Audi A4 3.0 TDI Quattro tiptronic 2009 Review

Audi A4 3.0 TDI Quattro tiptronic - Road Test

RRP: $86,056
Price as tested: $95,219 (Audi music interface $583; Audi drive select with adaptive dampers and dynamic steering $5826; Adaptive cruise control $2754)
Crash rating: 5 star EuroNCAP
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.9
CO2 emissions (g/km): 182
Also consider: Mercedes-Benz C320 CDI (more here )

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 3.0/5.0

About our ratings

BMW's imminent arrival of the 330d Down Under completes the triumvirate of midsize high-horsepower diesel luxury cars on sale Down Under. The Bavarian will soon join the Mercedes' 320 CDI C Class range-topper introduced in 2008 and the stalwart big-engined, small hipped German oiler, the A4 3.0 TDI.

BMW's making a big deal about its entrant (more power to them) but in reality the practice of shoehorning a big potent turbodiesel engine into a midsize chassis is old news. Archrival upstart Audi has been doing the seemingly unnatural transplant to the A4 for a couple of generations now -- and, unlike, BMW selling them Down Under... And oh what syrupy performers they've been.

The latest version, the 176kW/500Nm B8 A4 3.0 TDI is no exception. Indeed, it's the best yet!

The most recent in a long line of current models A4's we've had parked in the Carsales Network bahn-bunker since the series' launch last April, the 3.0 TDI is nothing short of a thinking man's super sedan.

While still delivering in-gear and highway acceleration that makes mince meat of mere mortal petrol V8s, the 3.0 TDI easily bettered 9.0L/100km during our week-long relationship. And that was largely urban miles. In a similar duty cycle local (and imported) petrol V8s barely manage to sneak into the 15s.

Audi claims the car returns 6.9L/100km in official ADR fuel economy testing. Had we the chance to point the A4 at the open road for a Melb-Brissy cruise, we're confident we could have bettered that number -- even if we had succumbed to the temptation of constantly exercising its rollicking in-gear acceleration. At a steady 100km/h or thereabouts on the freeway, instantaneous fuel figures often start with a 5!

We're well experienced with the Volkswagen Audi Group 3.0-litre turbodiesel. Though in its latest guise, the Audi version of the V6 has a touch more power and torque, the very same powerplant powered our Touareg long-termer (more here). We've also driven it in bigger Audis (including the biggest the QE7, err... that's Q7).

And despite the familiarity, not even a hint of contempt has been bred. This powerplant is still one of the very best in the marketplace today. Even BMW's latest inline six turbodiesel is working hard to match the VAG V6's blend of refinement and muscle.

Audi claims the 3.0 TDI A4 will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.2sec. Given there's a pregnant pause when you mash the accelerator -- as the engine builds boost and the autobox gets its act together -- the impression is one of even greater performance. You can use the gearbox in manual mode (via level or paddles) but it's best to leave the six-speeder to its own devices.

Overall, the combination of 3.0 TDI and six-speed auto box is a much more convincing drive than the 'other' V6 diesel A4, the CVT-equipped 2.7 TDI. Given there's a better than $20K price difference between the entry-levels of the models that's just as well...

Indeed, in the 3.0 TDI Quattro form (and along with the recently added 2.0 TFSI quattro manual), it has done much to assuage the writer's indifference towards the B8 A4.

I'm not a huge fan of the latest A4's styling, which seems to have lost the clarity of previous A4s, plus the car's extra size seems to place it uncomfortably close to the A6 -- though without the bigger car's elegance. But there's much to enjoy in the driving of the latest generation. Even burdened with the extra mass of the turbodiesel V6, this car steers better than previous midsized Audis. Its manners are less nose-led and the ride is arguably the best balanced of the C/3/A4 tribe.

Now, if we only can convince Audi to add some weight back into the steering -- we'd then have even less to grizzle about...

Alas, in its latest guise, the A4 has not only grown in dimensions, it's substantially grown in asking price. We commented as much when the car was launched locally (more here here ).

It's a sobering fact to consider with a relatively light brush of the options list, our overachieving oiler topped the $95,000 dollar mark. Thank goodness it was non-metallic Ibis White -- or we would have been up for another $1695. (Note too: thanks to its sub 7.0L/100km fuel consumption it qualifies for the up to $75,000 luxury car tax break)

If this sort of pricetag rolls off your mallard-shaped back, then good luck to you -- jump to it and enjoy a car that delivers truly effortless performance. But just for a moment consider that you can buy a very, well preserved low-kilometre current shape two-year old A6 quattro 3.0 TDIs from Audi's own approved used program for less than $70K. And an ever so slightly scruffy one for perhaps a further $10K less...

To be fair, Audi doesn't have this problem on its own -- indeed, the marque has been working hard to relieve new car buyers' fears about depreciation (and for the corresponding price of a new 330d or 320 CDI, there'll be some pretty attractive used BMWs and Benz on the chopping block right about now too), but against a near-to-six-figure asking price such top-notch used buying has to weigh heavily on any purchaser's decision.