Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi S4 Avant

Does new car offer best mix of practicality and performance?

High-performance Audi models have been coming thick and fast in the past few months. First there was the sleek S5 coupe, quickly followed by the aggressive A1 quattro and the drop-top S5 Cabriolet.

Hot on the heels of this rapid trio comes the S4 Avant. Based on the recently revised A4 and powered by the same muscular 328bhp supercharged V6 as the S5, this new car is the latest in a long line of fast Audi estates. And, as with its predecessors, it aims to mix scorching pace with family-friendly practicality and four-wheel-drive security.

Advertisement - Article continues below

However, on first impressions, you’ll struggle to identify the S4 as a high-performance flagship. Just like other S-badged Audis, the newcomer seems to play down its sporting credentials.

Look closely, and you’ll spot the discreet S4 logos on the grille and tailgate, the 18-inch alloy wheels and the S’s trademark metal-capped door mirrors. The four tailpipes poking out below the rear bumper are another clue. If you really want your S4 to stand out from the crowd, you can add the £665 19-inch alloys fitted to our test car.

An equally stealthy approach has been followed inside the S4. Apart from the flat-bottomed, three-spoke steering wheel, branded gearlever and grey-backed dials, you could be sitting in a normal A4. That’s no bad thing, though, because the logically laid-out dashboard, top-notch materials and second-to-none build quality of the A4 are all still present. A wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment makes it easy to get comfortable.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Range Rover Evoque

2023 Land Rover

Range Rover Evoque

29,030 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £21,716
View Range Rover Evoque
e-Niro

2022 Kia

e-Niro

30,042 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £15,456
View e-Niro
ZS ELECTRIC

2020 MG

ZS ELECTRIC

50,700 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £10,018
View ZS ELECTRIC
Ibiza

2024 SEAT

Ibiza

13,071 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,395
View Ibiza

You even get a decent haul of standard kit, including climate control, Bluetooth and xenon headlamps, but we’d also expect heated seats and sat-nav on a car costing £39,880.

Elsewhere, the S4 is every bit as roomy as the standard car, with rear passengers getting more space to stretch out than in the Volvo. There’s also more room for luggage because the well shaped boot holds 490 litres – 60 litres more than the Volvo. And, unlike in the V60, you get a host of useful hooks and nets to stop loads moving about.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Thanks to its quattro four-wheel-drive transmission and clever launch control system, the Audi polished off our 0-60mph sprint test in just 4.9 seconds – a full nine-tenths faster than the Volvo. Adding to the drama is the growling soundtrack from the V6 engine and the distinctive flutter from the exhausts on each gearshift.

Yet the S4 couldn’t quite match the V60 in our in-gear tests, partly because its 440Nm torque peak doesn’t arrive until 2,900rpm, which is 800rpm higher than in the equally muscular Swedish car. In the real world, the in-gear differences are much harder to detect, thanks largely to the Audi’s seven-speed twin-clutch box, which serves up seamless automatic or rapid-fire manual changes. It certainly helps the S4 feel more dynamic than its rival.

Turn into a corner, and the Audi responds quickly, while its four-wheel-drive set-up delivers astounding grip in all weathers. It also resists body roll better than the Volvo, and it’s possible to adjust the car’s line by lifting off the throttle. So it’s a shame the S4’s poised chassis is undermined by its lifeless electrically powered steering.

Our test car was also fitted with the optional £220 Audi Drive Select system, which alters steering weight and throttle response to suit road conditions. Yet in Comfort mode, the controls were disconcertingly light, while on its Dynamic setting the steering became artificially heavy.

The S4 gets a further black mark for its ride, which is uncomfortably stiff at low speeds and becomes fidgety on the motorway.

The Audi looks expensive against the Volvo, at £2,635 extra, but factor in the S4’s stronger residuals and lower CO2 emissions of 197g/km, and it makes more financial sense for private buyers and company users. Could that be enough to seal the deal?

Details

Chart position: 1
WHY: Audi’s rapid four-wheel-drive S4 estate benefits from visual and mechanical tweaks that aim to make it faster and more efficient than ever.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £3,710 off RRP*Used from £15,440
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,050 off RRP*Used from £13,168
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,795 off RRP*Used from £11,895
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,192 off RRP*Used from £20,921
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports
MST Ford Escort - front 3/4

Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports

While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look
News
7 Jul 2025
New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
Mazda CX-5 - front

New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons

The Mazda CX-5 has been revolutionised to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
News
10 Jul 2025