Auto Express – August 20, 2019

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk SpecialIssue 99

Have yoursay:What

is your car liketoown?

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power

2019 Results

A4Factfile

Barsshow wheremodel

finished out of 10 0vehicles

in our 2019 new car survey.

89.35% The longer the bar the better

100 1

Engine and gearbox

Exterior

Interior andcomfort

Practicality and space

Ride and handling

Safetyfeatures

MPG and runningcosts

Reliability and build quality

Infotainment,connectivity

and electrics

Sponsoredbyby

YOUR VIEWSONYOURCARS

AudiA4

YOUTELLUSStrong powertrain,comfort and safetycome with high runningcosts

“INTERIORiselegant,modern,

andacutabovetherest.It

alsofeelsveryhigh-quality.”

“TheA4Allroad’sraisedride

heightmeansvisibilityfrom

thedriver’sseatisgood.”

“MyBlackEditioncarhas

hadnumerouscomplimentary

commentsaboutitslooks.”

“Supportivefrontseatsare

firmbutsuppleandthey’re

comfy,evenonalongdrive.”

“Four-wheel-drivesystemis

exceptionalinbadweather

andpoorroadconditions.”

“Goodbalancebetweenrear

legroomandbootspace.”

“Leatherseatsareofgood

qualityandeasytoclean.”

“THEautomaticgearboxis

slowtoreactattimesand

seemstostruggleintown,

affectingfueleconomy.”

“Soundproofinginthemain

cabinisn’tthebest.There’sa

lotofengineandroadnoise.”

“Storageispoor.Theglovebox

isn’tbigenoughandthereare

nonetsontheseatbacks.”

“Slinesuspensionistoo

harsh.BMWMSportmodels

arebetterbalanced.”

“Sat-navsendsyouoff-course

toavoidnon-existenttraffic.”

“Infotainmentsystemistoo

fiddlyandcomplicated.”

“Iwascharged£ 400 fora

standardservice.Ouch!”

Q

A

MYcarhasastop-startsystem,whichused

toworkperfectlywell.Acoupleofmonths

ago,however,itsuddenlyceasedto

function.Whatcouldbethecauseofthis?

YOURbatterymaynothaveenoughcharge,

becausestop-startneedsacomparatively

largeamountofpowertorun;somesystems

needthebatterytohavean80percent

charge.Takeyourcarforabatteryhealth

check,andreplacethepartifnecessary.

Insightfromtheindustry

SponsoredbyWarrantywise

BUYING CARS

Newandusedbuyingadvicefrom our teamofexperts

Q

Q

A

A

Isdealerrightabouttyres?

THEfronttyresonmywife’sToyotaC-HRneed

replacing,butthedealersaysallfourtyres

shouldbereplacedatthesametimebecause

thecarisfour-wheeldrive.Isthiscorrect?

BillMitchell,E-mail

ALLfourtyresoncarswithpermanent4WD

shouldbereplacedatthesametimetoavoid

differentialdamage,butToyotasaysthisis

unnecessarybecausetheC-HRhasapart-time

AWDsystem.Youonlyneedtoreplaceone

axlesetatatime,unlessthereisabigwear

differencebetweenthefrontandreartyres.

Auto-onlylicenceworries

MYsonistakinghisdrivingtestinacarwith

anautomaticbox,andisn’tbotheredbynot

beingallowedtodriveamanualafterpassing.

Willthisaffecthisinsurancepremiums?

PaulM,E-mail

PREMIUMSformotoristswithautomatic-only

licencestendtobehigher,becauseinsurers

sayclaimratesamongsuchdriversaregreater.

Automaticcarsalsotendtobemoreexpensive

tobuythanmanualmodels.Plusifyourson

hasalimitedbudget,hemayfindhischoice

ofusedautomaticcarssomewhatrestricted.

GOOD NOTSOGOOD

OVERALLSCORE

73 rd

PLACE

Years:2016 to presentCO 2 :148g/km

Fueleconomy:51.4mpg(2.0 TDI)

Bestoptions:VirtualCockpit,reversing

camera, premium sound system

Usedprices:From£9,995

Spo

Gotanycarqueries?

[email protected]

@AE_Consumer

Shale-Hester

Tristan