Audi A4 review

In the competition for buyers’ hearts and minds, the interior is where Audi is really on home turf.

The brand has long had a reputation for building stunningly beautiful and classy interiors, and so it continues with the A4, even though it’s a long way from being the most expensive Audi.  

Tech and features

Absolutely everything you touch on a regular basis is either solidly classy, sumptuously soft or operates with slick precision. There are no cheap materials anywhere, even down to the bottoms of the door trims. You could take a selfie in the boot and still look great.  

Everything is where you would expect it to be, and it’s all beautifully backlit at night. 

Before the 2019 facelift, the central screen was slightly smaller and was controlled through a central click wheel surrounded by a few buttons. After the tweaks, the click wheel was no more, and the screen had been replaced by a larger touchscreen. Both systems work brilliantly. 

Some have conventional dials. It’s worth looking for examples with the optional Virtual Cockpit fitted. This replaces the dial with a 12.3-inch display through which you can see and control most of the car’s functions. 

The entry-level SE models pack some amazing features. They have cruise control, parking sensors at both ends, 17-inch alloy wheels, a DAB radio and xenon headlights. Sport trim brings sports seats, bigger alloy wheels and a better audio set-up.

The range-topping Black Edition models have part-leather-part-Alcantara trim, LED lights and 19in alloys. 

Handling and ride comfort

It is the steak and chips of the driving world - reassuring is a good way to describe how the Audi A4 drives.

On faster twisty roads, the A4 corners faithfully and doesn’t get upset by odd cambers and bumps, without ever threatening to become fun to drive.  

If you want to really enjoy a back-road blast, the BMW 3-Series and Jaguar XE are both more entertaining, albeit at the expense of some comfort. 

Engines and power

There’s an enormous range of engines to choose from. The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine will be ideal for town driving. 

While for frequent, longer journeys, the lower-powered 2.0-litre TDI diesel will suit you.  

Cars with the optional adaptive suspension do a brilliant job of smoothing away the surface. SE models on smaller alloy wheels are also extremely comfortable. 

Rear seats

With loads of headroom and legroom in the front and rear, the Audi A4 is ideal if you regularly have to carry more than one passenger.

Indeed, it’s a match for most rivals and better than many.  

Boot space

Better still, the boot is so cavernous it might even echo. You’ll be able to carry at least two large suitcases and a couple of carry-on cases.

The load area is nice and rectangular, and the boot opening itself is large, making getting stuff in and out easy (so when it comes to loading and unloading the weekly food shop, this boot can make the job smooth sailing).

It also has various tie-down points and hooks to keep loads exactly where you left them – no tins of beans rolling in the back here. 

If you need more luggage capacity, a Skoda Octavia would make a fine alternative, because it is truly enormous, or if you want to keep it in the family, the Audi A5 Sportback offers all that’s good about the saloon. 

Fuel economy

For those who rarely leave the city, the 1.4-litre petrol is ideal.

It has enough sparkle to make accelerating between the lights and ducking and diving in traffic easy, and it will do an average economy figure in the early to mid-30s. 

The lower-powered 2.0-litre diesel is ideal for those who do a higher mileage, and you can expect an economy figure in the mid-40s, on average.