At £ 37,345 the Audi A4 is good value but if you want the extras as fitted to the review car - and you do , you really do – the final bill is a buttock-clenching £ 10k more . I guess it is the same old story ; if you want quality and a prestige badge then you have to pay for it . Just when you think the A4 cannot get any better , it does .

PERFORMANCE The Audi A4 makes for a great executive motor . Stick a decent diesel in it and it will be all set as a superb motorway cruiser , delivering many miles for every hard-earned gallon .

For preference though I requested a petrol engine this time and wasn ’ t disappointed with the outcome . Boy , can this car motor on . There ’ s no hardcore RS trickery going on here ; it ’ s just an efficient two litre four-cylinder motor with adaptive suspension that delivered a fuel consumption average just over 34mpg on some seriously mixed driving . I ’ m happy with that . Business users may prefer the diesel because VED and first registration on

this petrol car is £ 255 and BIK is 37 %.

This engine is responsive and flexible and works well in conjunction with the sevenspeed automatic gearbox . As usual you can shuffle through the settings – Normal , Comfort , Individual – but I felt the car was at its best left in Sport mode throughout where it seemed to shift more decisively meaning I rarely bothered to move to the paddles for extra control . With 273 lb-ft ( 370Nm ) of torque available acceleration from even low speed meant that overtaking was swift and safe .

HOW IT HANDLES Excluding the high-performance versions , with a car like the Audi A4 , which is designed essentially to appeal to just about everybody all of the time , there must perforce have to be some compromises and there is here , but they are well judged .

Even on this model with quattro fourwheel drive and sports suspension , the car still feels like what it really wants to do is travel at very high speeds on the autoroutes of the world . Certainly grip is exceptional

and handling is predictable but for me the steering is too light even when the rack weights up at speed . Overall though , it ’ s a solid and dependable package .

PRESTIGE RIDE I love the Audi A4 interior . It ’ s the best . Others are getting a bit dated or are too fussy but this car ’ s ergonomic dashboard is outstanding as is all the usual sophisticated technology on board . Seven inch infotainment , climate , Bluetooth ; you know what to expect by now . If you shun the options list come ordering time then at least go for the Nappa leather sports seats with lumbar support . Superb on adjustment , comfort and body grip .

It is an impressive interior all right , if a touch Teutonic . The whole inside of the Audi A4 shrieks quality . I cannot and will

not fault it . Occupant space is great upfront and perfectly fine for two in the back ; three at a pinch . I tried the back seat and at 6ft had ample headroom . Truly lanky folk might feel the roof lining though . The boot is deep and spacious although as ever with a saloon , not quite as convenient as a hatch . Then again , the design necessary for a tailgate would mean that subtle , sleek shape would of necessity be compromised .

WOULD I BUY THIS CAR ? In a heartbeat . When you can have just one car then you have to give and take a little . It is my firm conviction that pound for pound the Audi A4 is the best all-rounder on the road today .

Written by Geoff Maxted www . drivewrite . co . uk