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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  Great car (while in warranty) - 2008 Audi A4
  By chaseaudi - December 16 - 11:05 pm

  I purchased this car used with about 1 year left on the original warranty. I had a couple minor problems, but Audis service is fantastic. However, after the warranty ended I began experiencing problems every 3-4 months. These included spark plugs going bad, problems with water getting into the intake, the fuel pump going bad, problems with the brake light switch, and more. These also included my car being stuck in the shop for multiple days very long costly repairs. Overall, the car is fun to drive, but be prepared for a lot of costly repairs down the road.

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  Fun to drive at a price - 2004 Audi A4
  By iamme1979 - December 6 - 1:34 pm

  I have now owned my 2004 audi a4 3.0L with ultrasport package for a bit over 4 years. This car is a blast to drive, and living in Minnesota, it is the best vehicle I have ever driven in the snow. Having said that I have been most definitely disappointed with the reliability. It seems every 4-6 months I have a major repair, not including the little things that I take care of myself. New tires every 1-2 years (15,000 miles/yr)Timing belt at 75,000, new radiator fan, new clutch and flywheel. I have spent $4000 in repairs on it this year alone. So beware and know that it may be cheaper than some, has great style, and is a lot of fun, but you may be better off with something more durable.

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  Car burns oil - 2013 Audi A4
  By eric141 - December 2 - 7:35 am

  My 2013 Audi A4 2.0T burns about 1 quart of oil every 2000 miles. I had read about this issue with older A4, but the dealer had sworn that the problem had been resolved. Apparently not!

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  Best bang for your buck for an AWD luxury sedan - 2013 Audi A4
  By bchguy111 - November 28 - 10:33 pm

  This is my second Audi. I upgraded from a 2012 Audi A4 2.0T FWD with CVT. It was a great car. Great performance and gas mileage. However, I had an opportunity to upgrade to a quattro with the light package and 2013 upgrades. So far, the car is awesome. Drives even better with the Quattro and suspension and steering upgrades. And those lights, beautiful. The car is even more stricking then my 2012. I also like the 8 speed auto better then the CVT.

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  Fantastic Vehicle - 2013 Audi A4
  By mugman1 - November 16 - 8:18 pm

  Traded an 11 Acura TSX for this 2013 A4 Premium Plus and so glad I did!! Could not get comfortable in the Acura, and too little rear seat room for the family. This Audi is "right sized" for a family of 4. Plenty of useable trunk space. Ride is composed but comfortable, 18 inch wheels help the car stick around corners, powerful brakes to haul the car down from speed which it gains easily from the 2.0 turbo running through 8 gears. Excellent fit and finish and an attractive sedan from any angle in my opinion. Electric power steering gives up some feel, but is far superior to that found in the Acura. I compared with BMW 3, Mercedes C class, Infiniti, and new Lexus ES. A4 was superior!

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  Very Satisfied - 2006 Audi A4
  By rms572 - November 2 - 1:53 am

  Ive read all the gripes about reliability and maintenance costs, and wonder if its just the owners of the lemons using this forum to let off some steam. Suppose Id do the same, actually, but Ive been really happy with our Audi. Its design is understated, not flashy, almost utilitarian, but very classy. Its stood the test of time well and looks as good as any of the current models. As for reliability, weve really had no major issues. As NYC drivers, we put the wheels and tires to the test on our pitiful roads, and thus have changed many tires. This is really my only gripe, but that can hardly be blamed on the car.

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  Audi A4 burns oil - 2010 Audi A4
  By eric141 - October 21 - 7:34 pm

  I bought an Audi A4 in 2010. The car burns a quart of oil every 2,500 miles. I took it to the Danbury dealer, who told me the oil usage was normal because it was a highly efficient engine and the gas savings more than justified the hassle of replacing oil. I wished thes sales person would have told me that while I was shopping for a car. I would have bought another car.

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  1999 1.8T Avant - 208,000 Miles - 1999 Audi A4
  By interactive3 - October 9 - 8:51 pm

  Built in October 1998 and purchased in April 1999. This car came with the sport steering wheel and beautiful cloth seats. I added mud guards to help protect the exterior. The interior materials are very good. Ive had no issues with the engine. Its unstoppable. It has the original clutch, still going after millions of shits. Theres no body rust. The bad: The 99 Avants did have some front suspension issues. They were mostly covered under warranty. The rear wheel bearings need to be changed pretty frequently. The side airbags had problems too, but theyre easy to replace.

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  Poor transmission on the front track model - 2012 Audi A4
  By tvivier - September 20 - 12:43 pm

  The cvt transmission is a nightmare on the front track model. At a stop, it takes a second for the car to take off when you press the gas. This can be a safety issue. I got rid of A4 Front track after two month of frustration and got a quattro instead. This bad choice cost me quite a bit of money. Fortunately, the quattro is a great car.

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  A good choice for its class - 2013 Audi A4
  By ziglveitshtook - August 26 - 3:23 pm

  I just upgraded from my 2010 A4 to the 2013. The 8-speed automatic provides smoother acceleration and better mileage (averaging over 25mpg in mixed driving). They fixed some of the annoying bugs in the "Infotainment" system. However I was disappointed to see the folding rear seats move to the premium plus package. The new brown interior is ill-conceived. Should have been a lighter saddle-brown as offered in the BMW. Overall, its a good value for the class, and works better for me than the 3-series.