Audi A4 review

Interior

Dashboard & tech

The interior of the A4 is where it really shines. It’s probably the best in its class, with a clean, modern design and an unbeatable feeling of quality. Everything you touch feels solid and expensive, giving the cabin a genuinely premium atmosphere. The 2019 update brought in a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen, which is crisp, clear, and easy to use.

One of the best features, which is now standard on newer models, is Audi’s fantastic Virtual Cockpit. This digital screen replaces traditional dials and can be configured to show you all sorts of information, including a full-screen map, right in your line of sight. It’s a brilliant piece of tech that makes the A4 feel incredibly modern.

Comfort

The A4 is a wonderfully comfortable car, designed to make long journeys feel effortless. The seats are supportive, and the cabin is incredibly quiet, shielding you from wind and road noise. It's a serene and relaxing place to be.

The ride is generally smooth and compliant, soaking up bumps in the road with ease. It's worth noting that the popular S line models, with their larger wheels and sports suspension, can feel a little firm, but it’s rarely uncomfortable. Overall, it’s a car that puts comfort and refinement first.

Quality

Audi is famous for its interior quality, and the A4 is a prime example of why. The fit and finish are exceptional, and the materials used throughout the cabin are top-notch. It’s a car that feels built to last, with every button and switch operating with a satisfying precision. This feeling of quality is what really sets the A4 apart from many of its rivals and helps to justify its premium standing.

Practicality & boot space

Interior space

The latest generation of the A4 is more spacious than its predecessors, making it an excellent choice for a family car and a great alternative to an SUV. There’s plenty of room up front, and even tall adults will find they can sit comfortably in the back seats, with generous levels of both head and legroom.

Boot space

In the saloon version, the A4 offers a 480-litre boot, which is a good size and identical to what you’ll find in its main rivals, the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. While saloons aren't always the most practical for loading bulky items, the A4 comes with folding rear seats to help you carry longer objects. For ultimate practicality, the Avant estate model offers a much larger and more flexible load space.

Versatility

The A4 is a versatile car that can easily adapt to different needs. It's a comfortable and stylish executive express during the week, and a practical family car at the weekend. The addition of the Avant estate version makes it even more versatile, offering a huge boot for luggage, pets, or trips to the garden centre. Some models are also available with Audi’s famous quattro all-wheel-drive system, which provides extra grip and confidence in slippery conditions.

Driving

Driving experience

Behind the wheel, the Audi A4 is a safe, secure, and relaxing car to drive. It’s designed for comfort and refinement rather than outright sporty thrills, and it excels at being a brilliant long-distance cruiser. The steering is light and accurate, and it feels stable and composed on the motorway.

While rivals like the BMW 3 Series or Jaguar XE might be more fun on a winding road, the A4 is far from boring. It handles corners neatly and with plenty of grip, especially in quattro models. The only real complaint is that the automatic gearbox can sometimes be a bit slow to react when you want a quick burst of acceleration, but it’s something you quickly get used to.

Performance

The A4 is available with a great range of smooth and powerful petrol and diesel engines. The petrol range is based around a 2.0-litre unit, available in various power outputs badged as 35 TFSI, 40 TFSI, and 45 TFSI. Even the entry-level 148bhp 35 TFSI provides decent performance, with a 0-60mph time of around 8.4 seconds.

The diesel lineup also uses 2.0-litre engines, badged 30 TDI, 35 TDI, and 40 TDI. The mid-range 35 TDI is a popular choice, offering a great balance of strong performance and excellent fuel economy. For those wanting serious speed, the high-performance S4 and RS4 models offer blistering acceleration and an incredible soundtrack.

Running costs

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

If low running costs are a priority, the diesel engines are your best bet. The 30 TDI and 35 TDI models are particularly efficient, with official fuel economy figures of over 55mpg. On a long motorway run, you could see even better results. The petrol engines are a bit thirstier, likely returning figures in the high 30s, but they are generally cheaper to buy in the first place. Unlike its key rivals, there is no plug-in hybrid version of this A4, which is a consideration for company car drivers.

Value for money

The A4 is a premium car with a price tag to match, sitting competitively alongside the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. However, even the entry-level Technik models come with a very generous amount of standard equipment, including the Virtual Cockpit, a big touchscreen, and LED headlights. This makes it feel like good value. Because it’s a desirable car, it holds its value quite well, but you can still find significant savings on nearly-new examples.

Reliability & Warranty

Despite its premium image, the A4 has had mixed results in some reliability surveys. Some owners have reported issues with powertrain vibrations, so it’s always important to check a car’s history and inspect it thoroughly. From new, all Audis come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, so many used examples will still have some cover remaining.

Safety

Safety features

The Audi A4 is a very safe car, achieving the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP. It comes with plenty of safety kit as standard to help protect you and your passengers.

All models come with autonomous emergency braking, which can help prevent a collision, along with cruise control and front and rear parking sensors. High-spec Vorsprung models are packed with even more advanced safety aids, including adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, and lane-change assist.

Trims & Engines

Trim levels

The A4 is available in a range of trim levels. The range starts with Technik, which is surprisingly well-equipped with 17-inch alloys, the Virtual Cockpit, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, and a reversing camera. Sport trim adds larger 18-inch wheels and part-leather sports seats.

The most popular trim is the sporty S line, which adds 19-inch wheels, a more aggressive body kit, and sports suspension. The Black Edition adds a black styling pack for a stealthier look, while the top-of-the-range Vorsprung is packed with every conceivable feature, including adaptive suspension and a panoramic sunroof.

Engines

The engine range is made up of 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The petrols are badged 35 TFSI (148bhp), 40 TFSI (187bhp), and 45 TFSI (242bhp). The diesels are badged 30 TDI (134bhp), 35 TDI (161bhp), and 40 TDI (187bhp). Most models come with a smooth S tronic automatic gearbox as standard, with only the entry-level petrol available with a manual. You can also get Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system on the more powerful engines.

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