Distance: 513km
Date: 25-29 December, 2024
Location: Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Up front: Heated and powered seats are standard but the steering wheel adjustment is manual. The genuine leather available even on the base model is a plus when compared to Mercedes’ fake Artico and BMW’s fake Sensatec. The leather control surfaces are comfortable to touch, the physical gear lever is appreciated, and the extra cruise control stalk is a classic touch that many automakers are forsaken.
The classic layout is logical except for the cupholders where a tall water bottle will obstruct the climate control buttons. Another complaint is the tech: Apple CarPlay only connects smoothly about half the time and the car only comes with one in the front as standard in the base model with rear USB ports only available in the mid and top trim.
In the back: This is the sports sedan for the person who had children before they were ready to part with fun, stylish cars. Rear space is fine for outboard passengers for compact sedans, but the sloping roofline limits headroom for anyone over five and a half feet tall. The middle seat is an honorary position only. You could fit two rear-facing child seats in the outboard positions on the rear bench, but it severely limits rear visibility and front seat maneuverability.
The rear hatch of this fastback makes it a practical family hauler. The trunk can fit two large suitcases only because of the sloping rear hatch. But when the 60/40 folding rear bench is down, there’s room for two more larch suitcases and three carry-ons. You can choose between rear visibility, children, or luggage space— pick one.
Driving: The two-litre turbo-four pulls like a six cylinder engine from a decade ago and with minimal turbo lag as in the A4. The dual-clutch automatic helps deliver instantaneous power. The 45 is a lot quicker than the 40 with 60 extra ponies bringing it to 261 horsepower. When coupled with its responsive steering on both the highway and in the city, this powertrain is a formidable force.
The steering is lighter than I’d like it to be but very precise—it’s a point and play kind of deal. There’s slight understeer at high speed, but that’s a compromise I can live with at a mass market price point. The brakes are responsive without being jerky, so it’s easy to bring it to a smooth stop at traffic lights.
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