The Audi A4 is a compact luxury sedan that excels in many areas. It has sporty handling and powerful engines that make it fun to drive. Meanwhile, it is fuel-efficient and practical, with available all-wheel-drive and safety amenities. And with the right equipment, the A4 is a very luxurious car in a small, reasonably priced package, though options can raise the price. For folks seeking a small premium sedan, the A4 is well worth a test-drive.
Pros
- Sporty to drive with a comfortable ride
- Many available tech amenities
- Excellent FWD fuel efficiency
- Refined and elegant interior
Cons
- Some luxury options are pricey
- Smaller trunk than some rivals
The A4 sedan has a choice of two engines, which are dependent on whether one chooses front- or all-wheel-drive. Either way, the trim levels are the same.
The Premium model starts at about $37,500 and comes with fully automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 17-inch forged alloy wheels, a power sunroof, leather seating with contrast stitch, three-zone climate control, forward collision warning, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, a 10-speaker audio system, a CD player, push-button start, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The Premium Plus begins at roughly $41,000. It adds proximity keyless entry, premium daytime running lights, 18-inch polished wheels, auto-dimming/power-folding side mirrors, a digital gauge cluster, wireless phone charger, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, front and rear acoustic parking sensors, leatherette interior trim, driver’s seat memory, rear USB ports, an alarm, and satellite radio.
The top-tier Prestige trim comes in around $47,000 and has matrix-design LED headlights, navigation, a 755-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, a surround-view camera, traffic sign recognition, a head-up display, ambient lighting, active lane-keep assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and headlight/taillight animation.
If one goes with front-wheel-drive (the “40 TFSI”), you get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 188 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission comes standard.
The EPA estimates that it should return 27/35/30 mpg city/highway/combined. For those wanting faster acceleration or better all-weather traction, the all-wheel-drive model (“45 TFSI quattro”) comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo. That engine creates 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.
It gets an EPA-estimated 24/32/27 mpg city/highway/combined. The Audi A4 has four-wheel disc brakes and a 15.3-gallon fuel tank.
The Audi A4 is a highly competent small luxury sedan. It has great handling and brisk acceleration, and the front-wheel-drive model’s smaller engine offers superb fuel economy. A 10.1-inch touchscreen handles many of the vehicle controls and is an upgrade from the control knob it replaces. The A4 comes with a great set of standard features, like leather seating and heated front seats, though some posh options are costly. Overall, the A4 does many things well, housed in a handsome package.
