiptronic sedan with Premium Pkg, Sport Pkg with performance tires, Cold Weather Pkg, rear side airbags, Bose premium sound system and walnut wood trim
Price as tested: CDN$56400

Performance: Our tester is motivated by the same 3.2L 24-valver FSI DOHC V6 as its A6 silibing. With 255 ponies and 243 lb/ft of torque, it has no shortage of power. The power deliver is silky smooth, refined and very flexible. With 0-100 km/h mark at 6.6 seconds, it also matched B5 S4 2.7L Biturbo’s perfomance both in real life and on paper. Audi has tuned the exhaust note with sportier sound than the more muted A6. The exhaust note has Teutonic solidty without losing the sportiness of what defined the A4 franchise. The 6-speed Tiptronic is equally capable in both up and downshifts. Although it doesn’t have the brisk response as Audi’s own Multitronic CVT and DSG sequential gearbox, it has to be one of the fastest manumatic ever driven. The shifts are crisp and smooth, also very willing for up and downshifting. However, there is one drawback of the whole performance package. Its the oversensitive throttle response. The highest part of the throttle has a tip-in so sensitive that most would feel jumpy when accelerate off-the-line or during traffic. Its obvious that Audi has tuned the throttle response to fulfill American’s liking of light throttle.

Handling: The dynamics are equally impressive. Along with the adaptation of S4 front and A6 rear suspensions, the stiffer sports suspension also added a bit of spice into A4′s character. The whole car feels sharper, more responsive and precise when fly into a corner. As usual, the steering is precise and responsive with plenty of feedback. There is minimal to no understeer, while body rolls have been kept to a minimum. On the other hand, ride quality is sublime. Thanks to excellent damping characteristics, the springs absorb washboard pavements and expansion joints with ease. This car really provides the best of handling depart for drivers without losing the comfort for passengers. The ESP won’t rear its ugly head until driver got extremely reckless into a corner. Its an uninstrusive system that can be appreciated by enthuisastic drivers.

Brakes: With standard 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, both pedal feel and modulation are world-class. The stops are short and fade-free. ABS won’t get into the picture until absolutely necessary.

Interior: Audi has always been regarded as the standard of producing beautiful interior, the A4 is no exception. The tastefully use of walnut wood trim, aluminum and high-quality plastic materials have combined into the best interior ever, regardless of price. The driving position is easily find thanks to 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat and tilt/telescope steering. The seats are very comfortable with great back and thigh supports. Speaking of automatic climate control, Audi has lowered its temperature from 17.5 as “lowest” in B6 to 15.5 in latest generation for better cooling efficiency.

Conclusion: The A4 continues to be one of the trendsetters in compact sports sedan segment thanks to the combination of excellent powerplant, great handling, gorgeous interior wrapped in an understated package.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2006 AUDI A4 3.2 QUATTRO TIPTRONIC SEDAN
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Performance: 5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 5/5