New Audi A4L review: How does this entry-level luxury car, which has been hailed as a god car by car reviewers, perform?

As living standards continue to improve, people's demand for cars is changing from a means of transportation to an important "item" that conveys life concepts. Choosing a car not only means a new lifestyle, but also sets the tone for your future life.

In this context, luxury car brands are increasingly favored by consumers. In 2020, despite the "black swan" epidemic, ABB's three luxury car brands all saw sales growth. The 43C, a popular model of the ABB brand, also received positive feedback from the market.

Among them, the 2020 Audi A4L performed particularly well. After accurately positioning the target group as young people, the new model's more fashionable and sporty styling and handling tuning have won praise from users.

In terms of sales, Audi sold 207,386 vehicles in China in the first quarter of this year, up 83.0% year-on-year, of which Audi A4L sales increased 77.4% year-on-year to 43,636 vehicles. Such a luxury model has the potential to become a street car, and it is often seen on the road.

Many professional car reviewers and media on the Internet have given extremely high praise to the A4L, which seems to be "punching the competitor's 3 Series" and "kicking the competitor's C-Class". There are even radical reviews that directly claim that the new A4L can surpass its own S4.

Of course, we have no intention of provoking a fight. In this review, we will focus on the vertical comparison of the new Audi A4L and discuss the changes in the driving experience of the car. Compared with the old model, the new A4L emphasizes the sporty characteristics that young people like. The new split clutch differential and timely four-wheel drive system also bring a completely different driving experience to the car.

So, as the first entry-level luxury car for young people, how does the Audi A4L perform?

A glimpse of the Audi A4L

In terms of appearance, the Audi A4L adopts sharper lines than in the past. While the size of the whole vehicle is further increased, the longitudinal posture is lower, reflecting a stronger sporty feature. It is not difficult to find from the extremely high discussion on the Internet that the design of the Audi A4L is quite popular among the public.

In terms of design elements, the Audi A4L is constantly emphasizing the sporty attributes of the car. The black honeycomb air intake grille, red brake calipers, 35-aspect-ratio 19-inch Pirelli tires, red Alcantara seats, three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel, the S-line logo representing sport, the quattro system that embodies the soul of Audi, etc., are all declaring to us the athlete identity of this luxury car.

There is also an air intake above the front air intake grille that pays tribute to the legendary Sport quattro racing car, but unfortunately it is just a decoration and has no air intake function.

Audi is nicknamed the "light factory", and its headlights are always the most eye-catching part. The headlights of the Audi A4L also adopt the family's latest matrix design language. Under the simple lines are high-performance multi-functional LED lights, which not only integrate daytime running lights, turn signals, high and low beams and other functions, but also high-end technologies such as adaptive high and low beams and auxiliary turn signals, which greatly improve the driving experience.

The overall appearance of the front face gives people a solid feeling of a wide and low-lying sports sedan. With the support of the S-line sports package, it is quite aggressive, which is very attractive to young people with bold personalities.

The three-section waistline design on the side of the Audi A4L not only makes the light and shadow outline a stronger three-dimensional sense, but the 35-aspect-ratio 19-inch tires and extra-long wheelbase also create a full sense of power.

The rear of the car is also the part that has changed the most in this iteration. The taillights also use a dot-matrix LED design, combined with a running chrome trim, which visually widens the body while also giving the new Audi A4L greater recognition, allowing people to distinguish between the old and new models at a glance, letting you know how many people on the road are already driving the new model.

The compact and exquisite German style of Audi A4L is also fully reflected in the interior of the cabin. Carbon fiber trim, red stitching Nappa leather, and large-scale red Alcantara materials make this luxury car have a fighting spirit. The classic black and red contrast design fully reflects the importance of sports in this model.

The two front seats of Audi A4L are moderately hard and soft, and the ride is comfortable. The perfect wrapping and support highlight Audi's deep accumulation in ergonomics. In addition, the seat length can be adjusted to ensure adaptability to users of different body shapes, so that everyone can find a comfortable position regardless of height, weight or size. At the same time, the Alcantara material also brings excellent friction to the seat, which can provide higher grip at high speeds.

Thanks to the 2908mm wheelbase, the rear passenger space is sufficient, leaving ample space for the front row, while the rear passenger's knees can be more than two fists away from the front seat. However, the angle of the rear seat is slightly vertical, and the headrest is relatively forward, so the long-term riding experience is not very good.

In addition, due to the size of the central drive shaft, the height of the central platform is still relatively high, and the fifth passenger in the car may be in an awkward situation.

The most obvious upgrade inside the new Audi A4L is that the previous knob display screen is replaced by a 10.1-inch MMI touch screen, and the original knob position is replaced by a small storage compartment.

Although the triple screen design used in high-end models is not used due to cost constraints, and the touch screen does not have vibration feedback, the same MIB3 system as the family still keeps the car-machine interaction logic of the Audi A4L consistent with the family. In addition, the return of the frequently interacted system such as the air conditioner to physical buttons is more in line with the tastes of some users.

The air-conditioning control knobs and buttons have a delicate feel, crisp feedback and excellent texture. The car also has a real-life screen specifically for the AC system. The buttons also support touch, and you can slide to select control options, minimizing distraction while driving and improving driving safety.

The central control screen and LCD instrument panel maintain the usual high accuracy of Audi cars, and excel in display effect and fluency. However, without the touch screen at the bottom, there is no widely praised and convenient handwriting input, which is a small regret.

In terms of storage space, the armrest box is a semi-enclosed design. The interior is not deep. It is equipped with a 12V cigarette lighter and a Type-C interface. This must be praised because many fast charging protocols now require the use of Type-C charging ports, but most of the current cars still only provide USB-A interfaces, which means you have to bring an extra USB cable when you go out.

However, the Audi A4L does not have a wireless charging station that supports the Qi protocol, reminding us that this is just an entry-level luxury model after all.

Next to the yacht-style gear lever of the Audi A4L are two small storage compartments and card slots, which can hold car keys, highway cards and other small items. Above are two cup holders, a USB port and a 12V cigarette lighter interface. In addition, behind the armrest box, there is also a 12V cigarette lighter interface and two USB charging ports for rear passengers.

The trunk space of this car is deep enough to easily meet the travel requirements of a family of four. There are separated net pockets on both sides for convenient storage of small items, and there is a hidden hook on the top, which is very practical.

You can see the spare tire by opening the cover at the bottom, and the necessary tools for changing the spare tire are in the secret compartment in the front.

It must be mentioned that although the Audi A4L is only an entry-level luxury car, the sincerity of the Audi brand can still be felt in many details.

For example, the four doors of the Audi A4L adopt a completely identical design, with the same Alcantara and Nappa leather decoration, the same support for one-touch glass lifting, and the same support for keyless entry. Unlike many competitors, it secretly castrates the configuration in aspects that are not easy to detect.

Another small detail is that the door handles of the new Audi A4L are designed to be lifted up at a certain angle, which is more comfortable than the previous outward pull. This pursuit of details is the embodiment of the value of luxury cars.

Strong on the outside and tough on the inside, a performance hot hatch among luxury cars

After several days of "appreciation", the appearance and interior of the new Audi A4L are indeed eye-catching. It is stylish, elegant, dynamic and extremely aggressive. Several seemingly mutually exclusive words can be used to describe this first luxury car for young people.

Of course, Audi has never been a showpiece, and half a year of technological accumulation and countless racing awards have long proved this. When we pressed the engine start button and drove this small steel cannon onto the road, we suddenly realized that the biggest difference between the new Audi A4L and the old model is here.

Let’s talk about the overall feeling first. Although the body posture of the new Audi A4L is further lowered and the minimum ground clearance is 118mm, the field of vision inside the car is very wide. Good observation ability can give the driver strong confidence. The full understanding of the surrounding environment makes driving handier and allows people to immerse themselves in the fun of driving.

The new Audi A4L's flat-bottom sports steering wheel has increased damping compared to the past, and there is no dead space on the left and right. The steering feel is sharper, and the instant steering allows the body movement to follow the swing of the steering wheel. The handling has been significantly improved compared to the old model.

The new sports suspension system is one of the biggest changes in the new Audi A4L, and it certainly did not disappoint during driving.

The front and rear adopt five-link independent suspension, which is in line with Audi's sporty tuning style. It can handle road vibrations during driving cleanly and neatly, and can also suppress large-scale running and jumping. Although the 35-aspect-ratio P ZERO tires inevitably make comfort compromises to sports, with Audi's profound suspension tuning and NVH foundation, the Audi A4L is outstanding in handling road noise and tire noise, and performs well among models of the same price.

Of course, it is difficult to have both sportiness and comfort. The shorter suspension travel makes it easier for the new Audi A4L to bottom out when bumping at high speeds.

The sports suspension, 245/35 tires and the reasonable distribution of power by the quattro all-wheel drive system allow the Audi A4L to demonstrate experienced stability during cornering. The vehicle can enter and exit corners in a curve that perfectly meets the driver's expectations, with excellent performance.

Speaking of power, the Audi A4L 45 TFSI Premium Dynamic Edition in our hands is equipped with a 2.0T EA888 vertical engine + 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Under Audi's tuning, the throttle response is sensitive and the power is relatively linear. This engine can output a maximum power of 185kW and a peak torque of 370N·m, and is equipped with a 12V mild hybrid system.

The Audi A4L engine has excellent torque performance in the 1000-2000rpm speed range, and the throttle response is positive. Combined with the wide field of view, it gives the driver sufficient information, providing the conditions for this car to maneuver on crowded roads in the city.

After the engine speed exceeds 2500rpm, the turbo boost system is established, allowing the Audi A4L to enter a higher torque platform and become more powerful.

The excellent driving experience of Audi A4L is also reflected in Audi's precise tuning of the engine and gearbox, which makes the two work in perfect harmony. The selection of the engine torque platform range and the coordination of the gearbox gears ensure that there is no delay between pressing the accelerator and the emergence of power. The rapid and smooth response and change of power can give the driver sufficient confidence and let him fully enjoy the driving pleasure.

However, the biggest difference in driving experience between the new Audi A4L and the old model may still come from the changes in the quattro system. The new model abandons the previous pure mechanical transmission device and uses the self-developed quattro ultra system with split-type clutch differential. The Audi A4L also changes from the previous full-time four-wheel drive to part-time four-wheel drive.

This makes the driving experience of the Audi A4L often more like a high-performance front-wheel drive car, without the rear axle power being involved.

This has led to many netizens criticizing Audi, who believe that Audi A4L's abandonment of the Torsen and crown differential is "cutting corners" to reduce costs. However, a little research will reveal that in fact, the Audi A4L's quattro ultra, which uses a split-type clutch differential, is even more expensive.

The split-plate clutch differential using an electronic control system can combine the multi-plate clutch and the tooth clutch according to circuit instructions, thereby converting it into four-wheel drive. Compared with a purely mechanical structure, it can complete the switching and transmission of power more quickly, and is also an important source of the Audi A4L's powerful handling experience.

At the same time, quattro ultra has a lighter overall weight and better fuel economy. According to official data, fuel consumption can be reduced by 0.3L per 100 kilometers, and it can also help the Audi A4L better adapt to the carbon emission standards of different countries and regions.

Your next car can be a luxury car

After testing, it is not difficult to see that the Audi A4L's facelift is indeed quite sincere, so it is not surprising that it has attracted widespread attention from car enthusiasts.

At a time when young people have become the main force in car purchases, the Audi A4L is expected to become the first luxury car in the minds of young people with its more sporty appearance and driving experience, combined with its century-old technology and brand appeal.

Of course, as an entry-level luxury car, the Audi A4L at this price point cannot be a model without shortcomings due to cost constraints, but the strategy of choosing a single breakthrough in sportiness and youthfulness has been successful, and this car is enough to meet most of the expectations of users for a luxury car. With excellent appearance design and excellent driving experience, it is not difficult to understand why online car reviewers and media are full of praise for the Audi A4L.

The Audi A4L has sufficiently long strengths and not too short weaknesses, which makes it a truly outstanding value for money when compared with its competitors, the C-Class and the 3 Series.

Although the comparison with S4 seems more like a joke among car enthusiasts, as an entry-level luxury model, the Audi A4L is indeed expected to become a leader in leading more users to enter the luxury car field.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.