I DID NOT drive it....just wanted to get a look as to what the fuss was about.

A few things...I like the exterior...this model on the showroom floor was Ibis (I believe) white with Ebony interior.

The size of the car was suprising. Parked right next to a white A6 also, the diffrence was not that substantial. Also the interior was a good bit larger, especially in the back as in my previous A4's, at 6'5", the back seat rendered useless...this should be an improvement.

My issue, not at one thing is specific but over all....the quality of materials. From the engine to the trunk to the interior. I understand Audi is giving you "more car" so they have to cut costs somewhere, but these where pretty blatent.

To sum up my thoughts to someone else...they took the A6/A8/Q7 interior "layout scheme" and used A3 quality materials.

About 4 years ago when the A3 first debuted, I had pre ordered one. When the first demo got to the dealler...I was immediatly underwhelmed on the inside of the car and materials used...this was a major point of contention and something that made me elect not to buy the A3, rather the new B7 body A4 that had just debuited as well. There was a MAJOR diffrence in materials and quality from the A3 to the A4.

I can honestly say the quality in the prior A4s was vastly superior to this new one, be it the non rock hard plastics, buttons that had a feel of substance and give, a good steering wheel etc.....the new A4 simply feels A3 esk in that way. Almost, dare I say...Nissan-ish in a way.

In summary, Audi took the quality of the A4 interior and moved it upstream to the A5 line. In return, they moved the A3 "quality" up to marry up to that of the A4...all in a A6/8, Q7 interior layout.

Again, with the dollar sucking and Audi giving "more car" it had to happen somewhere. I guess it was just inevidable. I just wish it wasnt so painfully obvious in an area that Audi owners had always been so spoiled.

The jury for me is still out on the car until I drive it, which with Audi Drive Select I have been told is very very good. Til then I will reserve my judgement.

My inital impression thus far however....some positives but more focus and attention around the negatives.

My 2 Euro.

After driving a Q7 loaner a few weeks ago, I was less than impressed by the overall quality of its interior, when compared to my A3. I suspect the Q7 loaner a base model; while my A3 has most(if not all) the bells & whistles

Quality-wise, the only issue I have with my A3 is the OpenSky sunshade; which is basically a a $3.00 roll-up window blind you could buy at a hardware store.

Looking at the numbers, the new A4 has a wheelbase within a half inch of the current A6.

I would hope that the interior room would be similar between the two cars.

Is the interior really that bad? I am coming from a 2005 A4 and I've already placed an order for a new 2009 w/prestige. From the list of features, the new A4 sounds like it's a significant upgrade from the 2005 A4. However, if we're talking about a Nissan quality interior, then any new features really won't matter when the overall quality is crap.

Any other thoughts on this? I haven't gotten a chance to look at the base demo's at the dealership so I'd be curious to hear what other people think.

So you say the quality of the interior has been moved down a notch? How is it then you are getting "more car" then considering that and the choice of uncompetitive engines? Just curious.

Its not the trim "level" that is that diffrent it was the type of plastics used on the dash, the steering wheel especially, button feel, all things that are the same reguardless of trim level (I belive the Sline wheel is a bit diffrent)

Which can be a good or bad thing.

Not that there was anything wrong with the previous interiors, but this new interior takes what I liked about the upscale C6 and makes it more sporty. IMO there is no car out there in this class that compares to my current B8 interior - none. I do agree that the 'base' A4 Premium model w/o the MMI knob situated behind the shifter and Electronic Climate Control is harder to get excited about. If I was going to nit pick, I'd say that the plastic used for the CD Changer is too shiny and a different texture would have improved that one area but overall, I think the A4 interior displays quality.

My friend is picking up their 09 A4 with Prestige this afternoon after skipping the Infiniti G35 $5k cash back special at the beginning of the month. They instead went with the Audi over the Infiniti/Nissan interior and it was one of their biggest gripes about the G35. They liked the power but it wasn't enough to keep them away from the new A4 even though it was down significantly more in horsepower. I thought that was very interesting considering but it just shows that sometimes having the fastest car doesn't make it the best.

This interior shot is my favorite - just about perfect.

<img src="http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/s/D/1/09a4avant_int2.jpg">

Even the standard interior is very well done.

<img src="http://www.autofans.us/images/Audi/2009%20Audi%20A4%206.jpg">

<img src="http://autoreview.belproject.com/media/1/20080325-audi-a4-avant-tfsi-interior.jpg">

I had a similar impression of the interior, but drove a 2.0T with beige leather. I expect the interior to look better in a darker shade.

One area I feel Audi has been cutting corners is the door pulls. Hard plastic just doesn't feel all that good when you grab it...

The interior looks quite a bit better with the uplevel trim bits.

When I sat in the basr b8 I thought the same thing, it was very much like my A3. I remember feeling underwhelmed by the A3 at first, but I now like it a lot. The s-line a3 seats are sweeter I'd say though.

As for the s-line in that picture, it looks very a5ish don't ya think? The 2 cars may merge into almost identical machines like the 330 coupe vs sedan.

same quality levels. but even more modern deisgn and avant garde. even reminded us of a baby A8. so i guess we disagree.

Fuel economy, not high horsepower, is one of the major parameters that U.S. consumers now consider important.

Audi, despite the naysayers here, may have made very competitive decisions regarding engine choices. It's much easier to increase horsepower than to decrease it, from a marketing point of view.

Infiniti's products are saddled with high horsepower, fuel guzzling V6 engines. To increase consumer appeal, based on the new economic realm of increased fuel economy, Infiniti, for example, would need to introduce vehicles with smaller motors. From a financial angle, this would reduce already substandard margins.<ul><li><a href="http://www.motorauthority.com/news/sedans/report-bmw-considering-four-cylinder-3-series-for-us/">Motorauthority article</a></li></ul>

I came from a B6 A4 to my A5. While there are a couple of places where you do notice some cost-cutting (though, personally, not as blatantly as the original poster described), it's FAR from a bad place to be in. This thread makes too big a deal out of slightly lower-quality plastics (which still feel very nice). The B8 Audis provide a very, very nice place to be in day in and day out.

at least for now anyway.

I think the wheel base is similar but interior is another story. I have a C5 A6 and it is much larger inside then the B8 A4.

you driven the new 2.0T? It has 258 pounds of torque... Compare that to the 3.0 inline 6 in the 328.

Even if you get the top trim Prestige, you will get the dash mounted MMI controller. To me that's the biggest gripe. I had figured that the interior design would be similar to the C6 A6, where the layout is identical between nav and non-nav models. I simply don't care for the barren look of the B8 center console or the dimple MMI controller of non-nav equipped cars. I wasn't planning on getting navigation (have a Garmin 760 which does the job quite well) but I have to rethink that decision now.

A lot of that wheelbase stretch has gone toward shortening the front overhang (about 3"). To me the interior feels about the same size as the E90 BMW 3-Series which is just fine by me, but anyone claiming that it's almost A6-like inside in terms of space is sadly mistaken.

It is also big. I was behind a black one on the highway yesterday and I thought it was an A6 until I saw the A4 badge.

I am getting a TT MK2 which along with the A5 and R8 is has the best interior in the Audi line up. I was hoping the A4 would share the quality of the A5 interior but it is a cheaper version effectively.

The guy has stated some legitimate concerns of his about downgraded interior materials. You can disagree with his assessment but to insult him is uncalled for.

The 2.0T should have good torque (haven't driven one and won't until the 6MT version comes out) but some people want both V6 smoothness and strong torque. Audi is making you make a tough choice.

I would have to say that coming from a B6 A4, it is a totally different feeling. I definitely love my B6 interior more for its design simplicity (I am a designer, so I care about that sh1t) and the generally matte finished plastics. But the B8 is really, really nice. Definitely more use of glossy plastics and less use of rubberized plastics. It is a bit more showy and less cohesive, but my big worries were put to rest. I sat there pressing the buttons for some time and I think that they will be fine.

BTW I was using the lower end MMI with knob above and it seemed fine.

"they moved the A3 "quality" up to marry up to that of the A4...all in a A6/8, Q7 interior layout." The A8 interior layout is totally different from the new A4, A5, and A6 interior.

Ouch!

he can insult =)

I have reaearched and the differences are less than you think.
A4 is about 1.2" narrower, 1" taller and same legroom in the front. Biggest difference as I recall is rear legroom. The C5 A6 has about 2.5" more.

The only difference should be 2 doors &amp; a couple more window switches.

It's been many months now, but when I was at the Detroit autoshow, I sat in both &amp; the quality of material was identical.

Are you sure there's a difference in quality between the two?

after 2 months. The material around the console and the switch is more "shiny" as compare to the previous generation and therefore it looks more plastic. However, the action of the buttons is better and overall I still think it is much better than a 3 series or C class.

As he stated, we know each other.

The A4 just seemed alot smaller when sitting in it, esp in the front.

but he's your friend and you can treat him anyway you like. I thought you were responding to a stranger in harsh fashion.

If so I'm going to be doing the same thing.