Test drive Audi A4 B8 since 2007 sedan

Boys from high society

No matter how the Japanese try, releasing fast, spectacular and expensive trimmed infinity and lexus, in Russia only the offspring of three German families are considered truly prestigious. In two of them, replenishment was just recently. So we will try to find out which of these sophisticated and very gifted natures worthy of the rank of middle class king.
Does the cut of tuxedo make?
The latter class of the latter generation made our debut last summer. Ingolstadt A4 appeared in Russia six months later. So, from the point of view of the technical, both are equipped with a single higher category. In each other than the most popular and therefore chosen by us for comparing 1.8 liter engines with superchargers in stock, five more engines. Both Audi and the Mercedes Benz can be built for yourself, choosing from a huge list of various equipment. There are all -wheel drive modifications. Finally, our heroes of comparable money cost.
True, looking at the four, you will not immediately believe that the car had a change of generations. Once again, the radiator grille increased in size, the sickle -shaped LED ribbons fashionably emphasized by the headlights. But other changes in the design are deftly encrypted in those who have already, who have already admitted, the slight soreness of academic smooth forms. Of course, conservatism for prestigious cars is one of the main virtues. But even without an encroachment on the holy Mercedes Ben, it was possible to change very visibly. The roundness of his predecessor was hidden more sharp, rigid faces that added assertiveness and expressiveness to the machine. And after all, no one will say that from this C-class has lost at least a fraction of elegance and nobility.
Buttons in a row
But inside the picture turned out to be the opposite. Yes, the Mercedes-Benz has the most convenient front chairs with giant ranges of adjustments, allowing you to sit comfortably with both a miniature young lady and a tall 195 cm tall. The spectacular instrument shield with three discs of tachometer, speedometer, sensors of fuel level and cooling fluid. The placers of the buttons and rotating pens of climate control at the central console are understandable and convenient to handle.
      
The lines in the interior of the current C-class are sharper than the predecessor, they are in harmony with both the appearance and with the assertive character of the machine
The only joy in the combined upholstery of the seats is a tenacious and practical fabric of the central inserts. Alas, in C200K a special series of other clothes for the chairs is not provided
 
    
In addition to visible in the photo of the lamps in the basic configuration of C-class there is a couple of navigational lamps in the mirror case
The Mercedes's glove box is separated by a shelf, but even in a large department, magazines will be closely
The central box is twice as roomy than the audi. By removing the partition, you can turn the cup holders into another tray tray
 
    
In the basic configuration of C-class there are already electrical adjustments of the front seats in height
C-class parking sensistor, but in a special series is already present
In the doorbell pocket, only a pack of cigarettes or a small format book will fit
 
   
The front passenger has a rather roomy mesh in the legs
As in many other Mercedes Boys, the cruise control is inconvenient. You touch it every now and then, trying to turn on the turn signals
 
But the artificial leather of Artiko, laid down by a special series, is suspiciously similar to a dermatin of a regular Ikarus. And even with the chopped forms of the torpedo, designed to add the interior of masculinity, gaps with the thickness of the front panel and door upholstery do not combine at all. And is this a person of blue blood? Just like a focus, by golly.
 
By default, the four seats are upholstered with fabric and equipped with mechanical adjustments. But you can improve the finish and comfort for almost every taste and wallet. In the list of options and electric drives of the front seats, and a package of audi-exclusive with the skin of the Valcon. All together costs 300 393 rubles
 
The central console, which was deployed to the driver, combined with the instrument panel with a single frame, the MMI display is now the A4 interior is not inferior to the decoration of the more expensive six
   
     
Cosmetic mirrors with backlight, individual reading lights and a glass is in the basic configuration of Audi
There is only one department in the glove box, but deep
A dozen compact disks will enter the boxing box, and the tunnel cup holders are comfortable for banks of different calibers conveniently
 
    
A fashionable button for launching a motor without a key costs 28,143 rubles in the audi, and as many as 1136 in the Mercedes
Parking sensors are displayed on the MMI display
A4 front door pockets are more spacious and with a special bottle compartment
 
   
For 25 180 rubles. A4 can warn about cars in neighboring lanes
The usual cruise control for A4 costs 12 107 rubles. For 58 990 you can order active it will maintain a given distance
 
But the interior of Audi is good unconditionally. At first, you think that you will definitely get lost in the myriads of the buttons, in the menu of the on -board computer and the MMI system that controls all kinds of useful functions, starting from the heating of the seats and ending with a delay in turning off the headlights when setting the machine to the alarm. But literally after a couple of minutes you are already absolutely clear to you. Yes, and eyes, hands, backs are extremely pleasant to the selected and fitted decoration materials with particular thoroughness, precisely calculated shapes of seats, spectacular, but not annoying red-white lighting of the devices.
They pretended
How much has already been said about the close sofas of the C-class and the A4 of the previous generation! It would seem that the Germans listened to criticism, making cars longer their wheelbase increased by 45 and 158 mm respectively. And if I, with my height of 186 cm, transplanting from the driver's seat, I hardly squeezed Audi in the back seat, now I sit down much more freer. However, the knees in the plastic of the front seat still rest. And I touch the bend of the roof over the door with the crown.
   
   
 
 
 
Theoretically three-seater sedan sedan sodan sodan sedans were made for two people, to whose services a Mercedes-Benz offers not only an armrest, but also the cup holders built into it
 
On the sofa of the Mercedes-Ben is not at all spacious. If passengers are to match the driver, medium height, they will be free here. But those who waved above do not blame me. Meanwhile, say, on the sofas of the Passat, C5 or Mondeo is much more spacious.
 
The dimensions are given in centimeters. * The distance from the seat pillow to the ceiling. The space for the legs of the seated rear is indicated provided that the driver’s growth is 185 cm.

Let it be written with a pen
I wonder what methodology for determining the volume of the trunk the Germans used, intending the C-class and A4 very decent 475 and 480 liters? With comparable data in the cargo compartment of the already mentioned Ford, even with the sedan body, two large road suitcases can be almost harassed. And in the four, a couple of our standards enters, nearly tearing off the expensive and high -quality upholstery. In the C-class, because of very outstanding wheel arches, one is generally placed!

   
Special covers protect the luggage from contacts with fasteners. However, the trunk from this becomes even more closely
 
   
Audi sofa pillow does not lean back, but the back is still folded almost flush with the trunk floor
Niches for small things are in the holds of both sedans. But only in C-class with a net
 
We are ready to assume that economic work is not a royal business. But the representative of the Stuttgart surname also has a loading height of 5 cm more than the audi. And the backs of the sofa are laid out only for a surcharge of 394 (not available for a special series), while in the screwed tightly there is not even a hatch for long -termers.
Not Newtonian horses!
Of course, we did not expect accelerations pressing in the chairs for such exercises in each of the families that there are appropriately prepared candidates in each of the families. We only reasonably assumed that A4 with an engine of 160 liters. With. It will be difficult to keep up with C200K, in the harness of which 24 horses are more. It turned out, however, that power is not always in horsepower. At speeds up to 140 km/h Audi, like the C-class, did not force to be nervous with prolonged overtaking. And he started just as confidently. No mysticism: the inholstadt sedan turbocomer develops a torque of 250 Nm as well as the opponent's unit with a mechanical supercharger.
Moreover, the A4 multitronics allows you to more accurately control the thrust and the transmission in manual mode changes faster than a somewhat thoughtful 5-speed automatic box of the Mercedes Benz. This advantage of the audi is especially noticeable, not only if you need to quickly dive into the neighboring row in the city, but also on a winding suburban path when braking the engine before the next turn. Which, in our opinion, is completely leaning Audi at maximum speed.
The dynamics of slowdown does not cause complaints both slow down with a margin. But because of the opportunity to more subtly manage the inhibition in this case, we liked the C-class more. Audi pedal is slightly more tight, and its free move is also great.
Unexpectedly, unexpectedly
In the standard version, cunning, changing stiffness shock absorbers of the Mercedes Benets cope with joints, pits on the asphalt and even paving stones. The engine is not annoying, although it stores noble silence only at idle. Alas, in general, the noise insulation of C-class we cannot call an example to follow. At a speed of 130 km/h, the rustling of the rear tires passes into a howl overlapping the sound of the motor. Around then, the wind begins to fulfill its mournful part and the wind confused in large mirrors.
What can not be said about the four, the car almost silently cuts the runaway flow of air. Here, the aerodynamics are canceled, and the sound insulation at height very hard tires of Michelen-pilot sport resembled only with a slight rustle. Thanks to the variator, the motor, which issues the maximum torque from 1,500 rpm, kept silence, in the standard modes without lifting the tachometer arrow above the mark 2000. And only about 4000 rpm was erupted in a dry, with a hoarseness of the branded roar of Audi.
But we also deprived the Ingolstadt prince. Its suspension adapted for Russia still remained very short -handed. While the road rubbish is laid in the working ranges of shock absorbers, the car rolls smoothly. However, even before the standard lying policeman, you need to slow down almost until a complete stop, otherwise the suspension is hard, with a well -tangible in the cabin, it closes with a knock.
To Russian is good
But in terms of sled manners, complete equality. Both rivals were born in order to give their owners the pleasure of driving. They perfectly hold the high -speed line, very reliable on a fast arc and adequate in ligaments of slow turns.
 
The suspension rigidity system, the effort on the steering wheel and dynamics of the car Audi Drive drivers professing active driving style will surely appreciate it. Price from Ingolstadt 119 590 rubles
 
Yes, the steering wheel of Audi at low speeds is easier and a little less informative than that of the Mercedes Benz. It is not perfect and C-class, despite the standard adjustment system, automatically, depending on the driving style and the condition of the road that regulates the rigidity of the shock absorbers, the machine allows itself light rolls with intense restructuring. But these lungs, as they say, within the limits of the tolerance, became the result of an increased road clearance of an increased specially for Russia. However, lovers of undiluted drive for any of the sedans can order a special sports suspension to fully experience the charms of Russian roads.
How else?
In the euroncap tests, both sedans were divided into maximum five stars. Six pillows of safety pillows front, lateral and window safkers helped to earn the highest grades of Audi. The Mercedes Benz also had a knee, but such cars are not supplied to Russia.
 
Thanks to the power elements of the body and inflatable curtains, one of the obligatory tests of the Euroncap side strike at a speed of 29 km/h both sedans handed over perfectly
 
However, judging by the report of Europeans, with a frontal blow, the driver and without it turned out to be well protected. Otherwise, even the basic versions of both models have a full arsenal of Air Bags and ABS active security tools, ESP and the anti-wings system. Actually, in high society it is impossible otherwise.
Ahead of the planet
If we consider close to equipping the configuration, with all the desire, even among the prestigious sedans of the middle class, you will not find cars more expensive than our rivals. But the sole leader is still a Mercedes-Benz. The most affordable C180K costs 30,500 or 1,100,675 rubles, that is, 89,665 rubles. More than the cheapest A4 and 164,575 more than the BMV of the 3rd series. Moreover, such a C-class does not have a heating of seats or a radio. Of course, you can significantly save on the cost of options, purchasing cars of a special series. For example, when buying C200K, the benefit will be about 7600. However, the equipment to the level of such a Mercedes Benz is already quite rich (the MMI system, rear parking sensors, good music) A4, you still save about 120 thousand rubles.
   
The Multimedia Center of the Mercedes Benz with a DVD player and navigation costs 4700, about 30,000 rubles more than a similar audi system. In addition, he does not know many roads even in the Moscow region. Say, in the place of Solntsevo there is a dark forest
The fact that the C-class of a special series has a full-fledged reserve is very correct
 
In addition, planned maintenance will cost the owner of C-class approximately twice as much. And although the interval interval in both cases is 15,000 km, the four do not have to go through once a year as a chain.
    
We decided:
That's a surprise, so a surprise we did not expect that one of the rivals would easily arrange another. Still, every retinue of the highest-class engineers, advanced technologies and a clear understanding of the task: an expensive car for a very demanding buyer. Nevertheless, the C-class surprised, in the end, having received only a solid four (the average score is 4.0). The car is going wonderful, we can even agree with its price, accept a small and uncomfortable trunk. But with an inaccurate place and very mediocre sound insulation, engineers from Stuttgart need to urgently do something.
Actually, on the mistakes of the opponent Audi (4.3) and won. The unexplored sensations of quality and quality that the car from Ingolstadt gives was determined by its advantage. Yes, the suspension of the four is harsh, but it is unlikely that such a fee for almost perfect handling can be considered overstated.

Andrey Koltun, photo of Maxim Goncharov

 

 

Source: Magazine buy a car [09/2008]