Audi A4 Sport Edition 1.8 TFSI 2013 Review

Price Guide: (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges):$59,990
Options fitted: (not included in above price): N/A
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: 95 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.8
CO2 emissions (g/km): 134
Also consider: BMW 320i (from $60,000); Lexus IS 250 (from $55,900); Mercedes-Benz C 200 (from $59,900)

This could make a lie of the claim that nobody buys a premium car these days without comprehensively mining the depths of the options list.

Audi's limited-edition A4 Sport Edition (of which only 250 will be available) is essentially a single-specification offer that can't be refused. With what is claimed to be more than $9000 worth of added equipment bundled into the A4 package for an extra $4490, the value is undeniably apparent.

For somebody already considering a 1.8 TFSI A4, and poring over the options list, the Sport Edition makes a tempting proposal. The only rider is that the buyer must be a bit sports-oriented.

The Sport Edition adds lots of appealing gear. Externally it's identifiable by 19-inch five-segment spoke wheels (controlled by the lower-riding A4 Sports suspension), xenon headlights, LED tail-lights and a choice of premium metallic or pearl shades including silver, black, white or blue, as well as two greys.

Inside, the ‘Sport’ deal adds Audi's MMI Navigation plus system, complete with 20GB media storage, a DVD player and two SDHC memory card slots, shapely Sports front seats, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles for the standard Multitronic CVT transmission.

This transforms the regular A4 1.8 TFSI into something a little more purposeful, if not more accelerative: Zero to 100km/h comes up in a not-too-astonishing 8.3 seconds.

If you want a little more punch, the Sport Edition is available in 2.0 TDI turbo-diesel form too, for an extra $2400. This brings 100km/h acceleration down to 7.9 seconds, while also improving fuel economy.

The 1.8 TFSI petrol is claimed to return a combined consumption figure of 5.8L/100km while the diesel is quoted at 5.3L/100km (the latter is not quite as clean, with a CO2 figure of 139g/km compared to the 1.8 TFSI's 134g/km).

So the 1.8 TFSI Sport Edition is a more sprightly base A4. The interior feels cosier with its huggy front seats and the flat-base steering wheel is a bit special, even if it's of no practical added value apart, maybe, for a bit more clearance at the bottom.

No question, the ride is noticeably firmer with an occasional thump from nasty bits of tarmac, and some extra road noise if you’re driving on a coarse surface -- but that’s nothing out of the ordinary for big-diameter, low-profile tyres.

The compensation is a crisper turn-in (the lightly-weighted electromechanical steering spins the wheel from lock to lock in 2.8 turns) and a more planted feel via the combined workings of the tuned suspension and the extra rubber on the road. Clearly it could cope with more than the 1.8 TFSI's 125kW/320Nm output.

But although the figures tell us something about the 1.8 TFSI's ability, they don't really do justice to the actuality. The Audi is responsive on the run and doesn’t mind at all if you want to take it out to the 6000rpm redline. It's strong and satisfying on the highway.

Much of this is due to the Multitronic continuously variable transmission, which remains one of the best of its ilk in terms of response, and exhibits a gratifying lack of the familiar stepless-transmission slipping-clutch effect. The only glitch is an off-the-mark hesitation as the multi-plate clutch takes its time to engage, similar in feel to some DSG gearboxes (S tronic in Audi speak) and in need of some acclimatisation.

The bottom line though is that the Multitronic transmission makes the best out of what the 1.8-litre turbo has to offer, whether you are relying on full-auto mode, or deploying the shift lever or the steering wheel paddles.

Fuel consumption on test didn’t quite come up to scratch. During 400 or so kilometres with the test car we averaged, according to the trip computer, a best of 6.6L/100km and a worst of 7.5. Audi quotes a combined cycle average of 5.8L/100km.

The seats also introduced a bit of discomfort after more than an hour at the wheel, which was a surprise because they were otherwise snug and supportive.

Despite being a faux sports sedan, the Sport Edition A4 remains practical as well, with passenger compartment access to a deep, well-shaped 480-litre boot and an interior that looks after not just the front-seat passengers, but also provides a back seat with decent leg, head and shoulder room.

The bottom line?

If you are in the market for a base Audi A4, the Sport Edition -- unless the luxe factor is important to you -- is a pretty tempting value proposition.

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