Thinking of buying a used Audi S4 Avant?
The style of the car
The S4 Avant’s styling is sporty yet subtle, which could appeal if other high-performance cars look too aggressive for your tastes. Changes over the standard A4 Avant include deeper bumpers, a small rear spoiler, bigger wheels and lower suspension. Because it’s based on the A4 Avant, it’s still a practical family car.
How it drives
The S4 Avant is great to drive. It’s available with one of two very powerful engines, a turbo petrol or a turbo diesel that replaced the petrol one in 2019. With either engine, it’s really fast. Both have an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive and each feels safe and secure on slippery roads and comfortable and quiet on motorways. It’s easy to drive around town and parking sensors are standard, so manoeuvring in tight spaces isn’t an issue. Some models have a parking camera system, too.
The interior
The S4 Avant is a mid-size five-door estate with five seats. It’s about the same size as the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes C-Class estate. The interior feels luxurious and the seats are comfortable. Four adults fit easily and even very tall people will be comfortable in the back seat. The middle back seat is suitable for children and there are Isofix mounts for two child seats. The boot has space for four medium-size suitcases and the back seats fold down to fit longer, bulkier loads. 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 Avant costs more to buy than other versions of the Audi A4 Avant, but considering its performance and standard equipment, it’s good value. Both petrol and diesel engines give very good fuel economy, but are in the top road tax band. The S4 Avant is in high insurance groups, too. It feels extremely well made and Audi’s cars have a decent reputation for reliability with a comprehensive set of driver assistance systems. Safety experts Euro NCAP gave the A4 Avant a five-star rating.
How it compares with similar cars
The S4 Avant’s main rivals are the BMW M340i Touring and Mercedes-AMG C43 estate. The Mercedes is more spacious and the BMW is more enjoyable to drive but neither is as comfortable and relaxing as the Audi on a long journey and the S4 Avant is particularly well equipped.
