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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  If the interior were better...... - 2006 Audi A4
  By jrex - March 23 - 1:30 am

  Overall this is a very nice vehicle. It handles extremely well. The ride is much better than expected. Very little noise from the road. Good pricing compared to BMW and Mercedes. I have always heard how great the interiors are on Audis but I am not very impressed. The plastic surrounding the center console looks cheap. The turbocharged four is excellent but noisy. It is quicker than the 200 hp in my Acura TSX but far more noisy.

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  First time Audi Buyer - 2004 Audi A4
  By JAF - March 12 - 2:00 am

  My wife wanted four wheel drive and I wanted to keep my convertible. This car provides both! The 3.0 rides extremely well (better than my Mercedes C230), has more than sufficient acceleration, is quiet, has a great convertible top and looks super. It also feels bigger than the BMW 3 series. After doing a significant amount of research I am extremely satisfied with my decision.

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  Nothing comes close - 2004 Audi A4
  By Norby - March 7 - 2:00 am

  There is NO other car with interiors to match Audis quality and design. This was a huge factor in picking it over competition. 10 out of 10! Exterior is outstanding as well. I get tons of compliments, and this is a station wagon! Very modern, organic design thatll hold up over time.Car is quiet as a lexus, even at 80+mph. Smooth ride, good brakes. Performance is good. Of course it could use more power. Very well balanced in corners for such a heavy car. Quattro makes it fun in snow and rain. Cargo area is very usefull.Hauled 27 retaining wall blocks home from Home Depot with not problems. Great soundsystem, excellent controls and guages.

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  top pick - 2002 Audi A4
  By unfairadvantage - March 5 - 10:00 am

  The a4 and the 3 series seem to be in somewhat of a battle to be THE german car in the size. Having done a lot of reading on both cars before making any desision, i noticed that all the magazines comparing the two seemed to favor the audi but yet still chose the bimmer? accepting this at face value and driving both cars, you notice both have a lot to offer. 2 advantages to the audi, are, 1)its not the cookie cutter norm. and 2)the car has a personality about it that you instantly connect with. if given a fair chance i feel that audi should rank higher buck for buck, if it would only get the media recognition it deserved....

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  Right Brain Meets Left Brain - 2004 Audi A4
  By klmitch - March 1 - 10:00 am

  This car has probably the best combination of attributes among sports sedans that will appeal to both right-brained and left-brained people. For left brainers, theres the super- smooth, cutting-edge CVT transmission that doesnt sap engine power to achieve creamy smoothness (I previously drove sticks); absence of torque steer; superb handling and value versus BMW (I paid the same for this as I did for a 2001 BMW 325i with fewer options and smaller engine). For right- brainers,theres the clean exterior lines with an aesthetically superior interior design and quality of materials that cant be matched in any price class.

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  Watch out for Bad Ignition Coils - 2002 Audi A4
  By ace14 - February 21 - 2:00 am

  Overall I like the car, but 2 bad ignition coils have really spoiled the experience. Audi Customer "Care" refused to replace all 4 coils on the 2nd occurence. This is a major problem with the 2001-2002 models. From what I have read, very few 2003 have had the problem. Audis Customer service is poor at best.

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  Unsafe at (Low) Speed? - 2005 Audi A4
  By Jack - February 18 - 9:36 pm

  Odo @ 9,730 mis. when I "subleased" car from friend, who reports repeat instances of exiting hiway where engine revs too high while attempting to decelerate. My 1st day with it became keenly aware of major safety issue: posts at 4 corners of the cabin are too WIDE. Impact on field of vision most pronounced at low speeds as it takes longer for blind spots to clear, esp. if object is moving in same direction as spot: while driving <6 mph in grocery lot (turning R after stop) I almost ran into LARGE pedestrian who, though I had looked R- L-R, was invisible until I was facing him, and when leaving almost tagged a woman and the baby stroller she was pushing!

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  Total Satisfaction - 2003 Audi A4
  By biguneatsza - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely satisfied with the A4. Its fun to drive, looks great and is extremley comfortable in all situations. While not blazingly fast off the line, its incredibly quick from 30mph up.

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  Great A4 - 2006 Audi A4
  By ROY - February 5 - 2:43 am

  I enjoy cycling and skiing, and spend a lot of time on weekends driving to pursue my interests. Things that are very important to me are: good all weather capability, fun to drive, room for all my gear, and fuel economy. After exhausting myself with test drives and research, I narrowed the field down to BMW X5 3.0 and the A4. I went with the A4, and admit that it was a very tough decision. After a few months of ownership, the A4 has exceeded my expectations in all areas. Truly a great car, my first Audi, but not my last!

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  Amazing - 2004 Audi A4
  By BigMic - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I couldnt ask for anything more. The look and feel of this car is amazing and Ive had nothing but compliments from all of my friends. I highly recommend this car to all entry level luxury car shoppers.