by James Hamel

Created on: February 23, 2011   Last Updated: February 25, 2011

Spending a week with a 2011 Audi A4 2.0T sedan is like wearing the most flatteringly form fitting, custom made Italian suit to the most important business meeting in your life. You just feel better looking, more confident and more aesthetically aware from behind the wheel of this stylish and quick German luxury sport sedan. And, yes, it does stroke the ego in just the right places.

Now, part of every luxury sport sedan purchase is a desire to demonstrate your level of accomplishment even if it is just the simple fact that you worked hard enough to deserve such an exactingly engineered automobile. So never confuse that with being a negative—cars like the ones that Audi build can make you feel good about yourself and that is a truly invaluable asset in this world.

But more important than how a luxury sedan makes you feel, if the automaker plans on turning you into a repeat buyer of the brand they need to give the driver the perfect driving experience that is both cosseting and sporty. Lexus is apparently the only luxury brand that need not inject any sportiness into their models but it seems that even Cadillac and Lincoln are trying their hand at BMW and Audi’s game.

The 2011 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro may be the entry level four door in the lineup, but there is never a feeling like you are being short changed when driving it, sitting in it or even just by looking at it. Do keep in mind that this $40,470 tester lacked a navigation system, which seems like the price range to expect such a feature to come as standard.

It is easy to see how it just might never would spring to your mind, however, as you are being seduced by the (optional, of course) sculpted sport seats and the extra cost sport suspension which still absorbs bumps capably while making the A4 feel like it is glued to the ground even through fast switchback sweepers. The 2011 Audi A4 is a luxury sedan that loves to be driven fast yet always makes you feel like you are in total control.

I am not sure if it is the suspension which hunkers down at speed, the Quattro or the 2.0 liter 211 horsepower/258 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder but this car accelerates to 90 miles per hour way too easily on freeway on-ramps. Perhaps it was the sweet and slick 8-speed automatic which is much better than those used in much of the competition.  

So should you just say no to technology and tick the box for the Sport Package instead of navigation? Well, if you plan on reselling the car, in-dash navigation is

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