I have never made a secret of being an unabashed fan of German cars, and in particular, Audis, having owned two in my lifetime. Since Audi began making a serious inroad into the U.S. market in the early 1990s, it has increasingly broadened the appeal of its cars by making them more “Americanized.” The trick was being able to do this while maintaining a strong brand identity. Audi’s top U.S. seller, the 2002 “near-luxury” A4, demonstrates just how adept the German automaker has at perfecting this.

Audi was gaining acceptance in the American market in the early 1980s when 60 Minutes aired allegations that the aerodynamically advanced Audi 5000 suffered from “unintentional acceleration,” putting Audi on a collision course with financial ruin. It seems the cause was drivers mistakenly putting their foot on the gas pedal instead of the brake. However, the controversy lingered for years and Audi sales suffered because of it. I was able to buy my all time favorite car — a six-month old 1985 Audi 4000 Quattro Couple — for $5000 under blue book loan value because a dealer just wanted it off his lot after the 60 Minutes report.

The controversy made the 80s a tough time to be an Audi dealer. So they were ecstatic when the new 100 models debuted in 1992. With smooth lines and a V-6, it was the first Audi to look like it could have come from either Detroit or Japan — and it was engineered to make sure American drivers would hit the right pedals.

Audi debuted the A4 in 1995. Its stylish A-Series, which includes the A6 and the awesome A8, has gone a long way to help Audi’s revival in America. The A4 is the least costly Audi, ranging from just under $25,000 to a little over $33,000.

There’s also an A4 Avant wagon and the hot rod S4 2.7T sedan and wagon. A new A4 convertible may be offered as a 2003 model.

The revamped 2002 A4 sedan now resembles the larger, more expensive A6. It’s 1.3 inches wider, 2.3 inches longer and a half-inch taller. The wheelbase is 1.3-inch longer than the previous model and it also boasts wider front and rear tracks for a more aggressive stance.

Under the hood, there’s a slightly larger 3.0-liter 220-horsepower version of the pervious 190-horse V6. The smooth, lighter V6 accomplishes the 0-to-60 drill in about 7 seconds. Almost as impressive is the more affordable A4 1.8T Quattro (Audi’s all-wheel drive system) sedan. It has a refined turbocharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that puts 170 horses to the highway. The A4 1.8T Quattro also costs much less than the front-drive A4 V6 sedan.

The 5-speed manual transmission is standard with a Tiptronic 5-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature as an option. There is also a 6-speed manual available for the 3.0-liter V6. However, the A4 also has an optional, new, continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It’s smoother than the conventional, optional 5-speed automatic but is only offered with the front-wheel drive version, not the Quattro

The CVT takes some time to get used to because it doesn’t have conventional gear changes. But, for clutchless shifting, the unit allows six clutchless manual gear changes via steering wheel thumb switches.

Our test model was equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 and 6-speed manual.
Audi’s Quattro, all-wheel-drive system comes with an electronic stability control system that causes acceleration to be slightly slower, but gives the A4 an impressive hold on wet or dry roads.

Inside, the A4 is roomier than the previous version and offers plenty of space for four tall adults. The cabin is quiet and the adjustable front seats are very supportive. The dashboard is cleverly designed and uses Audi’s signature red lighting. The climate controls are easy to figure out as well as to reach.

The A4 is nicely equipped with many comfort and convenience items like pull-down front and rear armrests and a large glove compartment. The rear windows don’t go down all the way however. Safety features include head protection airbags for outboard occupants.

The trunk is spacious for a car of this overall size with a lid that pops up and out of the way. Cargo space can be increased considerably by flipping the rear seatbacks forward and utilizing the large pass-through between the trunk and rear seat.

Behind the wheel, the A4 definitely is a blast to drive — especially with the manual gearbox and Quattro system. Handling is excellent. The A4 is very agile and its fully independent suspension delivers a smooth ride. Steering is precise, with just the right amount of power assist. However, there is a $1,000 Sport package that’s worth the bucks. It contains a sport suspension and wider wheels and tires. The brake pedal is easily modulated, and stopping distances are short.

Whines: Like all Audis, the AM/FM/CD unit is a little over-engineered in terms of simplicity of use. The cupholders have a marginal design. Fuel economy is in the high 20s on the highway, but only in the teens and low 20s in town. The throw on the clutch is a little long for my taste.

Applause: The new A4 is larger and roomier as well as more refined than previous models. As it evolves, it continues to get better, moving closer to the higher-line A6 in terms of comfort and performance.

Bottom Line: In my view, the new revamped version of the A4 sedan is a great car in terms of handling, performance and comfort. It can proudly go head-to-head with comparable models from Acura, Infiniti, BMW or Mercedes-Benz, and is more “Americanized” than any of them.