Overview & Reviews

The Audi A4 holds the distinction of having single-handedly revived the Audi brand. Launched in the mid-'90s, the compact A4 quickly became a favorite among luxury car buyers thanks to its beautifully finished cabin, sharp handling and available Quattro all-wheel drive. Although the A4 has offered these core characteristics from day one, it has become increasingly polished and high-tech with each successive generation. No matter which year you're looking at, the A4 promises both engaging performance and suave style inside and out.

The sedan body style has been a constant for the Audi A4, but depending on the vintage, you may also find wagon and convertible variants. Turbocharged four-cylinder power is typically found under the hood, yielding both reasonably spirited acceleration and satisfactory fuel economy. In road tests, we've consistently praised the A4's refined character, with more recent plaudits going to its spacious backseat, which has adequate room for full-size adults.

User Reviews:

• 

  Solid! - 2003 Audi A4
  By Mint - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I received the car one day before taking a trip. It was the funnest 9 hours I have ever driven. Lots of luxury for the money. I cant wait to see the AWD perform in the snow. The 3.0 and AWD are a little hard on fuel economy, but well worth it.

• 

  Not What I Expected - 2001 Audi A4
  By Annabelle - November 26 - 4:25 pm

  I had high expectations for my Audi A4, and they have been dashed to pieces. I have had the same problem many others have had with engine coils (car broke down completely 3 times this year alone!) My dealership covered the repairs, but the hassle factor was extremely high. I also had to replace door speakers and had a problem with my drivers side airbag. My check engine light is on right now and as soon as I get it back from the dealership I am trading this car in. My mother also has an Audi A4 that she has had much worse problems with (replaced the entire engine twice along with the transmission!) My "Audi Experience" has not been a good one!

• 

  Just a lot of fun to drive - 2003 Audi A4
  By j.perquin - November 23 - 12:16 pm

  I have had this car for a little over a year now. I drive it every day 40 miles into work and back. I t fits like a glove (and I am 64"), handles like a charm and the 4WD is a life saver. Be careful though on an open stretch of highway: before you know it youre going way too fast... As if this is not enough, I also like the free 4 year service plan.

• 

  Wow!!! Best car I drove & get the 6speed - 2006 Audi A4
  By Howarddakim - November 20 - 7:10 am

  I test drove a mustang, 350z, impreza, g35 coupe, etc and bought this amazing A4. I found myself doing 80mph in 3rd gear on the street and shocked on how it jumped (in acceleration). Wow!!! As a gear head at heart I worked on many muscle cars (and subsequently drove them) but again WOW! Of all the options the A4 offers you have to get the S-line package. Its a total aggressive look, 18 inch tires, and sports suspension. Just one drive and you know where that extra dollars were well spent. When buying a car I look at beauty, comfort, speed and most a fun factor. Something I missed with my last vehicle. I have 4 fun factors again now in my drive & its fantastic

• 

  Best Choice - 2006 Audi A4
  By Matt - November 19 - 2:10 pm

  Drove all the others in the category (BMW,Mercedes, Acura). Although not the best in every category, the A4 is by far the most fun to drive. Adding the S-line and the 6M transmission make this car a pure pleasure. The tiptronic is best in class, but the 6M is for people who like to drive. My first Audi, but not my last. I cant imagine how they will improve on this car.

• 

  Impressive - 2004 Audi A4
  By North East - November 14 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car, well made, fantastic finish. Definitely fun to drive. For drivers in the North East, the combination of the AWD system and the convertible are a great match. I have owned a 98 528 and a 2001 E320, and this car is on par with the fit and finsih of the BMW and light years ahead of the Mercedes. The only knock I have is it is a little slow off the line but once you are at 20 mph you are fine. Gas mileage in general is fair but when you are in the sports transmission mode or drive it hard it poor, but I am sure most people are not buying this for the gas mileage....

• 

  Audi does it again! - 2003 Audi A4
  By Jonathan Marville - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Audi really made some nice improvements in the 2002 and 2003 model. The ride is much nicer than the Lexus IS300 or the BMW 3Series. For the money, the A4 takes the cake. The looks are much more aggressive than any other car in its class.

• 

  Poor front seats, too much road noise - 2004 Audi A4
  By Reston - November 13 - 2:00 am

  There is much to praise about this car. Few cars at any price can match the elegance of its interior design. The 6-speed is snick-snick smooth. But this car is much better suited for short urban trips than long-distance highway cuising. Front seats are far too hard and not very supportive unless youre smaller than average. Road noise is intrusive, especially on rough road surfaces. HVAC is drafty unless regulated manually.

• 

  By far the best car Ive owned - 2004 Audi A4
  By A4 Fanatic - November 13 - 2:00 am

  The more I drive it, the more I love it. The 4 cylinder engine is terrific, Ive put it through so much abuse yet after 17,000 miles absolutely nothing has gone wrong. Everyone who has been inside the car has enjoyed its comfort and the ambiance created by the red dashboard lighting. Thus far I have not heard a bad comment about any of the cars features. Ride comfort at all speeds and any road is imaculate, even with the sport suspension. Audi has done a terrific job when they created this car, they had "driver friendly" & "passenger comfort" during the crafting process. I will definately be a repeat buyer

• 

  Must be Wealthy - 1997 Audi A4
  By Ammad - November 12 - 2:12 pm

  Bought my Audi A4 1.8T in 2000. The car was great, and it is so much fun to drive. It is a pleasure to drive in the snow. However, some how after 50,000 miles or so. I started hearing some rattling. The dealerhips have no customer service, and they are really rude. They charge you thousands of dollars for parts and labor charges that sometimes are more expensive than the super expensive parts. Then you get electrical problems that cost $1,500 each to fix. Be prepared to spend a lot of money in maintaining this car. And even then sometimes I think was it worth it? Right now going between a G35 or a new A4.