2006 Audi A4 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The B7-generation Audi A4 is new for 2006 with more performance, more amenities, and big-grille styling.
The tall grille is the A4's most prominent exterior feature, as it's at least twice the size of last year's grille. The look matches the larger A6's and is certainly a trend-setting nose on an otherwise simple, nondescript body. The headlights, instead of being perfectly rectilinear like the rest of the car, have a downward kink once past the turn signals. A hard shoulder line runs from nose to tail just above the door handles, and now the taillights are widened across the trunk lid, where before they were small cubes pushed to each edge. The car is 4 centimetres longer overall. A new S-line trim comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, and a sport package comes with a lower suspension. An Avant station wagon is also available. The A4 is handsome, just as it's always been, but it borders on boring (except for the soft-top cabriolet, which I'll admit emits California beach vibes). If you're looking for a flashier luxury car, head to your BMW or Mercedes dealer.
The interior is carries over entirely from the previous model year, save for a wide aluminum trim piece that extends the width of the dashboard and a new centre console that incorporates a pair of cupholders and an extra power outlet. Materials are first-rate, and the fit is excellent. The A4 feels like a more expensive car from the moment you sit down, though for $35,000 or more and lots of parts shared with Volkswagen models, it had better be.
Replacing the 1.8-litre turbo inline-four is a new 2.0-litre version with direct injection, which sprays a highly pressurized gasoline stream directly into the engine's combustion chamber instead of the intake. The result is greater power and efficiency. The 2.0T makes power specs of 197 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, sent through a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission (one gear more than 2005), a six-speed automatic, or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
A front-wheel drive (FWD) drivetrain is standard on the 2.0T and pairs with the optional CVT. That's an OK setup, but it's quite plebeian for a luxury car (the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are rear-wheel drive (RWD) with real gears for better balance and performance). Upgrade to Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD), and you'll see why Audi won rally races all throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It's a very strong and fast-reacting system that transforms the A4's handling and replaces the CVT with the six-speed automatic that offers manual gear selection. Driving the 2.0T Quattro, especially with the manual, is lots of fun. It has such strong acceleration and such a well-mannered sound that you may not miss the optional 3.1-litre V6, which comes with 252 hp and 243 lb-ft. The cabriolet limits the powertrain choices and carries over last year's engines, though it's pretty cool to get AWD in a convertible.
Cupholders are a big deal for a German car in 2006. Finally—and only for the North American market—the A4 comes with a pair next to the handbrake lever. They're recessed into the console and not the flimsy, pop-out devices that you'll see on a lot of other European cars. Elsewhere, the A4 is as straightforward as it gets, with easy-to-use controls and legible readouts that glow red at night.
Heated front seats are standard, and heated seats for the second row are optional. The back seat is tight in headroom and legroom for average bodies, so forget about transporting tall people. Trunk space is also small, at 379 litres (and just 289 litres in the cabriolet). The A4 Avant wagon solves the space problem, with 792 litres behind the rear seats and 1,670 litres when folded.
The 2006 Audi A4 comes with dual front airbags, front side airbags, and front and rear head curtain airbags as standard. Anti-lock brakes and traction and stability control come standard, too. All seatbelts have pre-tensioners that tighten during a crash. Rear side airbags and a tire-pressure monitoring system are optional. The A4 is a 2006 Top Safety Pick according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and scored the best "Good" rating in the side and moderate overlap front crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the A4 four out of five stars for front and side crash tests, except for the driver in the side test, which received the full five stars.
An important safety note: The 2006 A4 came with Takata airbags that can explode during a crash and kill the front occupants, so be sure to verify the vehicle has received the recall repair.
The 2006 A4 starts in Canada at an MSRP of $35,270 for the 2.0T sedan and commands $65,940 for the 3.0 Audi A4 Quattro convertible. Fuel economy estimates range from 9.8 to 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.2 to 8.6 L/100 km highway, depending on the powertrain and body style. This is an expensive little car, and the repairs necessary on its direct-injection engines may be very troublesome for owners of a used model. But the A4's style and driving performance make it a good choice in this segment.
Note: Images show a US model.
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2006 Audi A4 Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · AM/FM radio · 1 subwoofer
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: wood · Door trim: alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather and wood
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: seatback · Sunshade: side window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: self-leveling
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · AM/FM radio · 1 subwoofer
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: alloy · Dash trim: wood · Door trim: alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: wood · Steering wheel trim: leather and wood
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: cargo net · Sunshade: power rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: self-leveling
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: electrochromatic · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · AM/FM radio · 1 subwoofer
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: alloy · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather and wood
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: side window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: self-leveling
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · AM/FM radio · 1 subwoofer
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: alloy · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: wood · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: transmission controls · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks · Sunshade: power rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: self-leveling
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with pass-thru · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: seatback
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: self-leveling
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Convertible rear window: glass · Convertible roof: soft top
Safety
Parking sensors: rear
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with pass-thru · Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: wood · Door trim: wood · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: under seat
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: self-leveling
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: electrochromatic · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Convertible rear window: glass · Convertible roof: power
Safety
Parking sensors: rear
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: sport · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: premium leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: multi-link · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent