Thinking of getting an Audi S4?
The style of the car
The Audi S4’s styling is classy and discreet, which could be appealing if other sporty, high-performance cars look too aggressive for your tastes. Changes over the standard A4 include deeper bumpers, a small rear spoiler, bigger wheels, lower suspension and bright metal styling details. But, as it’s based on the A4, it’s still a practical family car.
How it drives
The Audi S4 is great to drive. It’s available with either of two very powerful engines – a turbo petrol or a turbo diesel. The diesel was introduced in 2019 and replaced the petrol engine. The S4 is really fast with either engine. Both have an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. It feels safe and secure on slippery, winding roads. It’s comfortable and quiet on motorways and a pleasure on long journeys. The S4 is easy to drive around town. It’s relatively compact, the view out is good and parking sensors are standard, so manoeuvring in tight spaces isn’t an issue. Some models have a parking camera system, too. It’s surprisingly capable at towing, with a capacity of 2100kg.
The interior
The Audi S4 is a mid-size four-door saloon with five seats. It’s about the same size as the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class. The interior feels luxurious and the seats are very comfortable. Four adults fit easily, although rear headroom is a little tight for very tall people. The middle back seat is suitable for children and there are Isofix mounts for two child seats. The boot is big for this type of car, with space for four medium suitcases. The back seats fold down to fit in longer loads. If it’s not quite practical enough, you might prefer the S4 Avant estate. All models come with heated leather seats, climate control, sat nav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and a digital driver’s display that can show a wide range of information, including sat nav maps.
Running costs and reliability
The S4 costs more to buy than other versions of the Audi A4, but considering its performance and standard equipment, it’s still good value. Both engines, petrol or diesel, give very good fuel economy, but are in the top road tax band. The S4 is in high insurance groups, too. Servicing costs should be reasonable and there are no worries about reliability. It feels extremely well made, with a comprehensive set of driver assistance systems. Safety experts Euro NCAP gave the A4 a five-star rating, which applies to the S4.
How it compares with similar cars
The S4’s main rivals are the BMW M340i and Mercedes-AMG C43. All three are very closely matched, but the Mercedes is a touch more practical and the BMW is most enjoyable to drive. The Audi is especially relaxing on a long journey, however, and is also the best-equipped.
