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:

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  Fun to drive but terrible quality - 1998 Audi A4
  By Doug T - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Bought this brand new, and have had a succession of minor and major problems. While the driving experience is excellent, the build quality of the car is terrible--worse than a 1984 Ford Escort I used to own. Its bad enough that I never plan on buying another Audi. Id advise you not to buy one to begin with.

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  Service center wait times - 2001 Audi A4
  By scollier11 - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Although I love my car I would not recommend it to anyone. Last month my window regulator shattered and stuck in the down position. Columbia SC service wouldnt see me for 2 weeks - had to travel 2 x the distance to Charlotte where it took 3 separate trips to fix problem - over a month to fix a window so it would roll up and down also left tape residue ruining tint job. Great car - Bad service

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  5 Years and Still Loving it - 1998 Audi A4
  By keiths66 - July 23 - 2:00 am

  After a few frustrating episodes with the dealer on service issues, I still love this car. Ive got 65k miles and it looks and rides like brand new! Just took a 1,000 mile trip and averaged 30mpg while averaging 75mph!

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  Best buy I ever made - 2001 Audi A4
  By hav - July 23 - 2:00 am

  I got the car in July 2001 and have not had any problems with it. Features I got are manual transmission, Bose sound system, sports package, winter package and leather interior. Everything was well worth it. Only car I know where the doors all open 90 degrees. How many cars do you know with a FULL-SIZE spare tire just in case and 8 (count em, 8!) airbags? Fun to drive in summer and winter. Only regret is that I could not get an S4 Avant!!! BMW owners just dont know what they are missing.

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  Ouch! - 1997 Audi A4
  By SM - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Talk about everything going wrong... Too numerous to tell - Lets just say my wallet is considerably lighter now! I bought this car because it was supposed to be reliable - many years ago at least. It turned out completely unreliable.

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  Im glad I am not alone with all the mnx! - 2000 Audi A4
  By Angela - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought my A4 in Feb since I needed a safe AWD car in Colorado...It only had 28K mis. However, my Check Engine light has been on more then its been off. I have had to replace the secondary air pump ($460). I have had to replace the O2 sensor ($230) and the mass air flow sensor ($270) and I actually did the installation myself to save money. Audi was no help-in fact Rick from Ed Caroll in Fort Collins, CO tried to con me into thinking I had a oil leak that was going to cost another $600 to repair! Dont buy this car if you think you can do simple mnx on it--it is too complex!I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUDI!

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  Bang for the buck! - 2009 Audi A4
  By MrJimmy - July 17 - 11:50 am

  Great car for the money. Just bought this car for my wife, looked at BMW X6 - seats only 4? 3 series SUV I wasnt impressed with, I drive a 335i and we needed a winter car. Front end, very aggressive styling and they did a better job with the back end too. Enough for 5 people, dogs and luggage.

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  Audi A4 1.8T 1997 - 1997 Audi A4
  By Tomex - July 15 - 2:00 am

  It was love at first sight and I have never lost my desire to get in and just drive. The A4 has proven to be comfortable in all aspects of seating and visual line of sight as a driver. The car is aggressive in corners and commands the roads in all possible conditions. Even with this small turbo engine, acceleration is quick and prompt. No wondering when the power will become available as you step down on the peddle. As far as mechanical issues, none. After seven years I just did the brakes for the first time. Finally, the car is a 1997, and the sytling still turns heads and warm smiles of respect.

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  Incredible! - 2002 Audi A4
  By Cory949 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  WHAT a car! Much more than I expected. Quattro is amazing and the interior puts the other German makes to shame. Audi is truly the benchmark of German automobiles. Power is smooth and even, brakes strong, fuel mileage very good. The difference between the A4 and the BMW 325 is night and day, with the Audi taking honors.

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  A Great Package - 2002 Audi A4
  By brett - July 12 - 5:30 am

  This car is extremely capable. It looks good and feels great. Its handling is tight. Its power is good but, with a 2.7T, it could raise the drivers response from "fun" to "overwhelming." The seats are comfortable, and highly adjustable. The Bose radio upgrade is spectacular. At its price point, the 1.8Ts appearance, comfort, handling, and finish make this car tough to beat.