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Audi is a car maker on the up. Its products are some of the most revered on the market, and have an ever-increasing army of loyal fans.

The Audi A4 is now in its fourth generation, with this all-new model. Audi says its junior executive saloon has the longest wheelbase in its class and is offered with a range of six engines.

We spent a week with an Audi A4 to see if it can compete with the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class.

View our slide show of the Audi A4

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks
Rarely does such a conservative-looking car turn so many heads. That probably had a lot to do with the optional strip of LED daytime running lights stretching across each headlight, which are particularly eye-catching. The fourth generation Audi A4 certainly has more design flair than previous models, with sweeping lines along the sides which are a nod to its coupe brother, the Audi A5. We can't help wondering if Audi could have injected a little more style, without going to the extremes of the radical looking BMW range.

8/10

2. Looks inside
The Audi A4's cabin is certainly one of the car's high points. It has refined what it has learned from years of designing handsome but functional interiors to create a space that's a really nice place to be. The dash sweeps round the driver, for a feeling that the car is all about driving, and the raised centre console features a menu system surrounding the gearstick. The heart of this is a rotary dial, but unlike BMW's iDrive system, Audi uses a number of shortcut buttons to allow quick and easy access to the various menus via a colour screen in easy eyesight of the driver. This keeps the inevitable clutter of buttons to a minimum. Audi has also employed a series of silver inserts to add some extra spice to the look.

9/10

3. Practicality
Audi scores well when it comes to ease of use. It has a good sized 480-litre boot, which is more than the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class, and space can grow to almost 1,000 litres with the rear seats folded. The fact the Audi A4 is a saloon – without the wide-opening tailgate afforded to big hatchbacks – limits ultimate practicality, but it's still one of the better cars in its class. The seats are both comfortable and supportive over long distances, and there's more interior room than there's been in previous Audi A4s, and there's enough room for five adults, thanks largely to a longer wheelbase.

8/10

View our slide show of the Audi A4

4. Ride and Handling
Audi has been criticised in the past for not offering class leading ride and handling qualities, but the German car maker has taken care to ensure the same comments can't be levelled against this model. The Audi A4 feels composed at speed, and rarely gets caught out by sharp bends or unforgiving road surfaces. The ride is also excellent, soaking up bumps with ease, but never at the detriment of comfort. Enthusiasts might argue the BMW 3 Series; with its rear-wheel drive layout is the better driver's car when driving hard, but in all other aspects the Audi reveals itself as a very competent car.

9/10

5. Performance
Audi offers six engine choices for A4 buyers: two 1.8-litres and a 3.2-litre petrol, developing 120PS, 160PS and 265PS respectively. All three engines use Audi's TSI technology, which improves efficiency and reduces emissions. Diesel choices are a 2-litre four cylinder and 2.7- and 3-litre V6s, and are remarkably refined. We tested the 2-litre TDI, which is the most popular engine in the Audi A4 range and found it to offer an excellent blend of performance and fuel economy.

The petrol units offer competitive 0-62mph times, with a 10.5 seconds time for the 1.8 120PS, 8.6 seconds for the 1.8 160PS and 6.2 seconds for the 3.2 V6. Top speeds are 130mph, 140mph and 155mph respectively. The 2-litre, 2.7 and 3-litre diesels return 0-62mph times of 9.4, 7.7 and 6.1 seconds, and top speeds of 134, 140 and 155mph respectively.

The fourth generation Audi A4 has an all-new six-speed manual, which is precise and well weighted. Audi also offers a fast-shifting six-speed tiptronic auto, and a CVT 'box with the 2.7 TDi.

9/10

6. Running Costs
New Audi A4's are a same bet when it comes to holding their value on the used car market, thanks to constant demand from buyers. The diesel engines offer good fuel economy and the 2-litre can return an average of 51.4mpg, and even the 3-litre can cover 40.9mpg. The petrols are predictably less frugal, but still return between 30.4 and 39.8mpg. Insurance groups of 12 and 13 for the most common models are competitive, and these models are also reasonable to tax. Emissions of 144g/km (154g/km for the Multitronic auto) place the 2-litre TDI in band £120 (£145 for the auto), while the 2.7 and 3-litre diesels emit 176 and 183g/km respectively. The 1.8 petrol will emit 169g/km, while the 2-litre produces just 10 more. The 3.2 creates 219g/km.

And for a premium saloon car, the Audi A4 is quite well priced, but the options list is long, tempting and quite expensive.

8/10

7. Reliability
Audis have an excellent reputation for reliability, and the new A4 seems among the most solid the manufacturer has built. The Audi A4 is traditionally one of the top 30 most reliable cars of the past decade, according to the Reliability Index, which tracks the cost and frequency of breakdowns on cars over three years old.

9/10

8. Safety
The Audi A4 achieved a full five star rating in the EuroNCAP crash test programme. It counts daytime running lights, ESP, front and front side airbags among its standard equipment. Higher spec models gain items such as automatic headlights and wipers and bright xenon headlamps.

9/10

9. Equipment
All models receive 17-inch alloy wheels, CD player, dash-mounted screen, climate control, electric front and rear windows, electro-mechanical parking brake and electrically operated and heated door mirrors. The SE model we tested adds a colour screen, a ten speaker audio upgrade, automatic wipers and headlights, three-zone climate control, colour multi-function trip computer and a front centre armrest with 12v socket. The S Line range-topper also receives 18-inch alloys, part leather 'S Line'-embossed seats, bright xenon headlamps with washers and LED daytime running lights.

However, it's easy to overspend on the options list. Our SE test car had many S Line equipment added, which totalled an extra £8,940.

8/10

10. X-Factor
The Audi A4 is the only German car in its class which doesn't offer other road users any preconceptions. It’s a classless machine, and now has the ability to take the fight to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class.

8/10

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Video: Watch the Audi A4 in action