A yin and yang of power and efficiency takes center stage with this turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder Audi A4. Unusual for its class, the A4 manages to meet and even beat its base-model competitors when it comes to acceleration and fuel economy. The A4's real strength, however, lies in its high-quality cabin with best-in-class materials that welcome you into the seat of luxury. You'll make adulting look good and the real leather interior, sunroof, upgraded electronics, and smooth ride will send a message of sophisticated refinement. This year the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine has been given a 9-hp bump up to 220, and with 258 pound-feet of torque on tap, you'll never get tired of driving this spunky car.  

The Premium trim comes standard with 17-inch wheels; automatic headlights; front and rear foglights; automatic wipers; a sunroof; cruise control; automatic climate control; a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; eight-way power front seats with four-way driver lumbar adjustment; leather upholstery; a dash-mounted Multi Media Interface, or MMI; Bluetooth phone connectivity; and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack, an iPod interface and satellite radio. Options include a navigation system (with voice controls and console-mounted MMI), a Cold Weather package (heated front seats and a 60/40-split folding rear seat) and an S line style package, which adds 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights and sportier exterior trim.

Every 2014 Audi A4 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are standard, while all-wheel drive is available with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi estimates that any of these powertrain variations will bring the A4 from zero to 60 in 6.2-6.6 seconds, which would be an average time for this class. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 24 mpg combined  (20 mpg city/29 mpg highway) with AWD and the automatic.

The 2014 Audi A4 comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. A blind-spot warning system is optional on the Premium Plus and standard on the Prestige. Rear seat airbags are optional on all trims, while the Prestige can be equipped with an adaptive cruise control system that warns the driver and primes the brakes should it detect an impending collision. Front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are optional as well. In government crash tests, the A4 received a perfect five stars in every category, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave last year's A4 the best possible score of "Good"  in the moderate-overlap frontal offset, side and roof-strength tests. It did receive the worst rating of "Poor" in the IIHS's new small-overlap frontal offset crash test, but few cars have been subjected to this test, and a majority received similarly low ratings.