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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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The S4 Avant is a sportier version of the mid-size Audi A4 Avant estate. It has powerful engines that make it very fast and it’s enjoyable to drive. With four-wheel drive it feels safe and secure, even in bad weather. It looks classy and the interior feels luxurious.
Like all Audis, the S4 Avant feels very well made. Audi has a good reputation for reliability but doesn’t score especially highly in some customer satisfaction surveys.
Road tax and insurance costs are relatively high, but the S4 Avant is surprisingly fuel-efficient for such a fast car.
The S4 Avant comfortably seats four adults. Even very tall adults will be fine in the back seats. The boot is a good size and the back seats fold down to fit longer, bulkier loads.
The Mercedes-AMG C43 estate is more spacious and the BMW M340i Touring is more fun to drive. But the S4 Avant feels more comfortable and luxurious on long journeys. It’s better equipped, too.
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