2017 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro Long-Term Update 1: Feeling Quick

The 2017 Audi A4 2.0T is a sleeper—you wouldn’t expect the understated luxury sport sedan to be one of the quickest cars in its class, yet the four-door boosts a 0–60-mph time in the low 5-second range. No matter the launch method, our all-wheel-drive Audi feels quick, but to fully explore the car’s performance, we sent it to the track for Motor Trend testing.

Our well-equipped 2017 A4 tester reached 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Unlike the less powerful but cheaper and more efficient A4 Ultra, our A4 2.0T with all-wheel drive is powered by a turbo-four making 252 hp and 273 lb-ft. In the real world, drivers who prefer to stomp and go will find a bit of an initial delay followed by impressive acceleration when the car realizes you’re more interested in GO than MPG.

At the track, road test editor Chris Walton found that the best launch method involves switching the car to its Dynamic mode, turning off stability control, and pressing down on the gas and brake pedals: “It revs precisely to 2,750 rpm and then gently leaves the line,” he said. “Upshifts are extremely smooth.”

Quick shifts are made possible by the car’s seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. At low speeds, such as commuting in a stop sign–filled residential neighborhood, the transmission doesn’t quite give linear responses. More sensitive drivers might feel a bit of resistance as they first press down on the accelerator before the car goes. It’s not a big deal, and some will find that small trade-off is worth it for the transmission’s quick responses when you’re driving faster.

The engine sounds fine, but you won’t be mistaking it for anything other than the turbo-four that it is. Those who want the sound of a V-6 in this price class should consider the Acura TLX 3.5 and Buick Regal GS, or even the all-wheel-drive Ford Fusion Sport if you don’t mind a car without a luxury badge on its hood.

As with most cars in this class, the 2017 A4 is equipped with an engine stop/start system that feels smooth enough. If you’re into quick starts from street lights turning green, however, you’ll want to turn the system off (but that’s no different than most versions of this tech). In a segment filled with more challengers than you’d probably expect, the A4 2.0T’s quickness is a good advantage to have. The twin-clutch transmission could be even smoother at lower speeds, but moving to a different transmission might reduce some of the responsiveness that draws some to the car in the first place.

Read more about our 2017 Audi A4 2.0T:

• Long-Term Arrival: A Year With a Sharp 3 Series Competitor

2017 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro
BASE PRICE	$40,350
PRICE AS TESTED	$52,325
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan
ENGINE	2.0L/252-hp/273-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION	7-speed twin-clutch auto
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	3,645 lb (56/44%)
WHEELBASE	111.0 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	186.1 x 72.5 x 56.2 in
0-60 MPH	5.2 sec
QUARTER MILE	14.0 sec @ 98.2 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	126 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.84 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	26.3 sec @ 0.69 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	24/31/27 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	140/109 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.73 lb/mile

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