2018 Audi S4 Reviews

The S4 and S5 line-up is arguably the sweetest balance between serious performance and everyday comfort Audi produces, and all five bodystyles have been treated to an update for 2021.

A huge fan of creating bigger bangs by pushing additional air and fuel into an engine's cylinders, Audi has changed its technique for the savage S4 performance sedan.

Contrary to popular belief, station wagons didn't die off because they were bad. Nope, they were pushed to the brink of extinction by the fact they'd become terminally uncool.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the new Audi S4 sedan and Avant, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch between Bathurst and Canberra.

John Carey road tests and reviews the new Audi S4 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its international launch.

Audi's RS range of high performance cars occupy pride of place at the Ingolstadt feed lot but the line between them and slightly lesser models is becoming blurred if the new S4 Avant is any indication.The S cars don't cost as much as the RS cars but in this case, you'd be better off saving the (considerable) dosh and go for the penultimate model S4 Avant. It gets within a whisker of RS performance and the S cars are possibly better all rounders for everyday driving.This is the first time an Avant S4 has been available here ($123,900) and it's a cracker of a drive as well as looking the business. A sedan version is also available for a few grand less.The S4 is a repository for plenty of desirable kit from the extensive Audi equipment list but you can still inflate the price considerably by ticking the boxes. There's no need really because S4 boasts, among other things, Audi's Drive Select system that offers five modes: dynamic, auto, comfort, normal and individual. It changes calibrations for engine, throttle, transmission, steering, suspension and even the aircon' system.Should be on all prestige and performance cars. We settled for `auto' or `dynamic' modes most of the time. Other handy features include radar cruise control, lane assist and attention assist but a reverse camera is optional - on a high end Euro wagon... We love the auto wipers and headlights and electric tailgate but the space saver spare is a bummer.The interior is full-glam' in muted metallic and grey tones complete with classy leather upholstery, sports seats and a beautifully finished and integrated dash. There's a large info screen with controls for many functions and a premium audio with 20 gig music register.There isn't much lacking inside that's for sure. Exterior styling  features the new A4 mask and minor body tweaks that came when the model was revamped earlier this year. It looks better than ever, in this case accentuated by optional 19-inch titanium coloured alloys, minor body aero add-ons and brushed alloy roof rails.Exhilarating performance comes from the supercharged  3.0-litre, petrol V6 engine with direct injection and variable valve timing. It clocks a 0-100kmh sprint in 5.0 seconds and thanks to stop start and other efficiency measures, uses as little as 8.1-litres/100km. The 3.0-litre is in other Audis but they don't drive as well as this one which seems to go better and certainly sounds better - arguably the best sounding V6 currently available.A rumbling blatt on full throttle upchanges comes from the quad-tip exhaust and is a new sound dimension compared with the exhaust pop of other makes. It's good for 245kW/440Nm, the latter at around 1750rpm through to 5000 plus.Drive is to all wheels via Audi's refined quattro system after moving through a dual clutch S-tronic manumatic. The test car had the optional sports differential with torque vectoring providing a higher level of grip and traction. Sporty driving is aided by paddle shift on the fat, flat bottom, multi controller steering wheel. It's practical too with room for five and a large, expandable load space.We'll have to change our opinion of 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines after this experience. The car looks a million bucks too. 

Anything with the number ‘300’ on the speedo dial has to be a serious machine. Not that the needle of such a car, the new Audi S4, for example, will ever see speedo’s end.By agreement with government in Germany, its country of origin, the vehicle is electronically limited to 250 kilometres an hour. Still, the dial does have the heart racing at first sight.At $120,440, the S4 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic sedan is shaded by the S4 Avant 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic which adds $3500 to the bill.I loved the Audi pick of programmed music in the test vehicle. The $1550 Bang and Olufsen Surround Sound System with 10-channel amplifier and 14 speakers - a total output of 505 watts - brought out the best of everyone from Marvin Gaye to Lana del Rey. It even polished the primitive techno of Kraftwerk.Standard is a redesigned Sports steering wheel in S design, multi-function, wrapped in leather. Optional is a flat-bottomed tiller adding even more sporting cred to the car. Additional options include sport differential and damper control, dynamic steering, plus adaptive cruise control. It all makes for better ride, handling and happier passengers.In conjunction with the navigation system, an additional mode, ‘individual’, is also included, allowing the driver to specify, within limits, his or her own profile of preferred settings.The Audi S4 sedan we have been testing for the past week has had a facelift, with changes to headlights, bumpers, air inlets and the choice of colours. On the outside, the hexagonal single-frame grille, wedge-shaped headlights hooded by LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights, new bumpers and integrated boot-lid spoiler are all clues to the model updates.With spots for five occupants, the split rear seat backs can be folded in two steps without removing the head rests, doubling the cargo volume to 962 litres. Tie-down rings are sturdy chrome plated solid metal.The test car sported optional power S sport seats featuring extra-supportive side bolsters, integrated head restraints and embossed S4 in the seat backs. S4 badges also can be found on door sills, while aluminium-look shift paddles and pedals complete the picture.But, it’s the technical advancements that keep the hot Audi topping the charts. Most important are quattro drive with torque vectoring and electromechanical power steering, while the S sport suspension and 18-inch wheels give the new S4 added road grip.The S4 TFSI engine is a joy to behold. The supercharged V6 pumps out 245 kW of power and 440 Nm of torque between 2200 and 5900 rpm. The sedan sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h, all the while dual twin tailpipes trumpeting a stirring fanfare from the finely tuned motor.Around town the fuel consumption of this very efficient engine usually sits in the 11 to 13 litres per hundred kilometres range, not bad for the performance it gives you. On the open road you can get it below eight litres per hundred without too much tip-toeing. That’s impressive.The S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends the power to the quattro drivetrain with self-locking centre differential and torque vectoring. An electronic control system offers two types of operation - D (Drive) or S (Sport) – for drivers to shift between using the gear lever or steering wheel-mounted paddles.Powertrain apart, the Audi S4’s star turn is its steering. Well weighted to provide maximum feedback to the driver, it can be varied by up to almost 100 per cent from most direct in city traffic to much less so at high speeds where the system chips in to help the driver when cornering at the handling limits, if necessary, reducing both oversteer and understeer by means of load.Ignoring the top speed – please do not try it at home – it’s the sharp acceleration that comes to the fore when wanting to overtake. It’s merely a matter of tapping the downshift paddle to put the S4 in a position to pass with plenty of safety.Ventilated discs, 320 mm up front and 300 mm at the back, are worked on by black composite callipers, ensuring that heat is dissipated to maintain optimum braking efficiency, whether parking or putting in the ‘welly’ on the open road.The driver, at the touch of a button, is further blessed with Audi’s own Drive Select system, offering, through the accelerator, transmission shift points and power steering boost, the choice between ‘comfort’, ‘auto’, ‘dynamic’ and ‘efficiency’ modes.It had me sold.

Designers often sprout the phrase 'less is more' when describing the newest building, magazine or a piece of Paris catwalk clothing. But German carmaker Audi could quite easily use this to describe its new S4 sedan.In a bold move that many European manufacturers are following, Audi has downsized the engine from a 4.2-litre V8 to a 3.0-litre V6, driving the trademark quattro all-wheel drive system.But before you think it has gone soft, it has added a supercharger to the V6 to keep performance addicts happy. The move is designed to not only improve economy, but tougher new emissions requirements in some markets.Many newer petrol and diesel engines are also extracting the same, or even better power and torque out of lower capacity engines. Apart from the supercharger, the newest S4 V6 is mated to a slick shifting seven-speed S-tronic gearbox with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.On paper, the V6 may be down 8kW on power compared to the V8 but has 30Nm more torque. The 440Nm is spread across a wider rev range, coming in from 2900 revs.Let off the leash, the S4 will still sprint to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds and on to a governed, but academic, top speed of 250km/h.Perhaps most importantly in these times of skyrocketing fuel prices, fuel consumption has been improved. Audi says its 9.4 litres/100km combined figure is about 24 per cent better than the old car.Although Audi refers to its S4 as a 3.0-litre TFSI, the T no longer stands for turbo.In conjunction with direct injection Audi says the supercharger is far superior to twin turbochargers both in terms of packaging as well as performance and responsiveness. It is clearly taking a dig here at the BMW 335i, which uses twin-turbochargers for both performance and refinement.In the S4 the compact supercharger fits inside the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks, in place of the intake manifold. As expected from a German carmaker, the Roots-style system is a work of art.Two four-vane rotary pistons counter-rotate inside the supercharger at up to 23,000 revs while two charge-air coolers are integrated into the housing and are connected to a separate coolant circuit.There are an impressive array of measures keeps the noise generated by the compressor to a minimum.Audi says the engine-driven belt that powers the mechanical charger provides full thrust right from idle and provides the necessary overtaking urge when needed.Visually the S4 gets discrete badging, quad exhausts, 18-inch alloys and is 20mm lower than the standard car. High performance brakes are also included, along with full a leather interior.The xenon-plus headlights and LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights add an air of purpose. Both the front and rear suspension are aluminium to save weight while the steering gear has been mounted low in the body for better precision and road feel.If you really want to explore the S4's limits there is the optional $6700 ‘driver select’ package that sharpens the car's behaviour through various electronic technologies. The system allows you to configure the level of steering assistance, damper control and gearshift shift speed.A sport differential is also part of the package but is not available as a stand-alone option. The drive select package gives drivers a choice of three settings, comfort, auto or dynamic mode.If the vehicle is equipped with the MMI operating system, a fourth mode is available which the driver can program according to their own preferences.The adaptive control system helps correct the car via lightning fast steering invention at the handling limits.The sport differential distributes torque in continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels in the manner of a conventional limited slip differential. If necessary, it diverts virtually all the power to just one of the two wheels to ensure better grip and agility.Of course, being an S4 there are huge high-performance and fade-resistant brakes sitting behind the standard 18-inch and optional 19-inch cast alloy wheels.The front brake calipers also wear the S4 logo.We were huge fans of the previous S4, with its thumping 253kW 4.2-litre V8 and an exhaust sound that was music to the ears of any red-blooded enthusiast. But in the four or so years since it landed here, things have mellowed and times have changed.Conspicuous consumption is no longer acceptable and more stringent economic times call for some belt tightening.For Audi that meant leaving the V8 behind and sliding a supercharged V6 under the bonnet of the latest-generation S4 sedan. But before you rally against the greenies, the V6 loses absolutely nothing to the V8 apart from the exhaust soundtrack and gains a hell of a lot more.Power is down ever so slightly compared to the V8 but supercharger endows the 3.0-litre V6 with plenty of torque across a wider rev range. Having less beef in the front also means the car's overall dynamics are crisper.It is a better all-round driver and the steering no longer has that disconcerting rattle through the wheel through tight corners on rough roads. The V6 gives the car a certain balance the V8 couldn't, even without the optional drive select package.Importantly too, you can tap the prodigious performance or just slip the cruise control on and still get acceptable fuel economy.We managed to get the numbers down to 11.0 litres/100km in a mix of mostly city driving with an occasional country run. That's still pretty impressive for a car with the performance X-factor of the S4.The V6 still delivers plenty of enjoyment even if the exhaust note is more subdued. The car will hit 100km/h in 5.3 seconds, .5 of a second faster than the old car.The engine delivers its power in a beautifully strong, linear way, helped by the rapid-fire changes from the seven-speed gearbox. Throw into the mix precise steering, well sorted suspension and body control and you'll quickly start to forget the old car.Whereas the V8 S4 would understeer heavily when pushed, the newcomer is agile through tight turns and feels more neutral. The steering still feels overly light just off-centre though.The extra security of the 40/60 front/rear split of the quattro all-wheel drive system is a bonus too on those damp mornings when the roads were slick with moisture.Most drivers will be perfectly happy with the standard S4. However, the take-up of the drive select option is running around 20 per cent so many enthusiasts clearly see a benefit from the technology.Visually the S4 is a wolf in sheep's clothing, made even more inconspicuous by its attractive solid white paint scheme. Like the white exterior, the interior is subdued.The only extras on the test car were attractive carbon inlays and S sports seats with Nappa leather that added an air of luxury. Apart from the nice 18-inch alloys a casual observer may think it is just a tarted up 3.0-litre TDI.Look a little closer though and the quad exhausts, body sills and nice shiny alloy finish on the exterior mirrors and S4 badges give the game away. It achieves the desired effect without resorting to loud colours or ridiculous spoilers.Inside there is a thick-rimmed steering wheel, alloy start button and S4 logos but apart from that it is quite restrained.The rest of the cabin is comparable to other A4s, which is no disappointment. The cabin is beautifully trimmed and appointed. The dash and controls are well laid out and easy to use, the materials are high-quality and the fit and finish A-grade.In some ways the S4 has been playing catch-up over the years against the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz so the V8 was the easy answer for the old car.The arrival of the Lexus IS-F and new Jaguar XF V8 is adding more pressure. But the new S4 V6 can cope with the competition. It is a very accomplished touring car.Ultimately, you have to really wonder how much better the expected twin-turbo V8 RS4 will be. But the bottom line is that the S4 now floats like a butterfly, but still stings like a bee.Verdict: 81/100 

Audi Australia marketing general manager Immo Buschmann points out that the new model has more torque than the previous one and, more importantly, better fuel economy.The S4 arrives in quattro all-wheel drive with a supercharged V6 engine and lightning-fast seven-speed S-tronic transmission with dual clutch at $118,900.The V6 may be seriously down on power — dropping from 253kW in the previous model to 245kW — compared with 309kW (BMW) and 336kW (Benz), but it doesn't have their no-compromise ride.The S4 features much the same engine as the supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI (the ‘T’ now also means supercharged) in the A6, but with reduced power and better fuel economy of 9.4L100km (claimed).The S4 features a compact roots blower Eaton supercharger with two coolers, one in each cylinder bank and maximum boost of 0.8 bar.It's a strong powerplant with a usable 440Nm of low-end torque, virtually no lag and none of the annoying supercharger whine.But the greatest driving attribute of the new S4 is the optional sport differential which splits the torque between the rear wheels for improved cornering, like the BMW X6 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.While the quattro drive has a 60:40 rear-to-front torque split with a maximum of 85:65, the sports differential distributes force between the rear wheels, giving more torque to the outside wheel when cornering.Styling cues that set this apart from the garden variety A4 are a single-frame grille with chrome, S Line bumper, LED indicators in the mirrors, S-design 18-inch alloys, black brake calipers with the S4 logo, LED taillights, boot spoiler and four oval tailpipes.Inside there is a DVD-based navigation system, Audi MMI operating logic, electric seats and mirrors, parking sensors front and rear, keyless entry and start and leather sports steering wheel and seats.The sports diff is everything it is claimed to be and will have some people seriously questioning rear-wheel drive. Gone is the vague understeering corner entry.Turn-in is pin sharp and, although there is a little lightness powering out of a corner, it still stays tight and doesn't wander out wide. Handling is almost neutral. The split rear diff certainly doesn't feel as noticeably strange as in the heavy X6.Importantly, traction is improved and there is less likelihood of stability control intervening, which means you keep power on throughout the corner for higher G forces. The all-wheel-drive system adds to the body weight, but you simply can't feel it.Some may say supercharging is old fashioned and Audi last used them in the 1930s before reintroducing it in the A6 and now the S4. However, it feels totally modern with instant power and no whine or scream.It's a practical car you could commute to work, tour relatively economically, or take out for a serious tyre-shredding track day.For more detailed information, see your Carsguide newspaper sections or check back here in a few days.

Svelte, handsomely attractive in an understated way, the quickest A4 – until we see an RS4 here – on Australian Audi showroom floors doesn't scream "look at me" like some prestige hot-rod models. Until it moves.It's not a tyre-smoking, luridly anti-social traversing of the intersection, but it's a fair bet if you've mashed the accelerator to the floor, you're across the intersection and gone before anyone's realised.With the six-speed auto in Sport mode, all that's required of the driver is the foot work, and to hang on, for a rapid trip to the horizon.Audi claims the S4 will reach the state limit in 5.8 seconds, with its top speed limited to 250km/h – that won't take long to reach either, as 20.8 seconds after you're under way, Audi says, 200km/h will be showing on the speedo.The sensation of speed is not like an Aussie V8 – the 4.2-litre DOHC 40-valve engine belts 253kW of power and 410Nm of torque through all four wheels, but the torque peak is at 3500rpm and the power hits its straps at 7000rpm.Mellifluous – having a smooth rich flow, or flowing like honey, sweetly or smoothly – is the only word to describe it.But almost regardless of the surface, the S4 grips and goes.The rear seat, while comfortable and well cut for lateral support, is nigh on useless unless all the occupants are quite short.At 190cm, I had the driver's seat towards the end of its rearward travel and was well positioned in relation to the wheel and pedals, but there was nobody trying to sit behind me.The ride comfort is borderline and although it is more compliant than its predecessors, the thump over smaller bumps will bother some.The cabin has a subdued style, which reeks of quality, although the light-coloured leather in which the Recaro sports seats were trimmed appear likely to mark quickly.A grippy leather-clad wheel also has a quality feel to it, with the shift paddles within easy reach of all but the shortest of fingers.The steering still feels a little remote, which takes away from some of the pleasures of back roads in this car but the throaty note of a potent V8, a great sound system and a decent automatic gearbox compensate.The sports mode was aggressive and good enough to not warrant using the shift paddles.Mind you, it will still change up when it sees fit, even in full manual mode, so there's still a way to go before a tip-shift auto puts torque converter ahead of clutch and gear stick on my preference list.The brakes impressed, wiping off speed quickly without fuss, with 345mm front and 300mm rear discs providing ample stopping power. The S4's xenon headlights with adaptive function worked well, offering excellent night cornering visibility and a clear beam, although with such pace available under the right foot there is probably never enough illumination.The S4 was fitted with satellite navigation and TV within the Audi multimedia entertainment system.The satnav's instruction via voice commands and the screen between the speedo and tachometer makes driving in unfamiliar territory simple, as is loading the glove-box-mounted six CD changer.One annoyance in the cabin that has been present in several of its models is the clash between handbrake and centre armrest/storage compartment. The hinged armrest works well in its comfort and storage functions, but it compromises the action of the handbrake. In some ways, a more conventional storage console behind the handbrake would better serve.The features list also includes light and rain-sensing functions for the lights and wipers, 18in alloy wheels and DataDot microdot identification.The new Audi S4 is priced at $131,200 and Audi expects to sell about 100 annually in Australia. For the same sort of money as a number of prestige open-topped two-seaters, the S4 offers the ability to carry the kids, as well as allowing the driver the option of leaving everyone else at home and still keeping up with the sports cars.SMALL TORQUEAudi S4Engine: 4.2-litre V8 two-stage variable intake manifold, DOHC, 40-valvesPower: 253kW at 7000rpmTorque: 410Nm at 3500rpmTransmission: Permanent four-wheel drive with Torsen centre differential, ESP, six-speed tiptronic with DSPSuspension: Four-links, tubular anti-roll bar (front); Trapezoidal link (rear), anti-roll barBrakes: ABS/EBD and ESP, four-wheel ventilated discsWheels: 18in cast aluminium wheels with 235/40 tyresPerformance: Top speed 250km/h (governed), 0-100 km/h 5.8 secondsFuel consumption: Overall 12.4 litres/100km. 63-litre tank