Little chrome or other adornments detract from the A4's basic shape--not even an antenna. (Antennae for the radio, telematics and navigation systems are embedded into the rear glass.) The A4 takes styling cues from both the TT roadster and A6, including a more prominent chrome-trimmed grille and notched-in flush taillights. In short, it's a particularly handsome car. Complaints? The new A4 may be too much the little A6, and not distinct enough it its own right.

The body panels cover lots of changes underneath. For starters, the new A4 is larger than the old. Wheelbase increases 2.1 inches to 104.3, and length 2.7 inches to 179, for dimensions roughly comparable to the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The A4's unitized body and frame is 45 percent stiffer than it predecessor's, according to Audi, yet substantially lighter. Thicker side windows -3 millimeters thicker--account for a three-decibel reduction in interior noise, by Audi's measure. We found nothing in our road test to discredit these claims.