First drive: Audi S4 Avant
• Faster and more economical
• Ride is firm, not harsh
• It's mean and green-ish
Audi S4 Saloon/Avant
Price £36,000 (est)
On Sale April
You’ll like Pace and handling
You won’t Limited availability
These days it seems like we’re all in a rush to be green, but with the new S4 Audi has come with a way for you to get a rush and be green. Well, almost.
Audi has ditched the fuel-sucking, CO2-blowing V8 engine for the hot new saloon and Avant, and replaced it with a supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI V6. Power falls by 11bhp, yet the new car is faster than the old from 0-60mph, uses 37% less fuel and emits 30% less CO2.
Test Drive: 2008 BMW 328i
The Ultimate Entry-Level Sport Sedan
By: Josh Sadlier , Associate Editor
Vehicle Tested: 2008 BMW 3 Series 328i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
Pros: Sublime synthesis of performance and comfort, frugal fuel consumption at highway speeds, superb base stereo, rich interior materials.
Cons: Cramped rear seat, excessive wind noise, less-than-intuitive stereo and climate controls, polarized sunglasses wash out stereo display.
It's hard to make a name for yourself when your big brother's always the center of attention. Just ask the 2008 BMW 328i sedan, which seems doomed to toil in relative obscurity while its steroidal 335i sibling gets all the press. That's a shame, because the 328i is an unequivocal pleasure to drive. It's also roughly $6,000 cheaper than a comparably equipped 335i.
Rather than dismissing the 328i as BMW's entry-level sport sedan, it's best to think of it as a 335i with less motor. These Bavarian brothers are essentially the same everywhere except under the hood. Is the 328i good enough to make you forget about the 335i's extra 70 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque? Not a chance. But it's still a world-class sport sedan in its own right, and its buttery-smooth 230-hp inline six-cylinder engine provides enough power for all but the most demanding drivers.