Driven: Updated Audi A4, A5 ranges touch down

AUDI Australia has launched its refreshed A4 and A5 medium car range Down Under, with a comprehensive mid-life update ushering in tweaked styling, specification increases and new pricing that sees the two model ranges kick off from $55,900 plus on-roads for the A4 35TFSI.

The updated pricing lowers range’s entry-price by $200 compared to the outgoing range despite the boost in equipment, while the line-up tops out at $93,400 for the A5 45TFSI Cabriolet, which is $1000 dearer than before.

Its positioning sees the entry-level A4 comfortably undercut its key rivals such as the BMW 320i ($68,900) and Mercedes-Benz C200 ($65,800), while the most affordable A5 Coupe (40TFSI, $71,900) is more closely priced to Benz’s C200 Coupe ($70,600).

The A4 and A5 range consists of 12 variants spread across sedan, Sportback, wagon, coupe and convertible body styles, with all models powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 12V mild-hybrid tech bar the soft-road A4 Allroad wagon, which is also offered with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel option.

From the outside, the A4 has undergone the most significant visual change, with an exterior design overhaul that sees it move more in line with the A5, ushering in newly designed headlights, trapezoidal side air inlets and a slightly longer and wider overall body.

New matrix LED headlights have been fitted to all models, as have 19-inch alloys, while inside the cabin of both models has seen a refresh with a new 10.1-inch touchscreen MMI system that removes the old model’s dial/button controller and smaller 8.3-inch screen.

Audi claims the new system features 10 times the computing power of its predecessor, and comes with Audi connect plus functionality as well as Apple CarPlay/Android auto compatibility and wireless phone charging.

The entry-level A4 35TFSI is underpinned by the softest iteration of the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, tuned to produce 110kW/270Nm, driving the front wheels only via a seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission.

Available only on the A4 sedan, the 35TFSI sips a claimed 6.1 litres per 100km, with the mild-hybrid system capable of saving up to 0.3L/100km.

Standard spec on the 35TFSI includes 19-inch alloys, leather-appointed upholstery, keyless entry and start, electric driver’s seat adjustment with four-way lumbar support for front seats, three-zone automatic air conditioning and DAB+ digital radio.

The 35TFSI is also available with the $59,900 S line grade, which builds on the entry model’s spec and adds features such as S line exterior package, 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, sport front seats with electric adjustment, auto-dimming exterior and frameless rearview mirrors and illuminated aluminium door sill trims with S logo.

Topping the A4 range and available in all A4 and A5 body styles, the 45TFSI is expected to be the most popular engine choice and produces 183kW/370Nm, with quattro all-wheel drive and a seven-speed S tronic auto.

Average fuel consumption for the 45TFSI is set at 7.1L/100km, which can be improved by decoupling the rear axle when cruising, while the 0-100km/h dash is dispatched in 5.8s in the A4 sedan.

Standard spec on 45TFSI grades includes driver seat memory function and a 180W, 10-speaker sound system.

The Allroad, along with its 46mm of extra ground clearance, off-road drive mode and visual enhancements, can also be optioned with a 140kW/400Nm diesel engine, slashing $3000 from the $72,900 asking price to cost $69,900.

Both the Allroad and Avant sport 495 litres of luggage space compared to the sedan’s 460L, a figure which can be extended to 1495 litres by folding the rear seats flat.

Moving to the A5 range, the line-up opens with the 40TFSI engine grade, available on all three body styles – Coupe, Cabriolet and Sportback.

Audi Australia expects the Sportback to be the most popular of all A4 and A5 grades with around 40 per cent of total sales, followed by the A4 sedan at 32 per cent.

The five-door Sportback features 465L of luggage space compared to 450L on the coupe and 370L on the Cabriolet, which has space taken up by the folding roof mechanism which can open and close in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h.

A5 grades shed the 35TFSI engine in favour of the more powerful 40TFSI, which lifts outputs to 140kW/320Nm, powering the front wheels via the same seven-speed auto.

The 45TFSI engine from the A4 is also available on all A5 models.

Standard safety kit on both ranges includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, side assist, lane change warning, exit warning, rear cross-traffic assist, tyre pressure monitor, reversing camera and eight airbags. Adaptive cruise control is still consigned to the options list.

A range of option packages will be available on both the A4 and A5, to enhance spec, safety and design.

Audi Australia would not be drawn on sales targets for the refreshed range due to the uncertainty around COVID-19, however it said it would aim to increase its share in the medium passenger car segment, which for Audi has seen a downturn in recent years as buyers increasingly opt for SUVs.

Through the first half of the year, Audi sold 692 examples of the A4 and A5 Sportback, which combine for an 11.3 per cent share of the $60,000+ medium car segment, significantly trailing the 3 Series (1873/30.7%) and C-Class (1467/24.0%).

The A5 coupe and cabrio have also contributed 86 sales, again off the pace of the 4 Series (213) and C-Class Coupe/Convertible (655).

2020 Audi A4 pricing*

2020 Audi A5 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs