Audi A4 (2015-2024) review

Audi has listened to customer feedback and made the latest A4 softer and more comfortable than its predecessor, and as a result it's easier to live with. There’s still plenty of performance on offer to keep you entertained, but if you’re after driving thrills you're still better off with the BMW 3 Series or Jaguar XE.

Few of the A4’s rivals can compete with its beautifully crafted interior, and it's a place that can transform the most arduous journey into an enjoyable one. If you're happy cruising and prioritise a particularly classy-looking cabin, the A4 could be for you.

About the Audi A4

The fifth-generation Audi A4 has been on sale since 2017, available in either saloon or Avant estate form. The A4 range received a facelift in 2019 which included improvements made to the infotainment system, plus the addition of a 12V mild-hybrid assistance to every model. The A4’s combined alternator and starter recuperates up to 5kW of energy while coasting, helping to boost acceleration or to allow the car up to 40 seconds of ‘electric only’ coasting with the engine off.

A further update for the 2022 model year saw Audi revise the A4’s selection of trim levels. Volkswagen Group’s MIB 3 infotainment system was also introduced, along with Amazon Alexa voice recognition technology, while more sustainable interior materials were brought over from the e-tron EV range. Black Edition models also received a number of exterior styling tweaks including new alloy wheels.

Trim levels start with the Sport model which has an attractive spec featuring 17-inch alloys, LED headlamps, 10.1-inch colour Navigation Plus MMI display, a 36-month subscription to Audi Connect services, cruise control, three zone climate control and a Virtual Cockpit 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Next up is the S-Line trim which gives you a special exterior styling package, lowered sport suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels and embossed sport seats. Sitting just above at the top of the A4 lineup is the Black Edition. This is a further upgraded S-Line model with stealthy ‘blacked out’ effects to the exterior brightwork, as well as piano black interior trim. 

A more luxurious Vorsprung specification was also available for a time, but it’s no longer part of the A4 trim structure.

There are two petrol and two diesel engines available in the current A4 range. All trim levels can be fitted with either a 148bhp 35 TFSI or 201bhp 40 TFSI petrol, while diesel buyers can choose from a 161bhp 35 TDI or 201bhp 40 TDI. 

The 40 TDI quattro is now the only four-wheel drive choice in the line-up. Previously, you could combine a 261bhp TFSI 45 petrol engine with four-wheel drive, but this powertrain was axed in 2022.

The 35 TDI diesel is the engine that makes the most sense for buyers: it manages 51.4–60.1mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and its 161bhp output is more than enough. It lacks the quattro four-wheel drive system used by the 40 TDI and is a little down on power, but the lack of complexity and weight means that it’s almost as quick and more frugal – all the while coming in cheaper, too.

The Audi A4 as we know it is set to be axed as part of Audi’s radical restructuring of its model names. Even-numbered names will soon be allocated to fully-electric models only, so the next generation of Audi’s compact executive car will be given the A5 name instead. The existing A5 Coupe and Sportback will be replaced with a new Sportback and, for the first time, an Avant estate variant.

Engines, performance and drive

​The fifth-generation Audi A4 moved to a new platform, adopting the VW Group’s MLB Evo architecture. The more advanced chassis is underpinned by multilink suspension at both the front and rear, and although this differs from the front-end systems on rivals like the Jaguar XE and Alfa Romeo Giulia, the technology and components used are equally hi-tech and modern. 

The A4 is available with ‘quattro’ four wheel drive, which gives strong traction in slippery conditions. While some models offer it as standard, for the rest it’s worth thinking about whether or not you’ll actually need it, as it’s more expensive and harms fuel efficiency.

The compact executive class is filled with cars that either handle brilliantly, are beautifully refined, or a combination of the two. The A4 aims towards the more relaxed side: minimal wind noise and hushed engines mean that it’s a great long-distance cruiser. If you’re looking for fun, look elsewhere: the Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW 3 Series and Jaguar XE are all superior in this regard.

Both fixed and variable dampers are available on the A4. The variable dampers set in Auto are much more comfortable than fixed - and are an option worth having. Dynamic mode makes the car feel more aggressive and offers a sharper drive, but reduces comfort for minimal improvement in handling, so we’d leave that alone. It’s worth avoiding the large alloy wheels, too. On larger 19-inch rims, the A4 tends to fidget over bumps that the XE skips over more smoothly.

On smooth surfaces the A4’s ride is taut yet begrudgingly absorbent, but on rougher roads the ride breaks down. It would be better on adaptive dampers; in S line spec the no-cost Comfort Dynamic passive system struggles to cope with faster bumps and jolts.

The steering isn’t as fast as an Alfa Romeo Giulia’s, but it’s nicely geared to the chassis, which delivers good grip and agility. It feels incredibly light though; great when driving in town, but might be unnerving for some at higher speeds. While it will change direction quickly, the A4 still feels a little flat compared with the Giulia, which is more alert and involving.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

The A4 is now available with two petrol engines: the 148bhp 35 TFSI and the 201bhp 40 TFSI, with the 261bhp 45 TFSI no longer offered. The 134bhp 30 TDI is also off the price list, leaving the 161bhp 35 TDI and the 201bhp 40 TDI diesels. Revisions to the range in 2019 mean that engines are now equipped with fuel saving mild-hybrid tech.

Each of the 2.0-litre diesel engines are smooth and refined, delivering enough straight-line performance. The higher-powered model develops a healthy 400Nm of torque so it delivers strong acceleration from low speeds. It’ll hit 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds in the 40 TDI quattro S tronic, compared to the petrol 40 TFSI's 7.1-second sprint time.

Though the diesels are refined, the petrol models are smoother and quieter. And thanks to clever turbocharging, they deliver the torque in a smooth, linear fashion. When you settle down to a cruise it’s incredibly refined, the S Tronic auto transmission shuffling ratios sweetly unless you stamp on the throttle. The long gearing means that it’ll kick down under the lightest of loads at motorway speeds though, which can be annoying.

The petrol and diesel engines are combined with mild hybrid tech to help save fuel. This includes a 12-volt electrical system with a starter/generator unit which can recoup energy under deceleration which can then be deployed under acceleration. This helps to reduce load on the combustion engine, thus improving economy.

MPG, CO2 and running costs

​With the introduction of mild-hybrid tech from 2019 onwards, the A4’s petrol and diesel units received a gentle boost in fuel economy. In addition to reducing combustion engine load through regenerative braking, the 12-volt setup enables the stop/start system to engage almost instantly, and from a higher speed than before. When coasting on a motorway, the engine can cut out for up to 40 seconds at a time to reduce fuel usage further.

The Audi A4 is a pricey compact executive saloon. Prices start from around £36,000 – a figure which can soon escalate by adding extras. Just moving up from the entry-level Sport trim to the S-Line will cost you an extra £2,500.

At least everyday running costs should be reasonable, with the diesel models being the low-consumption champs. The 35 TDI is the best performer of the A4 saloon range, with claimed economy of up to 60.1mpg. CO2 emissions for the diesels start from 124g/km for the 35 TDI, rising to 136g/km for the 40 TDI. These rise incrementally when you move up a trim level and also in wheel size.

The petrol engines have closed the gap to the diesels for CO2 emissions, with both the 35 and 40 TFSI emitting 140/km. Again, this figure rises with trim upgrades and bigger wheels. In official tests, the 35 TFSI manages 39.8-45.6mpg.

Insurance groups

The Audi A4 is a desirable compact executive saloon, but it also comes with a raft of safety tech, which helps to balance out insurance costs. The standard lineup ranges between groups 22 and 26, but opting for the high-performance S4 sees this rise to group 41.

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Depreciation

The Audi A4 saloon and Avant are both predicted to hold onto between 41 and 48 per cent of their initial value after three years and 36,000 miles of driving, depending on your chosen trim and engine. In comparison, the BMW 3 Series is expected to retain between 46 and 54 per cent of its list price.

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Interior, design and technology

​The A4’s exterior styling is pretty conservative – no-one is going to be offended or shocked by the way it appears. Although it’s a familiar look, a lot of work has gone into the bodywork and every line and crease is there to improve the aerodynamics of the car.

The bodywork sets a class record for low drag. Clever developments include side mirrors that are mounted directly on the door panel rather than at its junction with the quarter light. This means more air can glide smoothly down the side of the car.

Styling revisions in 2019 appear subtle, but a large portion of the exterior metalwork is new. Up front, there are new headlights with revised LED graphics, a fresh bumper, and a fake vent at the base of the bonnet, inspired by the original Audi Sport Quattro. There’s a new rear bumper, too. Even the side is updated: the shoulder line, which previously ran straight from one wheel arch to the other, now drops down to the level of the door handles in the middle in order to give a lower, broader stance.

Another mild facelift in 2021 saw the A4 Black Edition receive new 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels, black badging and a black boot-mounted spoiler.

Like the outside, the A4’s interior is no longer a revelation in this class. What’s impossible to fault, however, is the quality. The materials are soft and everything feels plush and well screwed together. There isn’t a cheap or nasty piece of plastic to be found in the cabin and everything has a real premium feel to it. It all looks similar to before the mid-life update, but the infotainment system is new and improved.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Since the 2019 facelift, all A4s have been fitted with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display as standard. The graphics on this system are sharp, and the menu interface uses a smartphone-inspired tile layout. It’s possible to pinch and swipe across the screen when viewing navigation routes which can be displayed in gloriously-detailed Google maps graphics.

In 2021, the infotainment system was updated to the Volkswagen Group’s MIB 3 platform. This introduced a number of operational improvements along with Amazon Alexa voice recognition technology. 

Audi’s Virtual Cockpit also features. The 12.3-inch digital instrument display is high-resolution and provides a wide variety of layouts on the driver’s screen. The screen is controlled by buttons on the steering wheel, allowing the driver to easily switch between driving, entertainment and nav functions on the move.

A subscription to Audi’s Connect Infotainment Services means you can access info on weather, car parks and petrol prices from your car. Smartphone connectivity is good, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto fitted as standard. Buyers can also opt for LTE mobile connectivity to turn their car into a wi-fi hotspot.

Overall it’s an excellent system, but BMW’s iDrive setup is arguably slicker to use.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

Compared to its rivals the Audi A4 feels very spacious inside. The current A4 is the same height as the last model but headroom has been improved because the seats are thinner and mounted lower. The additional wheelbase length of 23mm doesn't sound like much but it means taller passengers will feel comfortable in the back seats. The car also benefits from a wider body, which means more shoulder room.

The wide opening and low floor of the boot make it easy to use. The Avant plays an ace though, with boot space of 505 litres – or 1,510 litres with the rear seats folded.

Dimensions and size

Being based on the MLB Evo platform doesn't only make the A4 up to 120kg lighter than before, but it's longer and wider, too. The A4 measures in at 25mm longer and 16mm wider than the previous model, while the height remains the same. The Avant version of the A4 is actually shorter than the saloon – only by 1mm, though – and 7mm taller. 

Leg room, head room & passenger space

The increased proportions unsurprisingly mean there is a lot more space inside the A4 than there was before – we’d also say the Audi is one of the most spacious cars in its class. The chunky transmission tunnel in the back means things get a little awkward when trying to seat three adults comfortably. Having said that, there is a generous amount of shoulder room and head room. 

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Boot space

The A4 fares no better or worse when it comes to boot capacity against its closest rivals. With the rear seats in place capacity is measured at 480 litres, while folding them flat increases space to 965 litres. Naturally, the Avant is the one to go for if space is a priority, with a boot capacity that increases to as much as 1,510 litres. 

Towing

The Audi A4’s range of towing capacities is relatively close-knit. Starting at a respectable 1,700kg and rising to 2,000kg, the A4 will more than cover the towing needs of the average motorist.

Reliability and safety

​Safety is obviously high on the agenda for the A4. It gets impressive brakes, which offer superior pedal feel and increased stopping power than before. This is combined with pre-sense city braking that can automatically brake the car to lessen the force of a collision at under 53mph and even stop the car at less than 25mph.

The A4 also gets adaptive cruise control, which is able to control the throttle, brakes and steering at crawling speeds or keep itself within its lane at higher speeds. 

All of these safety advances helped the A4 to earn a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating in 2015, a score which also applied to the mechanically identical Audi A5 Sportback, as well as the A4 Avant. 

The A4 didn’t appear in the 2023 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but the closely-related A5 finished in 71st place on our list of the best cars to own. Audi found itself in a very disappointing 30th out of 32 brands in the best manufacturer rankings, though, lagging behind all of its key rivals including BMW and Mercedes.

Warranty

As standard, every A4 comes with a three-year 60,000-mile warranty. However, owners also have the option to increase that if they desire. At extra cost, buyers can opt for a four-year warranty that extends up to 75,000 miles, while a five-year/90,000-mile warranty is also available.

Servicing 

The cost of a service on the A4 can vary depending on how many miles you cover and which servicing regime you've gone for. As standard it works out at 10,000 miles or every 12 months. But if you do more motorway miles than average, putting the engine under lighter loads, then you can go for a variable service interval, which means you could drive your A4 for two years before needing to visit a dealer. As with the extended warranties, Audi offers fixed-price service plans that you can bundle in with your monthly finance payments.