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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  And it just gets better - 2009 Audi A4
  By QuattroGuy - May 17 - 11:18 pm

  Our first experience with Audi came after my wife turned a triple 360 on a slick road in an Acura TL. For our next car purchase safety and engineering were at the top of the requirements list. After a 2002 A6, 2002 TT Roadster, and 2007 A4, we took possession of a 2009 A4 2.0T Quattro with Premier Plus option package. The improvements in the 2009 A4 are impressive and reflect Audis continued excellence in engineering. This model, with its increased length and width, adjustments to the engine mounts to reduce the vibration in the 2.0 four cylinder engine, and the tweaks to the acceleration off the line make us feel like were back in our A6. Roomy, feature rich, rides on rails.

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  Nightmare - 2005 Audi A4
  By dan - May 17 - 11:22 am

  Coils, electrical system, various gaskets. The engine light on our car has been on constantly since we bought it. We put a lot of miles on our cars and my sense is that the Audi models just arent built for the mileage. We bought extended warranty thankfully and our local dealership repair shop has been great to deal with, but sitting in the Audi repair shop is not my favorite pastime. Well never buy an Audi again. Ever.

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  I wish I never bought this car! - 2003 Audi A4
  By qe212 - May 13 - 12:21 pm

  I bought my A4 in November of 2006 with 33K miles and now have 64K on it. I live in New England and wanted a 4 wheel drive sedan. In the three years I have owned the car Ive replaced the windshield wiper motor twice ($500 each) and the windshield washer pump once! Ive also had to replace the the rack and pinion steering, all 6 ignition cylinders, timing belt and water pump (Audi recommendation = $1200), brakes. Im at the point Im afraid to drive the car on any long trips and use it as little as possible. Ill be trading it in soon for a Honda Civic (going to take a hit on the trade in value and what I owe) but I just cant afford to keep the Audi.

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  A4 Round Deux - 2009 Audi A4
  By Endophil - May 10 - 6:27 pm

  I previously owned an 06 A4 with all bells and whistles in it and I loved the car. When it was up I got an 09 stick premium plus model with sport package and nav, and the car is amazing. The sport suspension really gives the car that sporty feel and the summer tires make the car hug the road and handle amazing. This car also has more low end torque which works really well when getting onto highways. The 2006 model was more sporty, but with the sport package it makes this car a great mix of sport and luxury.

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  Very happy - 2008 Audi A4
  By beachneeded - May 9 - 2:29 pm

  Purchased this as a cert pre owned for a great price. Had only 10000 miles on it and jumped on it. Very enjoyable to drive and love the comfort of the seats. Was looking at G35 also but for the money the Audi I thought was a better car.

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  Very Reliable - 1997 Audi A4
  By cshaner - May 9 - 12:00 am

  I bought this car when it had 125k miles on it and have put 30k on it in two years. The only thing that has needed replacement is the tires. I live in Idaho so I see more snow than most cars do and it handles amazing in any weather.

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  B7 2005.5 , 2.0 Quattro - 2005 Audi A4
  By M. Taxter - May 7 - 8:30 pm

  About 700 miles so far and this car is winning me over. Had a 2001.5 Passat GLX, 5 speed. Close family cousin but this Audi is far nicer. The 2.0 turbo has lots of torque and is much improved from the old 1.8. The 6 speed manual is very good. Leather is a step up from the VW. Bose/XM combination is the best sound Ive ever heard in a car. Gas mileage is as good as or better than my Passat was. Still discovering hidden features - DRL button. No problems detected yet - no shakes, rattles, electronic glitches. Dealer left tires way over inflated - be sure to check them

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  Modern, but rough around the edges - 2009 Audi A4
  By NewEnglander - May 4 - 7:28 pm

  I purchased this car for the winter weather performance, blend of fuel efficiency and power, stunning appearance, and advanced safety and technology features. Those the car achieves these easily. Living with the car for a while, I would love to give it back. The primary drawback of the vehicle is the very rough ride over 50 MPH. The vehicle seems to transmit every nuance of the road surface into the cabin, the seats, and the floor. The suspension is just far, far too firm. Riding on rougher roads is continuously distracting, with tiny road imperfections intruding into an otherwise palatial experience. I urge anyone considering this vehicle to do an extended test drive. I wish I had.

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  nice car - 2003 Audi A4
  By Grog - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Dealer gave us an unnecessary hassle when qualifying for financing. The automatic transmission coupled with the turbo lag of the 1.8T engine is kind of quirky... it doesnt increase power right away when you press the accelerator (should have gone with the manual shift). Other than that its a very nice car, no mechanical issues (yet), AWD is excellent and it handles very well aside from the above quirkiness.

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  Hot car...Fun to drive - 2009 Audi A4
  By KittyKat - May 4 - 1:14 am

  Great car to drive. Comfortable ride. I went from the 08 to the 09 and it definitely feels better although Audi could have kept the full size spare tire and the regular cup holder. Minor things when compared to such huge improvements.