2009 Audi A4, A4 Avant Get New Engines

It seems kind of silly to report that these all-new Audi models are getting new engines. New models should get new engines, after all, but that isn’t always the case in the automotive world. With its new A4, though, Audi is making it all-new in terms of exterior styling, interior and, now we learn, the base power plant.

Replacing the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that is a staff favorite at Cars.com is a new, more powerful turbo four. Horsepower bumps up 11 hp to 211, and torque gets a healthy addition of 51 pounds-feet to 258.

The turbo will be the only power plant available for the A4 Avant, while the sedan offers an optional 265-hp, 3.2-liter V-6. Both come with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The new A4 and A4 Avant go on sale this fall. 

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Comments

Only a fool would pay $30k+ for a turbo four cylinder. Cars that cost the same or less (TL, Maxima, Camry V6) all smoke this car. The fact that the rear of the A4 looks like a Civic makes it even more laughable. The A4 has become like the Saab 93 - a flat out joke.

The previous 2.0-liter turbo four is one of the best engines I've ever tested in its various applications. It is a base engine and teamed with the manual is a ton of fun. I think the fun factor is much more important than bare hp numbers especially comparing it to the TL, Maxima and Camry. None of which I'd consider very fun to drive. And I'd have to look up 0-60 numbers but with this much torque in the new turbo 4 I bet it could smoke those three ;)

Although I agree with you that the A4 is a fine car, a Maxima with a manual would embarass a manual A4 turbo four cylinder.

Frank, there's no need for the A4; the Maxima embarrasses itself.

The new A4 sounds like a hoot to drive. I wonder if this new turbo-four will wind up in the A3 and GTI eventually.

C&D reported that the new Audi A4 2.0 will have slower 0-60mph times than the current model as it weighs more. Assuming the C&D numbers are correct the CURRENT Maxima with 252lbs of torque would have 31 more lbs than the NEW Audi. I can only imagine what the newer VQ engine would do to the A4 which has definitely turned into a secretarial mobile, ie 'can't afford a 3 Series'.

I drive an Accord V6 and have no problem pulling away from A4's, whether they have the 4 or 6 cylinders. I think the Maxima is an ugly car, but then again the A4 is so small that probably explains why you see so many women driving them.

It's about time they get new engines. The old ones are oil burners - the dealer told my neighbor that a quart of oil to 1,000 miles is "normal" for a new Audi. Dave T, your comments are spoken by a person who only tests the cars and doesn't reach into his own pocket to buy them. Living with an Audi is different than testing it.

I agree with Joe's post in that I find the A4 being in the same company as the Saab. Audi can make the best interior in the world, however at the end of the day I'll take a six from the likes of Acura, Infiniti or BMW any day of the week. I understand the new A4 will be larger in size which is a step in the right direction. Now if they would only drop that little four banger and make the six standard that would send the right message. Until then the A4 is just a B player.

non-quattro versions of the A4 are FWD right? i don't know if they have this problem, but Maximas and V6 Altimas definitely have enough torque steer to give you rotator cuff tears.

the '07 Passat 2.0T i drove had just a hint of torque steer when pushed hard and was a pleasure to drive all the way up to 120 mph and solid like it was going 45 mph. presumably the smaller luxury version called the A4 would be at least as solid?

Guys I disagree. First the Audi A4 has to compete with BMW and MB first. The Japanese aren't direct competitors. What I was saying is that the turbo four is a FUN engine and can deliver some excitement as a base engine. It doesn't put-put to 7 seconds or whatever the 0-60 time is.

Plus there's the handling and an amazing interior.

I normally don't talk reliability in blog posts but we do cover it extensively when we review cars and when we consider them for Best Bet and annual awards. Yes, Audi is known for being problematic but so are the other two German luxury brands.

If you're asking me what I myself would buy with $32K or so it would be a tough call. Probably a WRX or CTS AWD. Haven't driven an Evo yet.

Dave,
You have little credibility trying to defend the weak engine of the A4, ironically if it was your money you would buy a WRX. A NEW engine in a $30k+ car boasting 211 horsepower is laughable.

It's no mistake that the A4 now sports headlight led eyelashes. The A4, like the Saab 93, is a chick car no matter how you cut it.

Jerry,
I can defend the engine because it's a good engine. MANY people buy Audi A4s. It's the company's most popular model and has been for some time. They have made sales records the past two or three years.

They are in a certain segment and compete well in it. I would give up the luxury of the Audi for the sportiness of the others personally. Many car shoppers wouldn't. It does have 258 lb ft of torque btw. Hp isn't everything.

My Audi dealer tells me the newer engine torque numbers are 221 for the four and 243 for the six. He also mentioned that they received a fair amount of negative feedback about the "LED eyeliner", but since they have taken several deposits I guess it's not a deal breaker.

I love my Audi dealer and really like my A6, however I'm purchasing the G35 next month. The interior quality is virtually the same and I like the lay out better. The G35 offers so much more brute horsepower for around the same gas mileage. Go figure.

Keep up the great work, the G35 would not have been on my radar if not for the write-up you guys did last year.

Some of us Audi buyers like to get good gas mileage too. Sheesh.

This is also the first time I've heard anyone complain about the LED headlights!? Most people think they're pretty snazzy.

Also Carlos, Audi just announced those figures late last week and I'd hazard a guess your local dealership had it wrong.

Nothing wrong with the G35 though! I love that car as well.

some blogs are reporting that the new 2.0 will get to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds which is not too shabby and better than the TL at least. Who knew the new Accord V-6 got to 60 in just under 6 seconds?!

"A NEW engine in a $30k+ car boasting 211 horsepower is laughable."

BMW sells a $40k sports car with 215hp, and Porsche sells a $50k+ sports car with 245hp. Some people prefer driving dynamics and build quality over big power. What's wrong with that?

Nothing wrong with 245hp in a Porsche and no one said it was. Time to check your reading comprehension perhaps. The 3 Series has 230hp, not 215 you are referring to (the roadster has 215 but that's not the A4 competition as the 3 Series is. Again reading comprehension issue)

Considering Lil'tom recently posted that his family bought an Impala, his comment regarding driving dynamics is almost as funny as Hillary claiming to have come under sniper fire.

Dave,
An automatic TL, not the TL-S, has been tested by Car & Driver and Motortrend as doing 0-60 in 5.8 and 5.9 seconds respectively. Nothing against Cars.com, however C&D and MotorTrend are the experts.

If the previous poster is the first time you've heard of people comment about the Audi A4 LED's then that says a lot.

Jack,

I think you should check your reading comprehension. It was stated that BMW sells a sports car for 40K & 215 hp - the roadster. The point from the previous post was that 30K was a lot to pay for a car with 211 hp. He merely stated that there are other reasons for paying more for a car that has less hp. There is no need to insult someone, especially when you are the one who can't follow your own advice.

I think you may need to work on your reading comprehension Jack. I've never said that anyone in my family bought an Impala, or that I think the Impala has good driving dynamics, or that my family buys cars with good driving dynamics.

I mentioned the Z4 simply as an example of an expensive high performance car without a lot of power. If you had better reading comprehension skills you would have picked up on the words “$40k sports car” which would have made it clear that I' wasn't referring to the 3 series. I mentioned the Cayman for the same reason; it's also not an A4 competitor. In my opinion, *if* it's laughable for a $30k sedan to have 211hp then a more expensive, considerably sportier car with 215hp would have to be pathetic. Even if it is 400 pounds lighter

Jack dope-slapped you guys.

The A4 is an overpriced, overweight mistake that doesn't really stand out in any area. It weighs 3,600 pounds - the same weight as a 1964 V-8 Chevrolet Impala, yet has a joke of a back seat. It's quick for a 4 cylinder but if you drive it the way car testers do, you'll take a toll on that little four banger real fast because it has to pull around a lot of wienerschnitzel. Extra weight takes away from a car's fun factor. The typical A4 costs $35,000 or more, and there are many better options available for that price, new engines or not.

What car wouldn't get worn out if you drive it like the testers do? So are all cars that are that heavy, have a 4 cylinder (turbo) and priced at that level, mistakes? And what cars are so much better for that price range? I don't think a car like the A4 has fun factor in the same sense as other cars. It has a lot more luxury than most, even some priced in the same range. And the added weight may make it heavy, but that can also add to better crash results, and a more composed ride, especially on the highway.

-As far as not standing out just go ahead and park a new one of the street and see if everyone doesn't turn their head.

"Are all cars that are that heavy, have a 4 cylinder (turbo) and priced at that level, mistakes?"

YES. The A4 is a good example and so are the Saab 9-3 and 9-5. All have four cylinder engines with turbos and when compared to their peers they come in near the bottom.

Sorry on the TL specs, the article I referenced had it juxtaposed with a different vehicle. It is sub 6 seconds according to R&T as well. Which is quite good.

We often refer to buff books for 0-60 times because they do the ridiculously expensive tests to achieve them. I don't think I'd ever rely on one though to influence my buying decision as they're not as editorially independent as Cars.com or a Consumer Report nor do they write to the average car buyer.

When I write an article I use a manufacturer's quoted 0-60 time just as an illustration of potential speed or comparative speed to other vehicles out there -- unless we're talking about a sports car. I doubt many car shoppers could actually feel a difference of a few tenths of a second among the cars discussed here. Jump into a Z06 and of course.

Comments like the ones above always bothered me when I was at Autoblog. I don't understand how readers can make judgments about a new car that no one has driven just by reading a spec sheet.

There's nothing wrong with many of the cars mentioned above. If you wanted my advice on what was a more reliable sport sedan with a lot of room I'd definitely say the TL. If you said I want the best bang for my buck I'd say the G35. If you said you like the looks of the Audi A4 I'd say it's a fun car even in the base model, at least for 2008. I can't say what the 2009 will be like but I'd hazard a guess it'll be similar if not better than the 2008. Most new models usually are.

Jordan,

What makes you say they come in at the bottom? I have yet to hear from any website or source of authority that an entry level Audi ranks at the bottom. Saab, maybe.

I am really liking this new a4 0-60 of 6.5 is not bad currently driving an evo viii which will smoke all the cars mentioned here hitting 0-60 in 4.8 seconds... but at the end of the day its not just about speed the a4 has excellent build quality and design... besides 0-60 is over rated grow up sounds like some of you just waiting to race someone, for the record if you drive an accord maxima or an a4 you are driving a four door family sedan grow up... thinking about an evo x or an a4 and leaning towards the a4 a great grown up car.

Haven't read so much macho drivel in a long time. LOL. If your purpose in buying a new car is to drag Main, I'd agree, the A4 isn't the car for you.

If you like fine build quality and a highly-efficient and engaging drive with near perfect balance, the new A4's hard to beat! A better drive than most of the cars mentioned, except the 3 series, but much better interior and electronics, for a little less cash.

The A4 also has arguably the best AWD system around (tied w/ Subaru), although I understand that Saab's XWD is theoretically top dog, now, and BMW's x-drive is much improved. Lastly, the new A4 (already sold in Europe, to be sold as an '09 in the US this Fall) was recently named Europe's outstanding automobile. The overall champion in the annual Auto 1 awards is selected by editors, experts and racing drivers linked to the 26 magazines, but their 40 million combined readers also play a key role in the judging process. I guess horse power is not the only measure of a fine ride.

Really depends on what you're after. The Accord and Maxima are fine if you don't need the level of winter performance that I do. The G35 is one fine machine, for sure, and has decent rear-biased AWD but does not get nearly the MPG of an A4 and has some longer-term engine issues, despite the excellent overall reliability. I love Bimmers (and drive one now) but I'm a gadget man and the electronics and interior space in the 3 series are drawbacks (in case you didn't know, the new A4 is bigger, being built on the A5 platform). Guess if I were really practical, I'd buy a Subie but they're so ugly. . .

Ok, 'nuf said.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments. I'm in the market for a new car, and have been leaning towards the new A4. I have 2 kids, so the old a4 would not be big enough, but i'm hoping the new one will be. I've had my 2001 Infinity G20T for almost 8 years now, and I'm ready for something new (and a little bigger). cars i've considered are, g35, TL, maxima, accord, loaded camry hybrid, used 5 series (06 ish). looking to spend in the mid 30s. ruled out accord and camry, because despite my wish for good gas mileage, i would also like something a little more upscale. my G20, has been a great car (besides some brake issues)so i have looked at the G35, and know people who like the car a lot, but the loaner i had, got 21mpgs, which is lower than i was hoping for. the added power has never meant that much to me, I would much rather have a nice interior and better gas mpg's. I considered a maxima as well, but again you have the mpg issue, and i've heard it handles horribly in the snow (i'm in milwaukee, and we got 100 inches last year). so after hearing everything, it seems like the A4 is still the car for me (i think the A6 is ugly, so don't like that car at all). the awd, good mpg, and nice interior are exactly what i'm looking for, plus i saw an a5 on the road, and really liked the way it looked, so i assume i will like the new a4 (minus the led lights, don't like them). However, i've never driven an audi, and have no idea if it will be big enough, so i'm looking forward to seeing the new version in person. if it turns out not to be big enough, i'm back to the drawing board, and might look more at loaded accord, or used 5 series, i'm really hoping I like the a4 though. willing to spend a couple grand more than maybe i should, but for what i'm looking for seems like A4 in mid 30s would be perfect. despite all the reading comprehension issues, i found all the posts very helpful, sense everyone seemed more knowledgable than myself.

Just hope Audi will re-consider their decision to not bring a manual 6-spd 2009 A4 Avant into North America. I currently owned a manual 6-spd 2005 A4 Avant, and I look forward to trading it in for the same transmission on the 2009 version.

Torque is much more important than horsepower. torque is the fun factor of a car. I drove a V-6 accord and when I floored it to 60mph, I felt disconnected and bored. Even though on paper it might beat my A4 0-60 time, my A4 feels much faster. And when I'm at 130mph, it feels like a rock...try feeling confident in a honda at that speed.

Reading the string from the beginning, I can only say "My, what bitchy little queens some of these people are". I suppose some are quite young - or immature. Anyone thinking that this car line is crap and this other one is God's gift to drivers is not paying attention. There is more to driving than hp ratings and 0 to 60 times. I have my own biases but realize that cars are engineered under the rules of physics with great attention paid to budget, target markets, etc. and there are always compromises. Only children (of any age) think the world is so black and white.

Remember - the measure of a man is not the car he drives - it's in inches.

So if you don't measure up - shut up and quit subliminally telling the world about it.

I have to agree with the post above. The A4 is a great car, and really anyone who is complaining that the 'lines are all wrong' or that its gone 'soft' shouldnt really be looking at the A4 anyway.... u want a prosche or something :)

I read a pretty good review on the A4 not so long ago. Its quite short, but pretty much echoes what ive just put. Dont know if it will help (or the link might get removed),

http://www.carfinanceforyou.com/user/vehicle_review.aspx?id=397712

I just got the A4 2009 and its one of the best cars I ever drove. The Japanese cars are not even near to compete with Audi. Audi is such a smooth and fun car to drive and I am very pleased with it.

A response to the comment by Joe: Do not let this discourage anyone who is set out to by a Saab 9-3. I have had two Saabs and have had NO major issues with the vehicles. In comparison to the Camry and the TL (both nice cars) Saabs designs is much more sleek and exciting (have no clue where Joe pulled his idea.) And the greatest part about the turbo 4, is that you get speed with out compromising gas millage. Ive got 67,676 on my 9-3 and get 27 mpg. As far as pricing, if Joe did some research he would realize that, with GM in a bit of trouble the rebates and discounts for the 2008 Saabs are great!

Saab had its heyday in the '70s with its cutting edge front wheel drive, safe structure, inspired styling and turbo power. Today, there's not much reason to buy one over the multitude of vehicles that either imitated Saab at lower prices or surpassed Saab's technology. Sad but true, and the sales figures prove it.

I own the '09 Audi A4 with the 3.2L V6, and all i can say is that horsepower this torque that dont mean that much to the vast majority of upper middle class clients Audi is aiming its cars to. Moms and corporate dads are not trying to race off the line at a stop light. They want the car to look good, be smooth, and if it has a 'fancy' name maybe that will improve their status in suburbia. If you look at who the car is aimed for, then Audi has accomplished what it set out to do.