The good points about my Audi A4 are that the engine is quiet and eager; the stop/start system works well; the car is economical; the interior is quite spacious and the boot is a good size and shape; the car looks good; the Bluetooth telephone system works well; and the SD player in the audio system is good.

Unfortunately, there are a number of problems with the car:

- The ride is appalling. As the car is an Audi, I was expecting a firm ride but the lack of control is unacceptable. Even small imperfections in the road surface thump mercilessly into the cabin, and the lack of body control causes side-to-side lurching over imperfect surfaces. The car does not settle at any speed over any surface. (I should note that the Executive spec included 17” wheels fitted with 245/45 tyres, a slightly lower profile that those fitted to the standard SE 17” wheels, so the latter may ride slightly better.) The ride and control are a little better when more than one person is in the car, so prospective purchasers must insist on an unaccompanied test drive.

- The provision for driver comfort is poor. I am not particularly troubled by the pedals being offset to the right (although those interested in the car must ensure that the test drive is of sufficient length to make sure they are happy with this), but it is disappointing that Audi make much of the dashboard being angled towards the driver but cannot be troubled to align the pedals correctly on RHD cars. The absence of a footrest for the left foot makes longer journeys more tiring than they need to be. The front seats are poorly designed and it is impossible to find a driving position which does not leave an ache in the left buttock.

- Many of the gadgets fitted by Audi are of dubious value. Most laughable is the cruise control, which is useless because Audi have not bothered to provide anywhere to rest either foot! The rear parking sensors do not always engage when selecting reverse (no fault found by dealer). The electronic handbrake does not always release automatically. The aircon outlet for rear passengers does not appear to respond to the controls fitted to it. The switches for the front and rear foglights and the warning lights to show that they are on are hidden behind the steering wheel and one of the stalks and cannot be seen by the driver.

- Build quality is suspect. The plastic cover over one of the rear boot hinges lasted only a few weeks before disintegrating (replaced under warranty). The rear doors made a squelching noise in wet weather (attended to under warranty). A couple of small buzzes have developed in the dash. Some of the interior plastics and the seat materials are of poor quality, and much of the switchgear feels cheap in operation. Rear seat passengers have complained of numb bottoms, probably not helped by the dreadful ride.

- Those interested in the car should not assume, as I did, that some items would automatically be fitted to a car at this price level. My Audi replaced a 2002 VW Passat SE, and I have lost a glovebox which is lockable, illuminated and air-conditioned, puddle lights in the doors, lights above the sun visors and adjustable lumbar support, all fitted as standard to the Passat.

The Audi aspires to belong in a premium class of car and its price, looks and image are commensurate with this. Sadly, the levels of comfort, build quality and particularly ride quality fall way short of the standard I had expected at this price level. Poorly designed, and uncomfortable and unrewarding to drive and ride in, the car is a bitter disappointment.

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