At the pinnacle of the 2012 Audi A4 lineup is the 2.0T Quattro Prestige. This 5-passenger base-luxury midsize sedan has just about everything except, with its smallish (12.4-cubic-feet) trunk and small cabin console and glove box, overwhelming storage capability. Nevertheless, in addition to full-time all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction, drivers will find such standard niceties as a power sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels and heated power-adjustable mirrors outside, as well as leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and alloy cabin accents inside. Standard comfort and convenience features include telescoping tilt-wheel steering, cruise control, driver's memory settings and Audi’s MMI navigation system with navigation, audio and Bluetooth-integrated communications functions, as well as a rear-view camera, DVD player and rear parking sensors all displayed on a dash-mounted color monitor. Then there are such standard goodies as tri-zone climate control with Sun Sensor auto adjustment (along with ambient lighting adjustment), the Advanced Key system with remote keyless entry and keyless ignition, a universal remote garage door opener and rear parking-assist sensors. The Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, with 505 watts, an MP3-capable single-CD player and 14 speakers is also standard on the top-shelf Quattro Prestige, as are satellite radio and an iPod audio interface.
Options for the 2012 2.0T Quattro Prestige include the Sport Package with sport-tuned suspension, as well as a sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, not to mention sport front seats. The S Line Package, meanwhile, offers the sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch upgraded alloy wheels and Alcantara-upholstered sport front bucket seats. The Audi Drive Select Package, with customizable suspension, transmission and steering modes is a standalone option for the Quattro Prestige, as are genuine walnut wood cabin trim inserts and adaptive cruise control.
The ubiquitous direct-injected (DI) turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) powerplant gives the 2012 A4 2.0 Quattro Prestige its go, with the standard 6-speed manual transmission allowing 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Look for 21 mpg city/31 highway with the 6-speed stick, or select the available Tiptronic 8-speed shiftable automatic for an estimated 21/29. The full-time all-wheel-drive system, meantime, is managed by a self-locking mechanical limited-slip center differential and auto-locking front and rear differentials.
Safety-wise, the 2012 2.0T Quattro Prestige boasts standard 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head-restraint whiplash protection. All this is complemented by standard LED daytime running lights, self-leveling high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, front fog/driving lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors, a blind-spot alert system, pre- and post-collision safety systems and a remote antitheft alarm. Additionally, rear side-mounted airbags are an optional safety item on this top-shelf sedan.