Road Tests

'96 Audi A4 QuattroIt's been a good month at Motor Trend thanks to the delivery of the well-equipped Audi A4 Quattro, which sports an aerodynamic exterior, a luxurious interior, and the smooth 2.8-liter/172-horsepower VR6 engine. Direct from Germany, all A4s feature standard anti-lock disc brakes, electronic climate control, a power driver's seat, power windows/locks/mirrors, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo. Perusing the options list, we couldn't pass up the easy-shifting five-speed automatic transmission ($930) or the Quattro all-wheel-drive system ($1550). To make ski trips more pleasant, we added a ski bag ($160) and the all-weather package with heated front seats, windshield-washer nozzles, and driver-side door lock ($450). For warm-weather enjoyment, we opted for a sunroof ($990) and the irresistible leather-wrapped sport steering wheel ($150). Rounding out our A4's list of extras is the remote locking system ($190) and Pearlescent White Clearcoat ($550). Fully loaded, our high-value A4 stickered at $31,945-that's close to the base price of numerous import sedan competitors.