2006 Audi A4 Review

The name A4 first appeared on the rear of Audi's then entry level car in 1996. Prior to the A4, Audi offered its clientele the 4000 until 1987. The following year, the midsized entry-level luxury car received a new face along with a new name. It was called the 80 or 90 depending on trim level, just as it was known in Europe. In the course of the years leading up to 1996, only the 90 remained until the model was abandoned altogether.

The new A4 paved the way of sorts for the return of Audi in North America. For a number of years leading up to the A4, Audi had earned the undesired reputation of a builder of nice un-reliable cars. The new 1996 car had distinctively German look and thanks to the performance afforded by the all-new 1.8L turbocharged 4-cylinder and the 2.8L V6, the A4 did very well. Faithful to the German way, the A4 went on largely unchanged until 2002 when a ground-up revision of the car was done. With the new face came a new 3.0L engine that joined the 1.8T. Unlike the Germans, the car underwent another big change only 4 years later to usher in 2 new engines.

The A4 starts at $35,270. The A4 3.2 Quattro with the Tiptronic transmission can be optioned out to nearly $65,000. My tester consisted in an A4 3.2 Quattro 6-speed manual with the Technology, Sunroof and Premium packages for a grand total of $53,260.


Styling

As much as I appreciated the look of the original A4, the 2002-2005 did nothing to excite my senses. For 2006 though, Audi turned up the juice. I am a huge fan of the corporate grille affair and particularly like the way it brings the profiled headlights and bumper together. I also appreciate the smooth design of the rear-end; it looks as though it came out of a mould. 2006 Audi A4 Review from (http://www.auto123.com/en/audi/a4/2006/review?carid=1060600600&artid=60729)