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At 210 km/h, the A4 sport sedan is happy roaring along without fuss or muss. This not legal in Canada, but Germany is another matter. I know; I've done it.

The new A4 is a little, if not inexpensive, gem that surely has the attention of German rivals BMW and Daimler, parent of the Mercedes-Benz brand.

The new A4, which went on sale in the fall, is faster, smoother, more technologically advanced and vastly better-looking than the car it replaced. Pricing starts at $39,700 for the base model with all-wheel-drive and $38,300 for front-drive. The four-cylinder, Premium 2.0T Tiptronic model at $45,000 is a very popular version.

Yes, the A4 starts out essentially as a front-drive car competing in a world of very good premium rear-drivers. But Audi has given it an updated version of its quattro system to provide a 40/60 front-to-rear weight bias. Better to give this A4 the feeling of a rear-driver.

Audi touched every base. The A4 is bigger in every way, better to drive and a sweetheart of a design. The latest look reflects the design language that began in the A5.

The car's bigger dimensions are most noticed in the back seat. Grown-ups can live there for more than five minutes at a crack, and without chewing on their kneecaps.

Under the skin, you'll find the A4's first truly new platform since 1995. It is shared with the A5. The new platform allowed Audi to push the engine rearward about 150 mm for more balanced weight distribution — it's not nose-heavy in the corners any more.

Audi sells the A4 with a choice of two engines: a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with the latest direct fuel injection and variable valve timing/lift systems rated at 211 horsepower; and a 265-hp, 3.2-litre V-6. The four-cylinder starts at $38,300, while the V-6 starts at $50,900.

As for the interior, Audi produces some of the very best, richest cabins in the auto industry. This one is not a disappointment.

Audi says it spent more than $1-billion reinventing the A4. It looks like money well spent.

2009 AUDI A4 AWD QUATTRO 2.0T PREMIUMƒo

Type: Entry premium sedan

Price: $45,000

Engine: 2.0-litre, inline-four-cylinder, turbocharged, direct injection, intercooled turbo, DOHC

Horsepower/Torque: 211 hp/258 lb-ft

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Drive: All-wheel-drive

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 10.1 city/7.4 highway; premium gas required

Alternatives: BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Infinti G35, Acura TL, Lexus IS 250/350, Cadillac CTS, Chrysler 300C, Lincoln MKZ, Saab 9-3, Volvo S60

Like

• Rich design marked by impressive details
• More balanced in corners
• Bigger interior
• Slick powertrain

Don't like

• Strong as it is, you need to work the engine to get all it's worth
• Cabin might have just a bit too much chrome decoration