To provide some background, I’ve owned my 2011 Aruba Blue Audi A4 Sedan for about one year now and am coming from a 1998 Nissan Altima GXE. The 2011 A4 is similar to the 2010 model with only a few subtle differences. There are three reasons why this is the best car I ever owned: the versatility of the car to switch from regular fuel-efficient mode to a sporty S mode and back, the world-renowned Quattro (four-wheel drive) system and the gorgeous interior.
This car is the perfect combination of fuel-efficiency and performance. When running errands around town, shift into D mode and reap the rewards of the fuel economy. I get around 24-25 mpg in the city and 30-31 mpg on the highway. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, simply shift into sport mode, which causes the transmission to stay in gear longer and shift at a higher RPM. This leads to faster acceleration and a sensation of increased power. If you have the Tiptronic transmission, you can also shift manually in D mode and control the shifts yourself. The 8-speed transmission is efficient, reliable and smooth-shifting.
The Audi four-wheel drive system is an amazing piece of engineering. The car always feels like it’s on rails, even if it’s snowing or raining. Even on sharp turns, there is an increased feeling of stability and no loss of grip between the tires and pavement. The car is ready to be driven in any climate as well as taken to the track – not something any family sedan can say coming from the factory.
Lastly, the Audi interior is absolutely remarkable. The seats are very practical, yet luxurious and comfortable. They feature fully adjustable lumbar support, extendable leg support as well as heated seats (very useful for cold weather). The leather steering wheels and the aluminum trim inserts perfectly complement each other. Due to the amount of time you spend interacting with the interior, its appearance and practicality immediately attracted me.