Audi A4 2.0 T Quattro vs. Volvo S40 T5 AWD

[stevehayes01]

Fast Traction Heroes
Audi A4 2.0 T Quattro vs. Volvo S40 T5 AWD: An entertaining pair that are as different as they are alike.

Photos by Barry Hathaway
August 2005


With 25 years of Quattro all-wheel-drive experience under its belt, Audi knows a thing or two about optimizing available traction. As one of the early all-wheel-drive pioneers, the Ingolstadt company has remained an unwavering proponent of awd passenger cars. Fast-forward a quarter-century and now nearly every luxury brand offers at least one, if not several, all-wheel-drive models. This trend more than validates the original awd concept, but also brings increased competition to a segment that Audi once owned.

Compared with the Volvo's 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbo, the smaller Audi engine more than acquits itself, delivering its power in a smoother, slightly more linear fashion than its Scandinavian counterpart. Interestingly, the S40 feels a touch quicker on the road, probably due to its torque advantage (236 lb.-ft. versus 207 lb.-ft.), but at the drag strip, the Audi's flatter powerband proves more effective to 60 mph (6.4 vs. 6.8 seconds). Also helping is a slicker-shifting gearbox that makes it easier and more pleasant to negotiate the gears.

The improved powertrain is put to good use thanks to similar improvements made to the chassis. Already a comfortable, competent platform, the A4's suspension now benefits from a welcome infusion of S4 and A6 components, livening up the handling and smoothing out its ride. Up front, aluminum control arms and stiffer track rods come from the S4, while the control arm mounts are A6-sourced. In back, the aluminum trapezoidal links get the hollow aluminum treatment (ÃÂ* la S4), which like the front's, are mounted to shocks from the A6.

It may sound like a hodgepodge of suspension bits, but the result of this sibling sharing is an A4 that immediately feels more responsive than the old car. It's still no S4, even with our tester's $750 Sport suspension, but it's decidedly more engaging than before. There's a touch less delay between input and reaction, a slight reduction in body roll and better small-bump compliance. The steering's better too, thanks to a revised steering rack that is now shared across the A4/S4 line. It still has a hint of numbness just off center, but once turned in, the wheel communicates more of what the front wheels are doing.

Like the S40, the A4's all-wheel-drive underpinnings endow it with a confident, sure-footed feel that adds a welcome measure of safety (and speed) to any driving exercise. Of the two, the Audi comes across as a more complete package, possessing a certain oneness that the Volvo lacks. With the A4, every driver action and subsequent vehicle reaction flow easily into the next. The S40 responds in a slightly disjointed fashion; the shifting, braking and cornering actions require a touch more thought to execute as smoothly as with the A4.

While there's plenty new to talk about on the styling, powertrain and chassis fronts, not much has changed inside. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the A4's interior has been a category favorite for years. The aluminum trim gets a slightly different treatment, and the three-spoke steering wheel, like all Audi models, reflects the corporate grille's design motif. Otherwise, the cabin retains the high-quality feel and comfortable ergonomics we've grown to appreciate. The seats are comfortable, unassuming affairs, the switchgear satisfying to the touch and the materials best in class.

Spend a day in each and the A4's interior is as German as the Volvo's is Swedish; one's the model of stylish Teutonic efficiency, the other an example of simple execution and clean Scandinavian design. Both offer attractive alternatives to the same aesthetic and ergonomic mission, but at the end of the day, the Audi serves up a more convincing luxury-car experience.

With a new face, new engines and improved performance, the latest A4 not only eclipses its predecessor, but also raises the bar in the competitive entry-luxury segment. When compared with Volvo's latest S40 T5 AWD, the Audi emerges feeling more complete. It offers a much-appreciated dose of luxury combined with effortless driving dynamics and a quarter-century of Quattro know-how. So while the previous car may not necessarily have been broken, we're glad they fixed it anyway.

Volvo S40 T5 AWD
By Joe Rusz

[stevehayes01]

Volvo S40 T5 AWD
By Joe Rusz

Carving up the countryside on the outskirts of Los Angeles, I had an epiphany: You don't have to be a Le Mans winner like Audi to build a smart and sassy family sedan that can take the Germans to school when it comes to traversing the twisties. Case in point: the S40 T5 AWD, Volvo's midsize 4-door whose sporty good looks belie its family sedan DNA.

While Volvo isn't exactly a household word in racing circles, the company's occasional forays into motorsports have imbued Göteborg's engineers with the know-how to build a sports tourer that's a winner in my book. Although it's true the Audi's acceleration, braking and handling numbers are a tad better than the Volvo's, subjectively speaking the S40 feels like the sportier member of this dynamic duo, and here's why.



See more photos of the 2005 Volvo S40.With more horsepower and torque on tap than the A4 2.0 T Quattro, the S40 T5 AWD feels more adept at squirting from corner to corner and powering out of that apex. It can hustle down the highway too, and the engine's broad torque curve, which remains flat as Kansas from 1500 to 4800 rpm, makes passing a slam-dunk � even without downshifting. Alas, like the Audi, the Volvo's top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph, due to the limitations of its tires. You can blame this common industry practice on corporate budget constraints that force today's engineers to fit cars with lower-spec tires to keep the costs down and make cars more affordable.



Unlike the somewhat Baroque-looking A4, the S40's styling is angular, rather than rounded, which makes the Volvo look a bit tidier than the Audi. An optional Dynamic Trim Package consisting of a front air dam and trunk-mounted spoiler, side skirts and distinctive 17-in. alloy wheels shod with low-profile 50-series tires, makes the T5 look sportier than the 2.0 T Quattro. Although both cars have an almost identical wheelbase, the Volvo is about 4 in. shorter overall.

The nose is stubbier, thanks to the positioning of the T5's engine, which is mounted transversely in the chassis. A wonderfully responsive turbocharged inline-5 with none of the ill manners of a turbo, this twincam 2.5-liter sits almost directly over the front axle, unlike the longitudinally mounted Audi engine, which juts out over the axle. And despite the Audi's superior numbers in our quantitative slalom and skidpad evaluations, the Volvo still feels plenty secure in real-world driving.

Like the nose, the T5's tail is also stubby. Fortunately, this doesn't reduce trunk space, which is acceptable for a midsize sedan. For even more room, the rear seatbacks fold down, providing access to the passenger compartment and extra space for skis and other long items.

Compact it may be, cramped it's not � unless you're built like Shaq. The nicely sculpted front bucket seats fit even the (ahem) anatomically challenged and keep you anchored in place, especially when the driving gets spirited. Meanwhile, the subtly contoured rear bench seat is broad enough to accommodate two average-size humans (three in a pinch).

Like the S40's crisp exterior, the interior is sparingly simple without appearing austere. Large dash vents, an instrument pod with big speedometer and tachometer dials, and a sleek, brushed aluminum center pod that houses the radio and heat/vent/air-conditioning controls are all that detract from the dashboard's clean lines. Knobs for the radio and ventilation system are a welcome alternative to pushbuttons that are difficult to discern by touch alone.

All of that comforting information is useful if you're trying to sell the boss of the family on the idea of buying a sporty family sedan. But let's face it, as the driver of the house, you want to know only one thing: "Is the S40 T5 AWD fun to drive?"

You betcha! A stealth bomber on the freeway where it excels at strafing traffic, the Volvo displays its true nature on those sinuous, roller-coaster roads that are a driver's delight. That's when the engine can truly flex its muscles and when the gearbox � a slick-shifting 6-speed manual with cozily close ratios � can demonstrate its ability to keep the power flowing smoothly from Volvo's turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter, 218-bhp inline-5, which displaces 500 cc more than the Audi's 200-horsepower inline-4. The S40's maximum torque value is 14 percent greater than the Audi's. And its torque "curve" is equally flat as well.

A word about all-wheel drive: Don't leave home without it! Because when the going gets tough (or when the driving gets a bit exuberant), four wheels simply do a better job of putting power to the ground than two. And, as if electronically controlled awd isn't enough, the S40 T5 can be ordered with Dynamic Stability Traction Control, an optional system that helps the Volvo maintain its composure by modulating braking and power delivery.

Dynamic Sport Suspension (stiffer springs and shocks), which is standard on the T5 AWD, imbues the S40 with a snubbed-down ride that feels firm, yet not jarring. The suspension also keeps the Volvo's wheels planted squarely on the tarmac during spirited cornering. Large, vented brakes assisted by ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution and Electronic Brake Assistance effortlessly slow some 3500 lb. of thundering Volvo.

Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, the S40 T5 AWD is a lot more car than the A4 2.0 T Quattro. Not just because it costs $4000 less than the Audi. But because it's a spirited performer, a svelte Swede that doesn't look or act like another me-too Teuton.

TECH SPECS

Click Here to See Side By Side

PRICE

Points based on a proportional scale; points range for price equals average points range of Performance and Subjective categories.Price as tested200 pts194.4200.0$35,995


$31,965

FINAL STANDINGS

TOTAL POINTS
Price dependent600 pts593.3575.11
Audi A4 2.0 T Quattro2
Volvo S40 T5 AWD

A perfect example of this is Volvo, which has stepped into the ring with an awd version of its new S40 T5 sedan, a car that matches up very closely with Audi's recently refreshed A4 2.0 T. Compared feature for feature, their spec sheets are strikingly similar. Both are stylish compact sedans with small turbocharged engines and 6-speed manual gearboxes, all-wheel drive and sub-$30K MSRPs. They're intended to be sporty yet practical, fun but affordable. Look beyond the specs, however, and their distinctive personalities quickly come to the fore, proving that there's much more to this pair than how similar they might first appear.

Audi A4 2.0 T Quattro
By Kim Wolfkill

That old expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," must not mean much (if anything) at Audi. The best-selling A4 has been a solid performer since its revamp just three years ago, but now they've gone and "fixed" it anyway. We'd normally take issue with changing a car just for the sake of it, but in the case of the new A4, its latest round of styling, engine and chassis improvements has turned an already good sedan into an even better one.

At first glance, the "new" A4 doesn't appear that different from its predecessor. The profile has changed only slightly, but elsewhere, there's no missing the company's signature grille up front, a revised rear end, redesigned wheels and a more pronounced shoulder line running along its flanks. Length is also up just a hair (1.6 in.), mostly the result of its new tail. The overall effect, while not dramatic, produces a slightly fresher, sportier appearance. That said, reactions have been mixed on the corporate nose, with some quickly warming to its bold styling, while others prefer the less in-your-face approach of the previous grille's design.

Nose job or not, the A4's all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged FSI engine quickly ends further discussion of cosmetics. Not only bigger and more powerful than the 1.8-liter turbo-4 it replaces (200 bhp at 5100-6000 rpm, 207 lb.-ft. of torque at 1800-5000 rpm), this is also the first engine of its kind to combine turbocharging with Audi's FSI direct-injection technology. The result is more power over a broader rev range, better fuel economy and pleasantly little turbo lag. When combined with the 6-speed manual's effortless operation, there are few instances when the A4's power comes up wanting.