2009 Audi Q5 Prestige Road Test Video

2009 Audi Q5 Prestige Road Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Oct 14, 2009

2:14 min

Most automotive rivalries are obvious – as soon as you as you see one car, you instantly think of the other. Take the Audi A4 for example – enthusiasts and shoppers alike are constantly checking the A4 against the BMW 3 Series.

Audis generally top the competition when it comes to interior look and feel, and that’s still the case. Certainly, brands like BMW and Infiniti have improved but the Audi layout is still more appealing – soft touch materials and plenty of metallic trim make the A4’s cabin a very nice place to spend time.

But as nice as the cabin is, the A4 has always felt a little cramped inside – thankfully, the redesigned 2009 A4 is a little longer and that means a rear seat with useful space at last. The trunk is also fairly generous.

Performance has been beefed up too, although overall the A4 lacks the edge of the 3 Series. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine cranks out 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque — that’s 11 hp and 51 lb-ft more than last year's A4. 0-60 flies by in 6.5 seconds

Despite the extra power, the A4’s turbo 4 still delivers decent fuel economy – EPA estimates peg it as 23 mpg in combined driving.

Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive has been revised  – past versions were biased toward front wheel drive but the new version sends more power to the rear wheels. That makes the new A4 is just as effective carving up a favorite back road as it is in foul weather.

Ultimately, the 2009 Audi A4 is just as good as its rivals – it isn’t as aggressive as a 3 Series but it is more elegant. And for just the right buyer, it’s that extra dose of style that pushes the A4 to top of its class.