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audi a4 Full OverviewProsFeels powerful and quickFunctional and understated interior designKiller audio system ConsFirm rideGlitchy and inconsistent techLesser mild hybrid setupAn exceptional sport sedan can be your everything. Everyday commuter, long-haul road tripper, airport taxi, canyon carver. The latest-generation Audi A4 was introduced for 2017 and got a midcycle refresh for 2020; as it sits this year, the German automaker's podium-ranked sport sedan is quite good but not exceptional. We tested a 2022 Audi A4 S Line to break it all down.Not Your Average AudiAudis are known as the subtle, under-the-radar choice in the luxury compact segment, compared to more ostentatious options like an extravagantly styled Alfa Romeo Giulia or a tail-happy BMW 3 Series. Our test car was not the dark gray, black interior, fade-to-the-background Audi that usually comes to mind.Instead of a grayscale bankermobile, the 2022 Audi A4 S Line that arrived in our test fleet was ticket-me Tango Red Metallic and featured a Black Optic Plus package. The latter decked out the badging, side mirrors, grille, rocker panel detail, and front and rear bumper trim in high-gloss black. The package also adds red brake calipers, unique interior trim, and a knockout set of 19-inch five-spoke wheels that look straight off a previous-generation Audi S4. If you want a luxury car that blends in, this version of the A4 isn't it.Don't worry about the styling being too over the top; there's enough go to match all the show. Our Audi A4 S Line test example was fitted with the more powerful of the A4's 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 options (badged A4 45 TFSI), producing 261 hp (more on that later) and 273 lb-ft of torque delivered to all four wheels with help from a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and Quattro all-wheel drive.Opting for the more powerful engine buys the Audi S Line package, similar to what BMW would supply with its M Sport offerings. In the A4, it means a 0.9-inch-lower sport suspension, ventilated disc brakes with larger rotors, larger and wider wheels, and illuminated aluminum door sills. Think of the A4 S-Line as a would-be four-cylinder S4.How Quick Is an Audi A4?For a sport sedan lacking M, RS, or AMG badges, the 2022 Audi A4 S Line is legitimately quick. In our testing, the A4 S-Line reached 60 mph in 5.2 seconds on its way to a 14.0-second quarter mile at 98.8 mph.Based on the test figures and our on-road driving impressions, we wager this engine makes more than its claimed 261 hp. Two direct competitors, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti and Cadillac CT4-V, squirted to 60 mph in 5.2 and 5.1 seconds, but those cars produced 280 and 325 hp, respectively. They both weigh within 100 pounds of the A4 S Line.This Audi is a clear outlier, but that said, our test drivers said the A4's engine didn't feel as gutsy as the 300-hp four-cylinder found in the Volkswagen Arteon we tested on the same day.However, the test car did not drive like a standard A4. The S Line's larger ventilated brake rotors and the summer tires that came with the optional 19-inch wheels paid off, too, keeping the chassis stable under hard braking and capable of stopping from 60 mph in 111 feet—surprisingly good for a non-S4.The transmission was reluctant to downshift around our figure-eight course, even using the paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel, which dulled the car's thrust response significantly. Brakes were easy to modulate and turn-in was solid; the steering was notably precise, if slightly numb.As for the numbers, the A4 S Line completed its figure-eight lap in 25.9 seconds at 0.70 average g. Those figures slightly trail the Alfa's 25.7-second lap at 0.71 average g, but the A4 took a narrow victory on the skidpad at 0.92 g compared to the Giulia's 0.91.Living With the Audi A4Treating the 2022 Audi A4 S Line the way an owner might, the car has notable strengths and room for improvements. First, the interior. This cabin is outstanding and full of tech, minimalist but not barren, and a showcase of the build quality Audi is famous for.Among our favorite details is the shifter, a beefy thing that fills your palm just right. We also have praise for the controls' layout. Where higher-end Audis utilize a secondary touchscreen for climate controls, the A4 offers elegant physical buttons and switches that are easy to operate while keeping your eyes on the road. Little details like a frameless rearview mirror elevate the A4 above range-topping trims from sub-luxury brands.A special shout-out to the volume knob just to the right of the shifter; more recently redesigned Audis swapped this setup for a quarter-sized touchpad you must approach like a DJ scratching a tiny record. We'll take a physical rotating knob any day, especially if it controls the A4's outstanding 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio. The system is every bit as rich and powerful as buyers fantasize about when they debate shelling out for an optional premium setup. Lower frequencies at high volumes excited a light rattle from the driver's side door panel, but we chalk that up more to the wattage sent to those speakers than the A4's otherwise seemingly stellar build quality.The back seat isn't so bad, either. Sitting behind my own driving position at 6-foot-1, I still had a couple inches between my knees and the seat back, though my head was firmly against the headliner. There is zero downgrade in material quality, though, which is to say the leather upholstery is fitting of a luxury sedan. The cupholder design in the fold-down center armrest is clever but will struggle to accommodate American-sized soft drinks.The 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system is the same unit you see in a six-figure Audi S8, and although the layout is intuitive and the display quick to respond, this is one area where the A4 could use work. There's no anchor point for your thumb to aid more accurate touch inputs, but that was the least of our issues.Numerous times upon starting, the screen would pop up mostly blank as if it had been tripped up loading an asset. Tapping one of the menu icons to the left returned the system to its normal operations. We also had issues with Bluetooth and wireless Apple CarPlay pairing; each took multiple attempts. Especially compared to the multimedia systems in the Tesla Model 3 and new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the A4 infotainment doesn't look as impressive, either.Driving the 2022 Audi A4 S Line was less frustrating. This powertrain is more than capable of scooting the A4 around with alacrity, and as we mentioned, we wouldn't be surprised to find it makes an extra 50 hp or so. The steering has purposeful weight, if little feel, and though the brakes are a little grabby, after an adjustment period by the driver they're easy to modulate and trustworthy in an emergency.Two other notes. First, this is an older version of Audi's 2.0-liter turbo-four, and although it gained a mild hybrid system for the 2021 model year, it's a 12-volt system rather than the 48-volt setup in newer Audis. (Remember, the most recent A4 redesign occurred for the 2017 model year.) If the new system is jalapeno, the A4's is bell pepper.The most notable consequence here relates to low-speed behavior. Audi's auto stop-start system is imperceptible in the new-for-2022 Audi A3 but sends a rumble reverberating through the A4's body. And the A4's dual-clutch gearbox can fumble while creeping along in traffic, which isn't an issue when a more powerful hybrid system can ease you along.Second, in S Line trim with our test car's sweet-looking 19-inch wheels, the A4 rides firmly and exhibits major road noise over anything but perfect pavement. The suspension pays off in body control—the 0.9-inch drop and wider rolling stock contribute more stability in corners—but detracts from the A4's aspirations as a do-everything sport sedan. Don't expect to experience a cosseting ride home from the airport, in other words.Flawed, Still FantasticThe 2022 Audi A4 S Line can't be your everything. It's too stiff and noisy to pass as a pure luxury car, the transmission can be clumsy for performance driving, and the tech isn't quite there for 2022. Rather, the A4 S Line is for buyers who put style and sportiness first but who will happily trade the extra power of an S4 or M340i for better fuel economy and more feature content at a similar price point.Looks good! More details?2022 Audi A4 Quattro S-Line Specifications BASE PRICE $43,095 PRICE AS TESTED $55,665 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE 2.0L turbo direct-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4 POWER (SAE NET) 261 hp @ 5,250 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 273 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3,712 lb (56/44%) WHEELBASE 111.0 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 187.5 x 72.7 x 55.3 in 0-60 MPH 5.2 sec QUARTER MILE 14.0 sec @ 98.8 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 111 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.92 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 25.9 sec @ 0.70 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 24/31/27 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 408 miles ON SALE Now Show All

Miss the Big Game this year? Maybe you don't get into the whole "sports thing." Either way, the commercials are always a huge part of the Super Bowl broadcast. Seeing as how you're reading about those game-day ads here, on MotorTrend, guess what? We're going to talk about the car commercials from Super Bowl LVI, of course! Here's a quick recap of the car spots we spotted during the game:Chevrolet | "New Generation"Fans of "The Sopranos" probably spat out their drinks and sat up when the HBO series' theme song "Woke Up This Morning" started oozing from their speakers while the show's opening sequence driving from New York City to New Jersey rolled on. But something in the iconic opening is different...James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano isn't peeking at us through the rearview mirror...it's his on-screen daughter, Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler). And there's something different about Tony's '90s Chevy Suburban...the dashboard looks way too modern. Without giving away the ending, "New Generation" reimagines the Sopranos' original family ride as the new Silverado EV pickup. Cool.Hyundai | "History Of Evolution"Starring actor Jason Bateman in his more usual comedic guise—as opposed to his darker turn in the drama "Ozarks" on Netflix—this Hyundai ad runs viewers through major technological developments throughout history while reminding them that those developments always had a rough start. This pivots, eventually, to the concept of an electric vehicle, which Bateman says is now reaching maturity—thanks to, of course, the new Ioniq 5 electric crossover. We're not sure about the Ioniq 5 being the be-all, end-all of EVs, but it is a darn good battery-electric SUV. And affordable, too.Kia | "Robo Dog"This Kia spot is cute and includes a dog, ripping a page out of Subaru's advertising playbook. But while general audiences might find the robot-puppy-finding-a-new-home-with-a-human plotline endearing, it takes a closer read to realize Kia is plugging (pun intended) the new EV6 electric crossover's ability to power other things using its battery. To wit, at the end of the commercial, the robo-dog is "saved" by an EV6 driver using its "vehicle-to-load" charging function, which can deliver electricity from the battery to external sources, be it a large appliance during a power outage or a stricken robotic puppy.Nissan | "Thrill Driver"Viewers should by now be familiar with actress Brie Larson making appearances in Nissan ads. For the Super Bowl, Nissan throws in a few more stars, including Eugene Levy, Dave Bautista, and Danai Gurira, to shill an unlikely car: The 2023 Z sports car. Hey, we're all for sports cars, but it's definitely unusual for an automaker to use such high-dollar ad space for a low-volume, two-seat sports car.BMW | "Zeus & Hera"BMW's ad leverages the high-wattage star power of Arnold Schwartzenegger and Salma Hayek but fails to generate much of a spark for the new iX electric SUV. Basically, Arnold plays Zeus and Hayek plays Hera; the god is retired yet is always being asked to charge up dead electronic devices using his lightning power (thunder?). Clearly tiring of his role as a god-smartphone-charger, Zeus is relieved to be given an iX by Hera, presumably because it zaps up Zeus rather than the other way around.GM | "Dr. EV-il"Reprising his role as Dr. Evil from the iconic Austin Powers comedies, Mike Myers holds court in one of his classic boardroom scenes with other original castmembers, including his son Scott (Seth Green); number two, Number Two (Rob Lowe); and Frau Farbissina (Mindy Sterling), while discussing his latest plans for world domination. Only one hitch: Climate change, which is billed as a pressing issue to first surmount. Dr. Evil must save the world in order to take it over, in essence, and needs to lower his carbon footprint to help. This is where GM's growing lineup of EVs comes in to play, and explains why Dr. Evil has anything to do with GM's EV lineup—Dr. EV-il, get it? The gang drives off in a new Hummer EV, a Silverado EV, and what appears to be a Cadillac Lyriq.Porsche | "Topgun: Maverick x Porsche"Porsche is one automaker that likely doesn't need to advertise, but here they are! This is less a commercial for a specific Porsche model than a crossover ad for its sports cars and the upcoming sequel to "Top Gun." If you remember the original fighter-jet bromance cinematic masterpiece, then you remember the love interest of Tom Cruise's character drove a classic Porsche; we assume, based on this ad, that a Porsche will feature in the new film, "Top Gun: Maverick." Really, it doesn't matter, because Porsche has wisely leveraged one of the best theme songs ever for a car ad.Polestar | "No Compromises"The brief, simple commercial from Polestar, Volvo's all-electric offshoot, seems effective. Listing several "no" phrases while flashing over the body of a Polestar 2 EV, "No Compromises" is a quiet introduction for Polestar on a stage as big as the Super Bowl, but it'll surely get people talking, and that's exactly what an upstart automaker wants.

VinFast, a fresh startup automaker hailing from Vietnam, is almost ready to start selling vehicles in the U.S. The company announced back in November that it will start U.S. operations with two electric SUVs, and this week used the CES event in Las Vegas to reveal three other electric SUVs, although it isn't yet known whether those also will make it to America.Le Thi Thu Thuy, Global CEO of VinFast, also announced in Las Vegas that her company plans to retire the internal combustion engine (ICE) by the end of this year, focusing all its resources on electric vehicles. Currently, VinFast sells electric and ICE vehicles in Vietnam. The move also caused the company to start a new nomenclature for its vehicles. The VF e35 and VF e36, the two electric SUVs shown at the Los Angeles auto show in November, are dropping their "e" signifiers and are now simply the VF 8 (a two-row midsize SUV) and VF 9  (three-row full-size crossover).While there is no set date for VinFast to start operations in the U.S., the company expects to start selling its vehicles by the end of 2022 and has already announced plans to build a U.S. factory to manufacture batteries (though its location isn't set yet).So, what are the two products VinFast will enter the U.S. market with?VF 8Starting at $41,000, the VF 8 is a five-passenger midsize SUV that's about the size of a Ford Edge. Its styling is sharp, with a wing-like running light that cuts across the nose giving the VF 8 a visually wider stance. Its grille-less front quickly gives away that it's an EV, while its split headlights lend it an upscale look.Details are very scarce, but VinFast says it will deliver 402 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque with a 316-mile range. That last number is based on the European Emission Test Cycle, which means the EPA will rank it well below that. Still, that should be competitive with today's electric crossovers, should the battery deliver. Acceleration to 60 mph will be in the mid-five second range, according to the automaker. No word on the battery or electric motor specs or charging times.VF 9The full-size SUV can transport between six and seven passengers and shares the same powertrain numbers as the VF 8, except it can travel 422 miles and it can get to 60 mph in approximately 6.5 seconds—a hint that it probably has a bigger battery.Like many full-size SUVs, the VF 9 wears boxier styling, but we're particularly thrown off by its C-pillar, as it tries to connect the windows instead of setting them apart. Like the VF 8, the front of the VF 9 has that wing-like daytime running lamp that lights up to give the SUV a futuristic look, but unlike its younger sibling, its headlights are one piece. The air vents on the front fascia help with aerodynamics and cool down the brakes.Both SUVs share a clean interior, with a large screen on the dashboard similar to other EV startups like Tesla or Rivian, and there is no other screen or instrument cluster is in front of the driver. The cars on display at CES were locked, so we can't comment on the cabins' material quality or interior space. The jet-inspired push-button shifter is well integrated into the center console.Although former GM designer David Lyon has been supporting VinFast since 2017, the startup partnered with Pininfarina design studio to craft its models. And, well, we're happy with the way they came out.There are still many questions up in the air. VinFast is talking about a battery lease program where the owner would have to pay a monthly fee to use the battery, but hasn't given details about how that will work, or how much it will cost. The CEO did say that the company will replace the battery for free if its capacity drops below 72 percent and maintenance is included with the monthly fee.How will VinFast sell cars in the U.S? When will it start operations? What are the details underneath the SUVs? Those are all questions still unanswered, though the company is excited to enter the market at some point this year. To get U.S. customers hooked, VinFast is introducing a voucher program to go along the reservations. With a $200 deposit, the customer can get a $3,000 voucher for the VF 8 and a $5,000 voucher for the VF 9, along with an NFT and blockchain technology.We hope to have more answers soon, but in the meantime, you might want to consider getting into the voucher program. The $200 are refundable should you change your mind.