Audi brought itself back from the brink with the original 1996 A4. Sales shriveled in America after a 60 Minutes expose claimed that the popular Audi 5000 suffered a design malady it called “unintended acceleration.” Stories of Audis flying through garage walls, launching themselves across intersections, and plowing into swimming pools ran rampant, and the resulting buzz almost killed the German luxury brand.

Audi responded with a Hail Mary pass of an automobile; an affordable, attractive, upscale little car called the A4. Around the same time, it switched all model names to mimic the A4 nomenclature. The enthusiast press and Audi die-hards immediately proclaimed the A4 one of the best cars in its class, and before you knew it, the 60 Minutes witch hunt was stalking Chevy pickups with gas tanks mounted outside the frame rails. Audi was home free.

Today’s competitive landscape is different, however. Good looks, great seats and a German badge simply amount to an admission ticket to the entry luxury car death match, not box seats with free adult beverages. The Audi A4, completely redesigned for 2009 and entering its third generational series in the U.S., needed to step up its game to remain an intriguing, let alone viable, alternative to the status quo.

The new 2009 Audi A4 is available as a sedan or a station wagon, the latter of which the automaker refers to as the Avant. The 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet is carried over from the 2008 model year on the same second-generation design until Audi debuts a new convertible version of its A5/S5 Coupe. For the purposes of this review, the information will apply only to the Sedan and Avant.

Here is a summary of the major changes for the 2009 Audi A4 Sedan and Avant:
• Completely redesigned inside and out
• New 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with more horsepower, more torque, better fuel economy (11 percent)
• Improved fuel economy (13 percent) from available 3.2-liter V-6 engine
• Models with quattro all-wheel drive deliver greater amount of power to the rear wheels for sportier driving character
• Optional Audi Drive Select lets driver customize engine, transmission, suspension and steering settings
• Longer, wider and lower with improved interior room, especially in the rear seat
• Reduced front overhang for better visual balance
• Greater wheelbase for improved ride quality
• Available Bang & Olufsen sound system

Called the 2.0 TFSI when equipped with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the 3.2 FSI when equipped with the available V-6 engine, each A4 can be ordered with an S line package (Audi’s lowercase treatment of “line,” not ours) that includes larger wheels and tires, subtle modifications for a sportier drive and appearance, and additional standard equipment. The Avant is only offered with the 2.0 TFSI powertrain and standard quattro all-wheel drive. Quattro is optional on the 2.0 TFSI Sedan and standard on the 3.2 FSI Sedan.

Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels are available on the 2.0 TFSI models, while only the latter two trim levels are offered on the 3.2 FSI. Audi A4s equipped with the S line package include Premium Plus equipment and can be decked out with the Prestige trim.

The Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium represents the standard equipment list. To this, selecting Premium Plus adds bi-Xenon headlights, LED running lights, additional chrome trim, unique 10-spoke alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic three-zone climate control, a driver information system, power adjustable and heated front seats, Audi Symphony sound with iPod interface, a Homelink programmable transmitter, and a rain/light sensor for the windshield wipers and headlights. Premium Plus trim is also the pathway to adding a navigation system to the Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Sedan.

The Audi A4 3.2 FSI comes standard with the contents of the Premium Plus trim level. When Prestige trim is selected, the A4 3.2 FSI is equipped with 18-inch 5-spoke wheels, Audi’s Advanced Key locking and ignition system, parking sensors in the front and rear bumpers, a reversing camera, Side Assist (which notifies the driver about nearby objects during lane changes), and a Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. The Prestige trim is also a prerequisite for the optional S line trim, Audi Drive Select, adaptive cruise control, and 19-inch wheel package. When added to the A4 2.0 TFSI Sedan, the Prestige trim includes a quattro all-wheel drive system.

Options that are available on all 2009 Audi A4s include rear side-impact airbags and wood interior trim. The A4 2.0 TFSI Sedan with Premium trim can be equipped with heated front seats, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, an iPod interface, a Homelink transmitter, and a sports package with 18-inch wheels. It is also offered with a 6-speed manual or Tiptronic automatic transmission in place of its standard CVT, but only when the available quattro all-wheel drive is ordered. The A4 2.0 TFSI Avant is available with dynamic steering and a navigation system regardless of trim, an auto dimming mirror with a compass in Premium trim, and a reversing camera in Premium Plus and Prestige trim.

The 2009 Audi A4 is equipped with one of two engines. The A4 2.0 TFSI model has a new 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 211 horsepower between 5,300 and 6,000 rpm, and 258 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm, running on premium unleaded fuel. A continuously variable transmission is standard on the Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium and Premium Plus, while a 6-speed manual is standard on the A4 2.0 TFSI Prestige with quattro. When quattro is added to the Premium and Premium Plus versions, the buyer can select either the 6-speed manual or the 6-speed Tiptronic automatic that is offered across the 2.0 TFSI range. This engine is rated to deliver between 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway depending on drivetrain. Our test car, an Audi A4 2.0 TSFI Avant quattro with the automatic, averaged 23.1 mpg in mixed driving.

The 2009 Audi A4 3.2 FSI is powered by a 3.2-liter V-6 engine making 265 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb.-ft. of torque between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm, running on premium unleaded fuel. A 6-speed automatic transmission is the only choice for delivering power to all four wheels through the standard Quattro all-wheel drive. This powertrain is rated to return 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway.

Safety equipment on the 2009 Audi A4 includes dual front airbags, dual seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats. Every Audi A4 also comes equipped with four-wheel-disc ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake disc wiping for better stopping power in wet weather. Additionally, the A4 includes a stability control system with traction control. Standard on A4s with Prestige trim, the Side Assist system monitors the car’s blind spots, and notifies the driver when surrounding traffic is present when the turn signal is used to indicate a turn or lane change. Optional on A4s with Prestige trim is an adaptive cruise control system, which monitors the distance between the A4 and traffic ahead, automatically adjusting vehicle speed to maintain safe driving conditions.

J.D. Power and Associates says the 2009 Audi A4 competes against other entry premium cars such as the Acura TSX, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G Series, Lexus IS, Lincoln MKZ, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Saab 9-3, and Volvo S60.