If you compare the new A4 with the old, you’ll notice that the front wheels have been pushed a few inches further forward for improved weight distribution and better turn in and that the car is a huge 12cm longer than the one it replaces.

It must be said that in profile the A4 has more than a passing resemblance, especially towards the rear end, to the BMW 3 Series but without the boot spoiler, however this is far more to do with aerodynamics than a lack of imagination on behalf of Audi designers. The A4 has deeper doors and higher shoulders than the 3 Series and is also more angular in the design of its door frames, featuring a thin rear pillar which also emphasises its 4,703mm length. This in turn makes the rear passenger seating more roomy and airy with ample space for two tall adults or three children.

In fact, apart from the drive, it is the interior of the new A4 which really sells the car to you. The new A4 is beautifully built, using materials that feel expensive to touch and a pleasure to use. Aside from some silver-painted plastic around the speedo there's little to remind you that you're driving an A4 rather than the A6 or A8. For a medium size premium sedan the quality doesn’t get much better: perforated tan Milano leather seats and door panels; black stitched leather steering wheel with race-style contouring for better grip; subtle wood veneer highlights above the glovebox and across upper doors, and the linen black roof lining. All these elements together create a stylish, cosseting cabin which still manages to feel ‘roomy’. And it is – 8-way electrically adjustable semi-bucket front seats plus 4-way bolstering allow for plenty of leg and upper body comfort. The semi-bucket padding is firm enough to hold you in place in the turns without feeling restrictive on longer journeys.

The rear seats too have contouring, making the centre position a little less comfortable but the head restraints all-round (active in the front) are evidence of Audi’s safety concerns.

Continuing the comfort theme, the front seats are vented to keep the back cool and shirt dry, while the air con at full ‘whack’ is sufficient without blowing your head off, although it is still rather noisy.

A minor foible with the operation of the air con etc. is the fact that in order to adjust the air con/heater power and direction, you first have to press the appropriate button positioned down the side of the monitor in the centre console and then make the adjustment using the on-screen display for guidance, as all the adjustments share the same knob. As a driver this is a little too distracting to do while you’re driving.

The same can be said of the entertainment system controls on the steering wheel. If you want to change radio station, for example, your options are shown on the red digital display between the rev and speedo dials. You adjust using the roller button on the left of the wheel, but it takes a certain degree of your concentration away from the road to do so.

But these elements apart – which are not limited to just Audis, the A4 has class-leading interior space. And it should be when you consider that it is bigger than the competition. Rear passengers get most of the benefit, with plenty of head and shoulder room. Storage is generally good with large a glove-box and sufficient door pockets. The centre storage is limited due to phone mount while inside the rear armrest is the first aid kit. Boot space is also excellent, with more than 480 litres available.

A4 has always been good fun to drive, and the 1.8-litre turbo ’08 model is outstanding even though the competition will still give it more than a run for its money. The steering is well weighted and accurate, offering you plenty of feedback and control without the feeling that you’re driving a tractor. The car also responds with very good grip levels although for a front wheel drive 1.8T still has a tendency to understeer when you plant it a little too firmly into a corner, and it finds it hard to recover even when you lift off (unlike the rear wheel drive BMW 3 Series which feels more controlled and balanced). When the 3.2-litre Quattro arrives, the four wheel drive system will obviously help address this as well as offering a more potent driving experience over all, one hopes.

Audi has made the most of the Audi Drive Select system which, at the touch of a button in the A4’s centre console, transforms a sedate family cruiser into a taunt planted sportscar – or at least that ‘s how it feels – by varying the suspension's damping, the shift speed in auto and the steering ratio. The settings are defined as:

Comfort – throttle response is balanced, steering is light and suspension is soft.

Auto – comfortable but dynamic. The steering a bit heavier, and suspension is stiffer.

Dynamic – tighter setup. The steering is direct, throttle response is immediate, gear changes are higher, and suspension is stiffer.

Last year we drove the lumbering Lexus LS460 with its 8-speed gearbox and at the time couldn’t understand the point on such a large luxury car, but on the Audi A4 it all seems to fall into place. The box is close ration but perfectly adaptable for either cruising or performance driving, and is also good for economy. In Dynamic mode you get very good power and torque delivery for a more spirited drive, and paddle-shifters connected to the wheel allow you to change gear during mild cornering and will override the automatic selection in any mode. Meanwhile the DCP (Dynamic Gear Control Program) responds to your driving style to offer the most sporty or relaxed drive by monitoring the smoothness or aggression with which you are making your inputs.

From a safety perspective, the A4 features active systems such as adaptive cruise control with ‘braking guard’ collision warning, Audi Side Assist to help prevent collision during lane changes, and Park Assist. It has also received the 5-star rating for occupant safety from EuroNCAP and comes fitted with 6 airbags as standard.

The new A4 is vastly better than the previous model which, to be honest, wasn’t so bad. In the past this model has accounted for 50% of Audi vehicle sales, and one assumes that the suits in Ingolstadt would like that to continue. But times are changing and with two other German marques producing stunning premium mid-size sedans in the shape of the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class, the A4 won’t have an easy task.

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