The Drive Report: Audi A4 Signature Edition

It appears the time has come to bid the Audi A4 goodbye. Once a staple among executives and an emblem of entry-level luxury, the A4 has stood frozen in time as rival models have outgrown and outpaced it. With the A5 set to replace it soon, the A4 has gone through one final upgrade, which comes in the form of the A4 Signature Edition. It’s the same old A4, featuring the same 2.0-litre TFSI engine, the same dimensions. But it has received a few crucial upgrades that add a bit more personality and flair to what has been a fairly conservative-looking car.

What's new?

Essentially, the A4 has been spruced-up with a boot-lid spoiler, several new paint schemes, a 360-degree camera, wireless charging, an air-freshener (complete with an Audi logo of its own, for reasons best known to Audi), spinning hubcaps and finally, four-ringed decals on lower end of the rear doors. While it doesn’t sound extensive, the boot-lid spoiler lip does a fantastic job of accentuating the car’s overall sleek profile. Even after all these years, the Audi A4 is an optimally proportioned car. It’s not too shouty, it’s not desperately seeking attention, the grille isn’t oversized, neither is the front or rear overhang. Still, the fact that all these attributes make it a minority clearly indicates that the A4 is the product of a bygone era.

There are other flourishes, too. For instance, there are new faux wooden inlays on the dashboard – not quite a substitute for soft-touch materials or leather cladding, but pleasant enough to look at. I can’t help but wonder if Audi considered leather in a bid to match competitor-level comfort, but it’s clearly saving all the good stuff for the A5 model that’s set to replace it. Still, door-mounted LEDs projecting the Audi logo adds some uncharacteristic drama to the most Teutonic of sedans.

What the A4 gets right

Despite its slightly dated interiors, the A4 never feels lacking. Well alright, wireless Apple CarPlay did prove to be a bit of a hassle but the screen size, at 10.1-inches is just right - it doesn’t distract or bamboozle. In fact, I miss the days when infotainment screens were self-contained units and not conjoined with a digital instrument cluster. The presence of buttons too, feels like a return to much-needed normalcy. Then there’s other stuff. Full LED headlamps make the A4 excellent to drive at night. The ride quality remains unfailingly supple as it always has and the 12V mild-hybrid system along with the smooth-as-butter 2.0-litre TFSI engine, means the car has fairly robust levels of power on tap, 204 hp to be precise. Does it translate to instantaneous, explosive power delivery? No. There are no sudden transitions with the A4. Everything remains unfailingly linear and, thanks to the 7-speed DCT, imperceptibly smooth. Today, when its closest rivals are downsizing in terms of engine specs, like the Mercedes-Benz C200, which produces similar levels of power, but via a 1.5-litre engine, the A4’s cubic capacity certainly gives it an edge in terms of how it delivers power.

Verdict

At a time when the ranks of luxury sedans appear to be thinning, this range-topping A4 comes across as a bargain. At Rs 57.1 lakh (ex-showroom) you get a top-end premium sedan which undercuts the price of its direct rivals by a decent margin. It does so without compromising on performance by downsizing the engine, without cutting costs (if anything, the interior quality appears to have gone up, thanks to wood oak inlays). After all these years, the A4 remains a consummate sedan, a complete package even when its rivals have surged ahead in terms of updated interiors and ADAS-tech. For those who remain unimpressed by Level 2 ADAS, and find it to be more of a hindrance during city driving, the A4 remains a great choice. It’s proof that a solid, refined powertrain, healthy power levels, sensible design and wholesome comfort will never go out of vogue.