Best Prestige Car

Nothing stays the same for long these days, and it’s never been more true of the auto industry.

Models have shorter life cycles now and improvements in safety and refinement come at a fast pace. Features that were once the preserve of the luxury class now cascade through the model line-up at a rapid rate.

That’s what’s happened in this year’s Prestige class, where the multi-award-winning Lexus IS250 has been pushed back a few places by the new Audi A4.

This latest A4 is the eighth iteration of Audi’s mid-size passenger car and it’s the best yet by far, with an all-new design and key engineering changes which have improved the driving dynamics.

The improvements have paid off, with large gains in A4’s handling score compared with last year’s model, and improvements in the scores for ride, performance, braking, and smoothness and quietness.

The new model has a much more contemporary look, makes a strong visual statement – a  response to criticism that the previous model lacked the presence of its European competitors.

As always, Audi’s reputation for top build quality and finish is evident, inside and out.

The new A4 is larger, providing more rear occupant space and comfort.

The 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine (like its 1.8-litre petrol counterpart) delivers above-average performance, and also reaps benefits at the fuel pump.

The TDI develops an impressive 105 kW of power, but it’s the 320 Nm of torque spread evenly over a wide rev range that maximises the driving experience.

This is an engaging vehicle.

2nd: Ford Falcon G6E Turbo, 4-door