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150 – Audi A4 wins Company Car of the Year

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20 March 2009

If you haven’t seen the news story – Audi A4 named company car of the year – then let me reveal that the Audi A4 has just received a significant award.

It was handed out by the leading trade title for fleet managers of large fleets, Fleet News.

I used to write for the paper, but following the inevitable slashing of budgets in the downturn, and the editor Martyn Moore leaving, I have been de-commissioned. A bit like an old nuclear reactor.

But for the Audi to win this title is significant. However, if the A4 is good for the big fleet guys, is it right for you and your small business?

Well, too right it is. (OK, I suppose I would say that as I’m running one.) But there are several good reasons.

It’s a mighty classy car. You feel good driving the A4. And part of this is due to the tactile nature of the materials you come into contact with physically – the leather on the steering wheel; and the gear lever; the easy to use MMI (Multi Media Interface programme) which controls all the major functions such as audio, telephone and heating; and the general quality of the materials.

Many of the functions the Audi A4 performs are so effortlessly understated but technically just right. One of my favourites is a tiny detail: the colour of the turn indicator in the door mirror housing. It’s amber. But it’s not a garish in-your-face amber; it’s more of a thin cut Seville orange marmalade amber. It’s just so subtle.

You put the turn indicators on and you see it flashing just in the corner of your eye. But the key thing is this: it’s not distracting, but it’s giving you visual information.

This is particularly the case if you’ve experienced the Audi side assist – a blind spot warning. You have an additional amber light inside the car situated where the door mirror arm locates to the body: it flashes if a car is entering your blind spot – I’ve tried it. And it’s very effective. Once again it provides visual information without being distracting. Quite an achievement.

The other aspect of the Audi A4 is its sense of space. The interior is capacious; much larger than the previous A4 or a current BMW 3 Series – an important consideration if you have a family. And your son is several inches taller than you…

And the diesel engine – I have the 143PS version – is delightfully relaxed if you make full use of its torque. But there’s plenty of mid-range surge when you need it.

Something I needed last weekend when I was running my daughter Sarah to a lacrosse tournament many miles away (and I had an appointment in the opposite direction that morning, too).

Her team won the plate in a nail-biting finish. They went 2-0 down; then clawed their way back to 2-2; and won in extra time with a golden goal – I’ve never seen so many tense parents on the sidelines (me included, it was worse than watching Harlequins snatch their at-the-death victories); or such jubilation from the girls at winning.

Of course, not all is perfect with the A4. I don’t like the fact that the boot springs up undamped. And shuts with a clang. And I’m not convinced by the dashboard mounted ignition system. But these are minor niggles in a highly accomplished car.

If you need any further convincing, here are some monthly rental prices on various models – a chance to bag yourself a winner for a value monthly outlay.


Audi A4 1.8 T SE 4dr

£319.49 (CH); £367.41 (PCH)

Audi A4 2.0 2.0 TDI SE 4dr
£375.40 (CH); £431.71 (PCH)

Audi A4 2.0 TDI 143 S line 4dr
£393.75 (CH); £452.81 (PCH)

Audi A4 2.7 TDI SE Multitronic auto 4dr
£455.33 (CH); £523.63 (PCH)

Source: Concept Vehicle Leasing , 3yrs/30,000 miles no maintenance, 20 March 2009. CH = contract hire; PCH = personal contract hire.

Big company fleet managers vote in A4

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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