Click here to buy art prints!

2002 Audi A4 1.8T quattro MT5
2002 Audi A4 3.0 quattro MT6 Avant
Great Pair of Rides

Susan Frissell
Women With Wheels

2002 Audi A4 1.8T quattro MT5

Back-to-back we tested the Audi A4 quattro wagon and sedan, each with a different engine. If we’d been blindfolded, it would have been hard to tell which was which; all things being equal, that is, and the engines the same. Of course, they weren’t, and of course, the vehicles were apples/oranges, but they ride similarly. I don’t know how Audi would feel about the fact that its superior A4 Avant reacts much like its A4 sedan. For those afraid of something looking "wagon-like", I guess it’s a good thing. In fact, Audi has incorporated many of the sedan’s features into the Avant, including the styling. We very much enjoyed driving both and each has its merits. The MT6 Avant with its 3.0-liter engine was fast, responsive and superb on the highway. We’d like to try it in automatic, although the manual shifted effortlessly, providing the extra boost out of this well performing engine. The six-speed manual is standard faire with Audi’s 3.0-liter quattro.

The A4 has been Audi’s best-selling model since after its 1995 introduction; in 2000, Audi sold 34,460 in the U.S. and 3.371 in Canada. When one hears "quattro" they automatically think Audi. Since 1980 Audi has been selling their all-wheel-drive system in its vehicles. Now on its fourth generation, quattro is available in Audi’s A4, A6 and A8 vehicles, as well as the "S" model and TT. Roughly one-in-three quattros are made each year, joining the already 820,000 Audi quattros on the road around the world. Thirty-five percent of these were manufactured in the past two years.

First up was the Audi A4 3.0-liter quattro MT6 Avant. We had the opportunity to drive it 400-or so miles, and were pleased with its performance on the highway. This is an easy vehicle to maneuver; it is responsive and comfortable. Our MT6 came equipped with several options, including leather upholstery ($1,320), glass sunroof (power/tilt, $1,000, sport package (17-inch 5-spoke Cast Alloy Wheels, $750), Bose Premium Sound System ($650), Premium Package (Homelink Remote Transmitter, Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors, Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror w/compass, Memory For Driver Seat & Mirror Position, $550), Heated front and rear seats ($525), and Xenon High Intensity Headlights ($500). MSRP was $32,090; total vehicle price $38,410; destination, $575. Although nice to have, a few of these options we could have lived without, bringing the price of the MT6 into a more affordable range.

There is so much that’s standard on the Audi, one hardly needs to add many extras. Safety/security aren’t even a consideration, as Audi covers all the bases. Fuel economy is a 18/25 mpg for the six-speed manual transmission; automatic, 17/25 mpg with the 3.0-liter quattro version.

Audi provides a lot of new goodies for 2002, including the new 3.0-liter, V6, 220 horsepower engine, which replaces the 2.8-liter. Offering 14 percent more horsepower, higher maximum rpm and improved fuel economy, the 3.0-liter still meets the requirements for ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle). All aluminum, the 3.0-liter engine weighs 44 pounds less than the previous 2.8-liter and is mounted north/south, no longer hidden under Audi’s plastic shrouding.

A4 1.8T Quattro MT5

2002 Audi A4 3.0 quattro MT6 Avant

Appealing to those looking for performance, the A4’s 5-speed manual transmission is standard with the 1.8T engine. Automatic is available in 5-speed Tiptronic transmission which includes steering wheel shift controls. The refined 4-cylinder 1.8T engine packs 170 horsepower, has lighter pistons and redesigned rods, along with upgrades to the fuel injection system. Audi’s 1.8T is the first turbocharged engine to meet the ULEV standard.

Also new for ’02 A4’s are improved aluminum intensive four-link front suspension, a new trapezoid-link rear suspension, and new alloy wheels and larger tires. On the front-wheel-drive models is a new transmission technology: continuously variable automatic transmission ("multitronic"), which is as quick as a manual, smoother than automatic, and with increased efficiency.

A4’s exterior is 2.3 inches longer overall and 1.3 inches longer at the wheelbase. Width is increased by 1.3 inches and taller by .5 inches. Distinctive Audi features include clear-glass headlights, visible chrome-tipped dual exhaust, and signature dual grille and high waistline.

Audi has partnered with OnStar for ’02 to offer telematics services to customers. Two packages are available: Safety and Security plan (emergency service, automatic notification of air bag deployment: OnStar calls the vehicle to determine if assistance is needed, AccidentAssist, remote door lock, $199/yr.), and the Premium Services Plan (Route Support, Concierge and Convenience services, RideAssist, $399/yr.). OnStar will be optional on all Audi sedan and Avant models. The first year is free.

Legroom has been increased inside the A4 cabin, as well as extra head and shoulder room. The rear seat folds 60/40, and standard equipment includes an in-dash six-disc CD changer and dual zone automatic climate control system with sun sensor.

Safety equipment on the Audi A4 includes front and side airbags, SIDEGUARD head protection air bags and ABS, along with Audi’s Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) to prevent skidding.

The A4 sedan’s wider, longer improvements make this one solid vehicle. Cornering and maneuvering the A4 are a pleasure, and with the body 45 percent stiffer, the feeling of performance is memorable. We liked the turbocharged 1.8-liter engine combined with the five-speed manual. In the sedan it’s just enough power to make the A4 extremely agile.

Our test sedan carried a MSRP of 426,650 and total vehicle price of $30,550. Options included the Denim Blue Pearl Effect paint ($450), Glass Sunroof ($1,000), Sport Package ( 17-inch 5-spoke Cast Alloy Wheels, Sport Suspension, Ultra High-Performance Summer Tires, $1,000), Heated front and rear seats ($525), and Premium Package (Homelink Remote Transmitter, Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors, Auto Dimming Interior Mirrors with compass, $350). Destination, $575.

Both sedan and wagon were similarly equipped and if you dropped off a few of the options, each vehicle comes down to a more affordable range. At a MSRP of $26,650 for the A4 sedan, you’re getting a lot for the price. Competitively priced, we think, and the fact that Audi performs all scheduled maintenance at no cost for the first 4 years/50,000-miles is very appealing.

There’s a lot to like about the A4, whether you choose to go with the Avant or the sedan. We favored the Avant, perhaps because you gain a little extra space for hauling.