2010 Audi A4 Vehicle Overview

At first glance, it may appear as though the 2010 Audi A4 lineup has been eviscerated. The convertible is gone, and so is the V6 -- what's next, cloth upholstery and crank windows? In actuality, though, there are perfectly good explanations for both developments. The good folks at Audi haven't lost their minds, and the 2010 A4 remains an eminently desirable sport sedan/wagon with arguably the nicest interior in this segment.

Now for the explanations. Let's start with the convertible. Last year's A4 drop top was an outdated design based on the previous-generation A4, so its torch has been passed to the foxy new A5 Cabriolet. As for the pricey V6, it couldn't even outperform the base turbocharged four, so Audi will henceforth send its new supercharged S4 (reviewed separately) into battle against upper-crust contenders like the BMW 335i, while the four-cylinder A4 2.0T will continue to lock horns with entry-level sport/luxury cars like the BMW 328i and Mercedes-Benz C300. See? It all makes sense. All is well in Ingolstadt.

One thing that hasn't changed about the A4 is its precise and balanced handling, which combines with its slick styling and upscale cabin to provide an undeniably premium driving experience. Indeed, the only pressing question about the 2010 A4 is whether that four-cylinder engine is up to the task given that most of its rivals offer smooth six-cylinder power. To be fair, the A4's turbocharged 2.0-liter four puts up competitive acceleration numbers despite its cylinder deficit. Yet the only luxury cars of this sort with four-cylinder power are ones on the fringe like the front-wheel-drive Acura TSX.

Otherwise, the 2010 Audi A4 is clearly one of the front-runners in this segment. We'd still recommend that A4 shoppers take a close look at the competition, including the aforementioned 328i (the only direct rival available as a wagon) and C300 as well as the Infiniti G37. Budget-minded shoppers might want to look at Volkswagen's Passat, which is available as a sedan or wagon and offers a detuned but still sprightly version of the A4's turbocharged four. So does the sleek Volkswagen CC, which also features a V6. But if you're after a premium sport sedan or wagon with an appealing mix of style and substance, you can't go wrong with the 2010 Audi A4.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Audi A4 is a four-door compact luxury vehicle available in two body styles: sedan and wagon (Avant). The base A4 trim level is the sedan-only 2.0T FrontTrak, which comes with -- you guessed it -- front-wheel drive, as well as a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The other trim level is the 2.0T Quattro, which comes with all-wheel drive and is available as either a sedan or a wagon.

Standard features are clustered into three packages: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Note that the base 2.0T FrontTrak is not eligible for the Prestige package, whereas the 2.0T Quattro is eligible for all three. The standard Premium array includes 17-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, an electronic parking brake, a sunroof, air-conditioning, power front seats with driver lumbar, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, leather upholstery, cruise control, a split-folding rear seat, Audi's second-generation MMI system (mounted to the dash) and a 10-speaker CD audio system with a subwoofer, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.