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! - 2007 Audi A4
  By Devin Phatak - July 13 - 1:13 am

  Ive owned three VWs before this and so far Im in love with the A4. I miss the power off the line from the VR6 engine in the VWs I drove, but this is my first turbo and part of it is a personal adjustment. Would I purchase one again, if I had the choice? Yes. I love the way it handles, the ergonomics and interior design are excellent, and the build quality is top notch. I only wish that I had an S4 or an RS4. It leaves me with something to wish for, but thats not a bad thing.

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  Love my A4 - 2004 Audi A4
  By dld3923 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a Chrysler Sebring Convertible (that I loved) and Ive never looked back. I get lots of comments on the A4s elegant looks, esp. the way it looks with the top down since it hides away in the trunk. The care is a little slow off the line, but once up to speed, I have no complaints. (I have the 1.8 turbo) I also love the service at the Audi dealership.

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  n/a - 2004 Audi A4
  By Requiem - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I have been more then satisfied with this car. It has had no problems and is alot of fun to drive.

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  Dont do it - 1998 Audi A4
  By pbfoot - July 8 - 9:09 pm

  I bought my baby (silver A4 quattro) 4 years ago with 70k mi on her. Put 40k on her in those 4 years and have one thing to say: she was the best car in the world, but she was extremely unreliable and expensive to maintain. Tie rods, control arms, electrical modules, wheel bearings, engine seals, ABS module, air bag sensor. You name it, it broke, all of them broke, and she was in the shop for weeks at a time. It cost a fortune to get her out of the shop every time. I babied this car and got nothing in return. Sure, she handled on rails and had a great performance V6, but there is no way Id ever consider giving Audi another shot. Too expensive and unreliable.

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  A4 even better than expected - 2004 Audi A4
  By 204mecca - July 7 - 1:32 am

  My wife wanted this car more than I did. Not only did she love the design, her bad back loved the seats. I wanted a smaller, less expensive car, something like an Acura TSX or Mazda3, By special ordering a low optioned FWD version, we kept the cost down. It has provided us with 38000 miles of trouble free, comfortable, low operating costs driving. I am sure that the other choices would not have been as comfortable for long trips nor gotten as a better MPG. I am more than glad we got the A4!

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  2003 Audi A4 1.8T CVT - 2003 Audi A4
  By Darwin - July 5 - 12:19 am

  Compared to a reliability of a Honda Accord, I rate the reliability of this car to 8 out of 10, 10 being a Honda. Problems I encountered include driver side window rolling down on its own due to sensitive anti-pinch protection (4 dealer trips to fix), moonroof moving on its own (switch keeps going bad), driver side speakers going in and out. Good mileage (26 mpg), nice interior/exterior. CVT has a slight delay, which is sometimes annoying. Sound system is good even for a basic system (except for the speaker problem).

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  Nice Near-Luxury Compromise Convertible - 2003 Audi A4
  By JJoNNeSS - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I went with 3x black with everything cept the navigation. Car is a nice compromise if you want a stylish, sporty conv., but need the back seat (kids) and a smoother, quiet ride than a roadster. MUST adjust the steering wheel and seat if adult sits in the back. Car is not 2 fast off the line due 2 its weight. Extra structure makes the car solid & quiet. Ill probably switch 2 a roadster once my youngest is older. Drove Z3, MR2 Spider, C70, Honda, etc. This car beats them for driving comfort, but doesnt have that shot-out-of-a-canon feel... It beats the Lexus for design. Had problems with the rear windows not going down the whole way.

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  A4 3.0 Quattro Sport - 2003 Audi A4
  By utahsnowrider - July 4 - 2:00 am

  An excellent car. 3 month/5000 mile review, had to wait for winter use before reviewing. I had a BMW 325xi picked out until I drove the A4. Many more features, larger trunk, larger motor, better vehicle for $3800 less. Smooth, quiet, handles well on snow packed roads, will slide on ice like all vehicles can. MPG is same as listed on window sticker. I suppose I could drive a little less aggressive but that wont happen in this fun car. A little slow off the line, but that ends quickly in the mid-range power band.

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  Good Choice In Entry-Level Sports Luxury - 2004 Audi A4
  By bc0203 - July 4 - 2:00 am

  The A4 has a substantial feel, with class-leading interior which boasts high quality materials and several thoughtful touches throughout. On the road, the A4 is a very capable highway cruiser and canyon-carver, with plenty of mid-range oomph and superb handling. There is no real "turbo lag," just a sensation of being propelled ever more rapidly that builds above 2,000 RPM. Shifts are smooth, with precise feel, though the clutch does have longish travel. Seat-of-pants communication is terrific, with a good balance between ride and handling.

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  Awesome, Awesome, Awesome - 2003 Audi A4
  By bate119 - July 3 - 9:52 pm

  Audis Quattro AWD is simply breathtaking. Snow, ice or rain, this car cuts through it like butter. In fact, we used it instead of our Ford Explorer in the snow, ice and rain last winter. Its also easily the best handling car Ive ever owned! German engineering at its best! The red lights illuminate the dashboard at night, incluing two red LEDs that project downward from the ceiling, creating a cockpit-like environment. I am now a dedicated Audi driver forever, never follow!