2017 Audi A4: First Impressions
CARS.COM — Seen at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Audi’s all-new 2017 A4 looks like each chiseled line of its front styling is laser cut. The overall shape relies on the same profile and proportions as the outgoing sedan with some new touches, including a hood that wraps into the sedan’s shoulder lines. The overall effect isn’t a large departure from the 2016.
Like the outside, the interior doesn’t take any daring styling leaps except for the available Audi virtual cockpit with a 12.3-inch screen in the instrument cluster; the setup is also offered in the Audi TT. The configurable display shows vehicle settings and navigation routing, including Google Earth integration, in a massive display positioned right in front of the driver.
Audi says the A4’s interior is reminiscent of flagship A8 sedan. I’m having a hard time seeing as strong a connection between the A4 and A8; Mercedes does this to perfection with its C-Class using interior styling cues from the S-Class. The A4 on the show floor was somewhat sterile and cold in its sea-of-grays color combination. A dull gray trim surrounds the front and rear door panel buttons in a texture combination reminiscent of early 2000s Chrysler products; yeah, not very nice. I’m almost certain a livelier color combination could brighten up the interior and make the nicer areas stand out even more.
Those luxurious touches include a large portion of the door panels covered in a microfiber material, plus the substantial-feeling gear selector with a nifty Park button within easy thumb reach. A smidgen more passenger room is freed up with almost an inch of additional headroom up front and a half-inch more legroom in the backseat. The A4 still doesn’t feel cavernous, though it’s slightly easier to fit into than before.
The notion “slightly better than before” sums up the 2017 redesign, and its newfound value plus redeveloped driving experience may help the A4’s case even more.
