economy

A4 with the smallest TDI

Posted 08/12/2013 by Terje Bjørnstad

In the Audi A4, the requirements for space have not prevailed. It is a very beautiful car that is low and wide. It sits very well on the road and helps the driver in all situations, but don't have too high expectations for the drivetrain with the 120 horsepower TDI!

Look and feel

The immediate feeling you get from the Audi A4 is sober and solid quality without frills and frills. Low and wide with side spoilers (standard on cars delivered in Norway) and fancy Xenon lights give signals of sportiness. Seats in leather/alcantara, also covered on the inside of the doors, Audi's infotainment system with large and small color screen, navigation, control wheel on the center console and buttons on the steering wheel give signals that you are in an expensive car. The seats are not particularly soft. With extendable thigh supports and adjustable lumbar support, you understand that the emphasis is on the sporty and not the comfortable. But the car scores highly on the look-and-feel factor.

If we have to put our finger on something, it has to be that everything that gives a premium feel is optional equipment. You must have this equipment in your A4! Another detail that detracts from the premium impression is the simple sheet metal that surrounds the upper part of the instrument panel. This is not of the same quality as the elegant aluminum inserts used elsewhere, such as in the center console and in the doors. This seems to have been improved in the facelifted model from 2013.

Driving pleasure

The tested car has a common rail TDI engine with 120 horsepower. The question is whether this is enough to provide driving pleasure. Basically, you don't need more horsepower, and the car satisfies in most situations. At one point, however, I felt that the car failed my expectations: Accelerations from 80-100 km/h, - i.e. overtaking on the country road. Here there is almost no help to be had from any of the six gears. It simply seems as if the gearbox is not adapted to the TDI with 120 horses. The weak overtaking properties put a damper on driving pleasure.

Road driving on motorways and country roads otherwise works well. The car is very stable and well on the road, even in poor winter conditions. The braking properties are phenomenal.

Comfort

Even with the factory lowered chassis of 2 cm and sports seats, the car feels comfortable. In comparison, an A4 with S-line has its undercarriage lowered by 3 cm and is stiffer. The test car's sporting characteristics do not go beyond comfort. Up front, you sit royally, with two-zone air conditioning, extendable thigh supports, adjustable lumbar support and armrests. You don't sit as well in the back seat. The seat cushion is too short and low for adults. Although there is sufficient legroom, the seating position is uncomfortable. In addition, there are no air conditioning ducts for the rear seat. This must be ordered as additional equipment (3-zone climate control).

The car is normally well soundproofed from the engine, chassis and road surface.

Place

The A4 is 10 cm shorter than a VW Passat. This is noticeable in the back seat and in the boot. In terms of size, the A4 offers sufficient space for a 5-seater. The trunk in the sedan and Avant is not particularly large, but is large enough for a small family. I like cars that don't unilaterally focus on space.

Safety

All relevant safety equipment is in place, and in models from 2013 you can order safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control, active lane assist (lane change warning) and side assist (notify traffic in dead zones in the side mirror) under "driver assistance". It is also worth mentioning the A4's very safe driving characteristics which help the driver to keep the car on the road.

Economy

Audi advertises with a relatively low entry price for the Audi A4. Such prices are not correct, because you have to expect to order extra equipment for between NOK 50-100. The loss in value is high - not because the A000 depreciates more than other cars, but because the purchase price is high. Relatively many A4s are sold as company cars, which means that there are quite a few newer used Audis on the market. There is thus much to gain from buying your A4 used.

Operating expenses will be somewhat higher than Volkswagen because the original parts are more expensive for Audi than for Volkswagen.

The new TDI common rail engines use very little diesel.

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Successful appearance
The infotainment system with navigation

The 6-speed gearbox does not quite harmonize well with the 120 horsepower

The little Golf

Posted 08/12/2013 by Terje Bjørnstad

2010 Volkswagen Polo Comfortline 1.4 86 HP DSG

Today's Polo is between the Golf's 2nd and 3rd editions in terms of size. Even though the cars are assembled in Spain, they give the same quality impression as the Golf. After testing various Polos over long distances, there are surprisingly big differences between driving Polos with the small 3-cylinder engines and those with 4-cylinder engines.

Look and feel

In this class, there are few cars that beat the Polo in terms of look-and-feel. The sensible Golf-like appearance gives the kind of signals and radiance such a car should have. The sound when you close the door and the solid levers for adjusting the seat in length and height give a feeling of quality. Doors with interior door trim and the placement of handles by the armrest add a touch of luxury. The steering wheel can be adjusted in all directions. The models in the Trendline Plus equipment variant have a leather steering wheel and radio controls on the steering wheel. The instrument panel and switches are clearly positioned and require no getting used to.

On one point, I feel that the new Polo has a minus compared to the previous model (2002-2009): Previously, the bonnet rose with a gas spring like on the larger Volkswagen cars. In today's models, the bonnet is held open with a brace. Not very important, but detracts a bit when inspecting the car for the first time.

Driving pleasure

Cars with 4-cylinder engines are equipped with rear disc brakes. They also have wider tire dimensions and tighter suspension than cars with small engines. The small Polos have 3-cylinder engines and rear drum brakes. They have a softer undercarriage that makes it dove and roll more on the road. There are such big differences that it cannot only be attributed to the tires that have been on the cars.

The difference is best felt when you fill up the car with passengers and luggage. Imagine a huge bump in the road just before a sharp bend. The large Polo feels much safer than the small Polo over such a stretch of road. It is undoubtedly far more fun to drive the big Polo. Safe, predictable, but not particularly comfortable.

The 7-speed DSG transmission works great. It is both easy to drive and fun to drive. Compared to a conventional automatic transmission, no power is stolen from the engine - and acceleration is therefore very fast. Full throttle from standstill to 100 km/h is experienced without drama. No jerking and snapping, - and with a nice sound image.

Of the small engines, the petrol engine seemed surprisingly nimble. Maybe because the expectations weren't that high? Both small engines occasionally feel a little underpowered at highway speeds.

Rating for driving pleasure applies to "large" Polo with DSG gearbox.

Comfort

Although Polos with small engines have a chassis with softer suspension, it does not increase comfort for either driver or passengers. It is the "large" Polos that are most comfortable. Our pictured test model had center armrests, height-adjustable front seats and an adjustable steering wheel. It is possible to find a comfortable driving position. Cars with DSG transmissions score higher on the comfort scale than their brothers with manual transmissions.

The sound image in the "big" Polo is more pleasant than in Polos with 3-cylinder engines. 3-cylinder engines may not produce much louder sound than 4-cylinder engines, but the sound is enervating on long journeys. This applies to both petrol and diesel. As soon as you start up, the engine sounds almost charming, and brings to mind outboard motors and motorcycles. After two hours on the road, however, I am sick of the sound!

Overall, it is not for comfort that the Polo scores the highest. The rating applies to the "large" Polo with DSG gearbox.

Place

Today's Polo is size-wise between the Golf MkII and MkIII. It is possible to cover a longer trip with 4 large guys in the car. Since the Polo is delivered without a spare wheel, the luggage compartment is divided into two sections so that the lower compartment can also be used for luggage. The intermediate plate can be completely removed and left at home. Despite this, the trunk does not hold much luggage. It is about the middle of the tree in this class.

Safety

It's Volkswagen and it's German, so not only high safety, but also perceived safety. All relevant safety equipment is in place. There is a switchable airbag on the passenger side, and Isofix for child seats.

Economy

In terms of price, a "large" Polo falls into the Golf's price list. But the trade-in value of a Polo is at least as good as a similarly priced Golf. Operating costs otherwise have little to complain about. All Polo models have favorable fuel consumption. By far the best here is the test car with the small TDI engine with a consumption that few cars can match. The pictured model with 1.4 liter 86 HP engine and DSG had the highest consumption. With city driving without thinking about saving fuel, the consumption can easily reach three quarters of a liter per mile. Today's models with a 1.2 liter 90 HP engine have lower consumption.

Polos are very economical cars, but still don't get top marks. Over the car's total life cycle, normal maintenance costs can sometimes be quite high. Møller, for example, charges NOK 10 to change the timing belt. There is a main service every 000 km or so every year.

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Fun and easy to drive with DSG
Feels like a quality car

Unnerving engine sound in the 3-cylinder engines

The most comfortable in the class?

Posted 04/08/2013 by Terje Bjørnstad

There is not much that distinguishes the Citroën C4 from its competitors in this class. With the PSA group's superb e-HDI powertrain, high level of equipment and level of safety, the C4 belongs in the top group of the class. The C4 is experienced as a comfortable car – perhaps the most comfortable in its class?

Look and feel

I have always liked the design of the new C4. The previous model was a good car, but it had some design quirks. Here in the new C4, everything is as standard as a Volkswagen. If you come straight from a Golf or Passat, you will find a surprising number of similarities. Same feeling of quality. Same electronic handbrake solution. Blue light in the dashboard - which Volkswagen has otherwise done away with... The seats look like Volkswagen, but the bright partial leather seats in the Exclusive version feel a little more comfortable.

Inside the car, I notice large window areas, apart from the visibility to the rear which is as bad as all cars of this type.

I got to test drive a version with GPS. The choice of materials in the dashboard and panels, as well as the large screen, contribute to a good feeling of quality.

Minus for strong glare in the instruments. The main instrument with speedometer is completely unreadable on a bright summer day with lots of sun.

Driving pleasure

The C4's engine/driveline is based on the latest version of the PSA group's HDI initiative. An e-HDI of 90 horsepower is more than enough to drive effortlessly everywhere. The gearbox's five steps cover the Norwegian speed ranges well so that the engine can run at favorable revs everywhere. The engine pulls very well at low revs. When driving long distances on foreign highways, I felt no need for a sixth gear.

The car's chassis is more comfortable than sporty. But it still feels like the car is fully capable of handling all extreme situations if needed. The gearbox is precise but not click-clack, and does not invite sporty driving. Nor does the steering invite sporty driving. This is a car for road cruising.

Comfort

The seats in the Exclusive version are comfortable. They are slightly softer than many competitors, but still provide sufficient lateral support. The chassis is thought to be comfortably set up, but not so much that it affects the driving characteristics. You actually get a bit of a big car feeling when the car is at speed.

Low noise level in all speed ranges contributes to the good feeling of comfort. Likewise, the equipment level with two-zone automatic air conditioning, automatic lighting, rain sensor, retractable mirrors - to name a few.

Place

In the back seat I get the feeling of sitting a little high, but it could also be that the large side windows are deceiving me. Legroom in the back seat is good, even when I'm sitting behind a driver's seat adjusted for a 1,88 meter person.

The trunk is easy to use and feels more spacious than it actually is.

Safety

Passive safety is at the top level. Blind spot warning in the side mirrors and seat belt warning for the rear seat are also standard on the Exclusive version. Distance detectors at the front and rear are connected to the large screen and provide visual notification of the parking distances around the car.

You can also order your C4 with high-tech adaptive lights and the AFIL system, which wakes you up if the car changes lanes without using indicators.

Economy

Very low operating costs. Low fuel consumption. You can order a service package that gives a full overview of the maintenance costs. Purchase price in the 250-300 price range is nothing to complain about as these are very well equipped cars. Citroën does not have a tradition of keeping trade-in prices high, but since the C000 shares a powertrain with Peugeot, Volvo and Ford among others, I think trade-in prices will remain at an acceptable level. C4 deserves a five here!

Comfortable seats and suspension
Low noise level

Strong glare in dashboard clocks

PHOTOS

See

citroen.no

New Astra

Posted 04/08/2013 by Terje Bjørnstad

Opel Astra 1.4 Turbo — Opel Astra 1,4 Turbo

The new Opel Astra is characterized by the fact that the chrome-plated part of the grill has been given a wider smile, and with a turbocharged petrol engine of 140 horses, the Astra really offers a smile.

2013 Opel Astra 1.4/140 Turbo Excellence 5 doors

Look and feel

The latest facelift adds more elegance. Although the Astra is both modern and stylish, I think it lacks distinctiveness compared to competitors such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. I still can't put my finger on anything concrete.

When I open the door, get behind the wheel and close the door, I get the quality impression I expect in a German car. The equipment level in the test car includes, among other things, Opel's stylish, sporty seats made of partial leather and checked fabric. The leather steering wheel is good to hold.

Stylish button clusters, but difficult to use for us over 50.

When I turn on the ignition, however, I notice the glaring information displays in the dashboard. Red, bulky letters on an orange background are neither informative nor elegant. It is possible that it is possible to tone down the brightness of the displays, but jeg would opt for an upgraded infotainment system to ditch these hideous displays.

I also don't like the many, small buttons on the middle part of the dashboard. It looks stylish with lots of small buttons, especially in the dark - but with the level of functionality in new cars today, a more modern user interface is required. It should be possible to operate the radio and air conditioning without having to pull in to the side and put on reading glasses!

Driving pleasure

The chassis is thought to be sporty and works extremely well on the motorway. The steering and chassis give the driver plenty of driving pleasure and work equally well on both city streets and country roads.

The new 1.4 liter petrol turbo engine with 140 horsepower contributes to the great driving pleasure. My test car was brand new and I felt it sagged a bit when I tried to push it. On the other hand, I don't like to push engines hard in the very first few miles. I checked the carriage card to check that I had really received the 140 horse.

New petrol turbo engines have the same characteristics as turbodiesel engines with the same solid bottom line and the same sound profile. With an increasing focus on particulate matter and a possible winter ban on diesel cars, this is an excellent engine for Norwegian big cities.

Comfort

I sit well in the sporty seats. The first time I sat down, I felt that they pinched my butt, but this is typical for such seats. After two hours, I sat just as well.

Although the car seems a bit sporty, it is experienced as comfortable, especially on the motorway. With the 6-speed gearbox, the soundscape is very pleasant on high-speed motorways.

The "Excellence" package (equivalent to "Cosmo") includes all comfort equipment such as automatic lighting, rain sensor, automatic two-zone climate control, trip computer and more.

Place

With my height of 1,88, I sit royally in the back seat after adjusting the driver's seat to suit myself. Three adults fit fine in the back seat. Inside, it feels as if you are in a large mid-range car. But in the trunk I am brought back to small middle class (C-class). The luggage compartment has a double bottom where the cover can be folded in, or possibly taken out completely. In any case, the trunk is at least designed to function as a full-fledged family car, but as a station wagon or 4-door sedan version you get plenty of space. I give a five for the royal legroom.

Safety

The Opel Astra has all relevant safety equipment in place. The new Astra can be delivered with intelligent lighting that adapts to driving conditions. You can also order adaptive cruise control. This was not installed on the car I test drove.

Economy

Very favorable fuel consumption in relation to engine power and car size. The purchase price of this car is under 300, which is very favorable. If you choose a station wagon, you get a full-sized family car. The only thing that gives some uncertainty in terms of finances is the assumed trade-in value. As Opel's popularity has fallen - and is falling, Opel may not be in much demand as a used car.

Engine/driveline
Space in the compartment

Bright display in the dashboard
Far too many small buttons on the middle part of the dashboard