Interior
Audi have set a benchmark in cabin quality and craftsmanship. In this shootout the A4 is the only car with bright dual-tone beige cabin which makes it a happy place to be in. The light colour also makes the cabin feel airy and roomier than it is. The overall design, quality of material and finish is unparalleled, and is without doubt the most opulent of the three luxury cars. The stylish driver’s instrument console is large and the simplest to gather information from. Even Audi’s MMI (infotainment system) has the best graphics and is the most intuitive here. It is not the roomiest cabin, but the seats are comfortable and well bolstered in sync with the relaxed nature of the A4.
The 3 Series actually has the roomiest cabin and the best rear knee-room, but it’s just not as luxurious as Audi, nor as sporty as the AMG-inspired design of the Mercedes-Benz. The unimaginative interior of the BMW is surprisingly opposite to the dynamic driving character of the 320d. Having said that, one cannot complain about the quality or finish. Our SportLine had bright red accent on the dashboard with red contrast stitches on black leather steering wheel and seats which improved matters. It also lacks adequate cubbyholes and storage space for titbits or mobile phones. The iDrive infotainment system, on the other hand, is easy to navigate through and comes with a decent sized screen which throws information clearly.
The Mercedes-Benz does a much better job in this department and finely balances luxury and sportiness. The seats are soft and comfortable, with adequate rear knee-room, but they are pretty low and getting in and out of the car for the elderly could be an issue. The all-black treatment on the interior and overload of buttons on the centre console may not suit every pallet and make the interior quite dark, but the overall solid build and craftsmanship will surely impress all. Our ‘Edition C’, inspired by AMG models, has good looking chrome inserts, contrast blue-and-white stitches and a good looking three-spoke sporty steering wheel which make the cabin really special.
All the three cars have a full-sized, 475-480-litre boot that takes care of most of your luggage. Unlike the Audi and Mercedes, the BMW’s rear seats are not split and neither can they be folded to accommodate oversized luggage. Moreover, since it comes with run-flat tyres, there isn’t a spare wheel either, which is a big problem if you often venture out on long journeys. The Audi comes with a space-saver while the Mercedes-Benz has a full-sized spare wheel tucked under the boot.
