Looks only go so far — is the 2021 Audi A4 the next great entry sedan?

The 2021 Audi A4 returns for the new model year with a new look, or product improvement as Audi likes to call it. For 2021 the model gets a sharper style improvement, with pinched headlights flanking a neat singleframe grille that is broader and flatter with horizontal lines to emphasize width at the front and rear.

Audi styling favours sharp lines and subtle creases while staying clear of drama. It’s mature. The 2020 A4 catches up and modernizes a bit, but still doesn’t step more than knee-deep into the edgy waters.

See our First Impressions video below:

All A4 models now get standard LED headlights with the top-of-the-line headlights offering Matrix LED technology. This also brings the A4 more in line with family styling, namely the A6 and A7.

Audi is now offering new equipment lines that include basic, advanced, and S line for the exterior. The S models get their own look. A4 buyers have 12 paint options to choose from including a new colour called Terra Grey.

Audi revealed the new A4 mid-size model, to select media at a hands-on experience held at The Houghton Hotel, that has a new sportier design. A4 cars now have Singleframe grille that is broader and flatter with horizontal lines to emphasize width at the front and rear. All A4 models now get standard LED headlights with the top-of-the-line headlights offering Matrix LED technology.

Audi is now offering new equipment lines that include basic, advanced, and S line for the exterior. The S models get their own look. A4 buyers have 12 paint options to choose from including a new color called Terra Grey. Inside the vehicles, a new contour/ambient lighting package is offered that highlights the interior in the dark.

Audi also has a new MMI system for the A4 range that promises a user experience similar to a smartphone, Audi Connect. It has a touch display with acoustic feedback that replaces the old version’s rotary dial in the console. The system is paired with a 10.1-inch TFT display.

For a list of Audi Connect services, check our spread here.

The A4 range comes with six turbo engine options. Power ranges from 110 kW to 260 kW depending on the model. Two versions will launch with a mild-hybrid system installed that is based on 12V system. The S4 TFSI will have an available mild hybrid system that pairs a 48V alternator/starter with the engine. The new A4 range launches today with pricing for the A4 series starting at R644 000.

The new A4 is still some few days out, but thanks to this early preview I got a chance to see just what’s going on with the subtle yet appreciable – not to mention critical – changes to both the exterior and interior design over the outgoing car. With 12 million A4 sold worldwide, there’s a lot riding on this ninth-generation (“B9”) model, especially as it faces down the likes of BMW’s 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class.

Audi’s table is audibly groaning with the 2017 A4. Its handsome, hewn-from-solid-metal looks are timeless, but the roster of gadgetry, safety technology, and driver comfort are first-rate. Semi-autonomous driving in the city is a legitimate advantage over even the advanced smart cruise control systems other automakers offer, and gives a tantalizing glimpse of what truly self-driving cars will be like.

WE hope to host this beast for review soon!