2007 Audi A4 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Audi A4 is a stylish and refined alternative to the BMW 3 Series, and it has the athleticism to compete with the best.
In the compact luxury-car segment, the BMW 3 Series is known as the sporty one, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the classy one, but what of the Audi A4? Actually, the A4 embraces a bit of both, while providing the safety of Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system (AWD) and sophisticated styling inside and out.
The third-generation A4 is available as a sedan, a convertible (called the Cabriolet), and a wagon (called the Avant). The sedan and wagon were introduced for the ’05 model year, but the Cabriolet soldiered on as the previous-generation model. For 2007, the Cabriolet has been redesigned to join the rest of the new-car lineup in the current generation.
The 2007 A4’s upright rear deck flows into clean lines that focus the onlooker towards the slightly angled front headlights and large, square grille. It gives the A4 an athletic, yet upscale, presence. Inside, the A4 continues the clean lines and refined touches, such as the wood paneling and brightwork around the gauges, steering wheel, and shifter bezel.
There are 23 variants of the 2007 A4 in Canada, including sedan, Cabriolet, and Avant wagon, as well as different drivetrain configurations. Standard features on the base sedan include 16-inch aluminum wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, remote keyless entry, and heated mirrors. Features like leather seating, heated front seats, heated seats in the rear, navigation, a power sunroof, and larger alloy wheels are all options or come on higher trims.
The look of the A4 can be further enhanced with the S-Line package, which adds sporty visual cues inspired by the high-performance S4 and RS4 variants.
The base engine is a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder making power specs of 200 horsepower. The available 3.2-litre V6 engine makes 255 horsepower. Both use Volkswagen Group’s Fuel Straight Injection (FSI) technology.
The sedan and convertible are available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or Audi’s Quattro AWD system, which continues to be the standard for luxury-car AWD setups. It provides enhanced traction for inclement regions and adds to cornering prowess in any weather. The Avant wagon comes standard with Quattro. Manual and Tiptronic automatic transmissions are available, as is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Even the base four-cylinder provides solid acceleration, and with the manual or Tiptronic automatic, it delivers a rewarding driving experience. The CVT does not feel as engaging as the other two transmission options do, and it may present some additional maintenance costs due to its comparative complexity.
The A4 sedan provides 379 litres of trunk space, which is less than the BMW 3 Series' (459 litres) but more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's (340 litres). The rear bench can fold down for more space, or you can access the trunk via the small cubby lid in the centre of the rear seat, which allows for helpful ski storage.
The Avant wagon provides 787 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat. That number can grow to 1,670 litres with the rear seats folded.
The new Cabriolet has just 252 litres of cargo space, but it can be expanded by a movable barrier with the convertible top. When the top is up, this space can grow to 288 litres.
When it comes to actual cabin space, the A4 is a bit tight, especially compared to its BMW and Mercedes-Benz rivals. Rear-seat legroom is limited in all versions, making the A4 an ideal individual commuter car.
The 2007 A4 comes standard with an AM/FM/Satellite radio sound system and Bluetooth connectivity, while the premium system includes a digital display with a navigation system. The display folds out, providing digital memory card slots for music.
For 2007, the A4 loses its cassette tape player, but more than makes up for it with MP3 compatibility and six-CD changer. The instrument panel of the A4 features a thin-film-transistor (TFT) digital display with readouts such as the radio station, fuel economy, and other information.
Audi provides the 2007 A4 with a full complement of front- and side-impact airbags, including seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, and a front-passenger airbag occupancy sensor.
The A4 also comes standard with remote keyless entry, an anti-theft engine immobilizer, automatic seat belt pre-tensioners, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control. Optional safety features include a low tire pressure warning, headlight washers, and daytime running lights.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the 2007 Audi A4 as a Top Safety Pick, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the sedan four stars in most crash tests and in the rollover resistance test. The Avant receives similar ratings, while the Cabriolet did not complete the full suite of tests.
Among the A4’s seemingly endless lineup of configurations, the most efficient one is the 2.0-litre FWD sedan. With the CVT, it consumes 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.7 on the highway. With the six-speed manual, it returns 10.2 L/100 km city, 6.3 highway.
The most efficient AWD version is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder with the six-speed manual, returning 10.6 L/100 km city, 7.0 highway. The least efficient version of the 2007 Audi A4 Quattro with the 3.2 litre V6 and six-speed manual transmission powertrain in the sedan and wagon. This combination returns 13.6 L/100 km city, 8.1 highway.
Base MSRP for the 2007 Audi A4 is $35,310 for the 2.0T manual FWD sedan. The Avant wagon starts at $42,340, while the Cabriolet starts at $52,750. This pricing in Canada is on par with competitors from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and others.
Note: Images show a US model.
