Audi A4 Review

• September 2015: All-new Audi A4 saloon goes on sale 
• 2016: Audi revises official CO2 emissions levels of A4 Sport and S-line 3.0 TDI quattros. 
• June 2016: Audi introduces embedded SIM card to the A4, to take advantage of new online infotainment services
• May 2017: Black Edition models introduced to line-up, while other variants receive specification enhancements.

Petrol 1.4 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI 190, 2.0 TFSI 252, 2.9 TFSI 450PS, 3.0 TFSI 359 Diesel: 2.0 TDI 150 Ultra, 2.0 TDI 150, 2.0 TDI 190 Ultra, 2.0 TDI 190, 3.0 TDI 218, 3.0 TDI 272

The A4 is offered with a bewildering array of engines but strip away their varying power outputs and they boil down to four petrols (including the high-performance RS4’s 2.5-litre unit) and three diesels. Having done that, it’s simply a question of focusing on the most important.

Of the petrol engines, the 1.4 TFSI will be the choice for the majority of buyers. It’s a good choice, with a flexible, economical and quiet character. The 2.0 TFSI engines are smooth, and the 252PS version offers some grunt, but against the powerful, economical and tax-efficient diesels, they just don’t cut it. The S4’s engine is purely concerned with performance and will be the preserve of buyers who prioritise speed above economy. The RS4, introduced in early 2018, is even quicker and a true performance car, with its 4.1-second 0-62mph time and top speed of 155mph.

Of the diesels, the super-efficient 2.0 TDI Ultra versions are most likely to appeal to company car drivers with an eye on their tax bill. The 150 Ultra should satisfy most drivers and the manual version costs £120 to tax, but the more powerful 190 Ultra adds an extra helping of performance, is almost as economical and costs just £140 to tax. However, bear in mind that all diesels will move up a band (compared to petrol engines emitting the same levels of CO2) from April 2018 under new rules aimed at improving air quality.

The range-topping 3.0 V6 TDI diesels give the A4 the feel of a performance car when it comes to acceleration. They are also smooth and quiet on motorways, but feel extravagant, when the 2.0 TDI engines lower down the range offer similar qualities, if not the performance.

SE, Sport, S line, Black Edition

There may be a lot of engines to choose from but when it comes to trims, the Audi A4 is surprisingly straightforward: there are just four. SE kicks off the range and comes loaded with equipment including 17in alloy wheels (shod with low rolling resistance tyres on Ultra models), bright xenon headlights, three-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch colour display and a digital radio.

There’s also cruise control, rear parking sensors and a wealth of safety features including ‘pre-sense city’ which applies the brakes at low speeds in an emergency, stability control and six airbags. An optional sat nav is £550.

Sport trim only brings sports front seats and a sat nav, plus some smarter finishes and an upgraded sound system.

S line adds 18in wheels, lower and stiffer suspension (fortunately it’s possible to specify the standard set-up at no charge) and additional finishes. However, it also brings LED headlights and tail-lights with dynamic rear indicators which considerably enhance the A4’s otherwise conservative looks.

Range-topping Black Edition models offer additional styling elements and special paint colours.

The A4 appears in the 2017 Driver Power survey, placed in 53rd place (out of 75) in the list of best cars to own. It fares a little worse in the list of most reliable cars, coming 62nd.

Audi, as a brand, is 18th in the list of most reliable manufacturers, a disappointing showing for a premium manufacturer, in the table of 27 carmakers.

The A4 is backed by Audi’s standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is comparable with its premium German rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Elsewhere on the market there are warranties with longer cover (Kia offers seven years, Hyundai offers five), but carmakers at the premium end of the market don’t feel that they need to offer something competitive at the moment.

Most new A4s are company purchases that will be maintained regardless of expense before being disposed of, typically after three years. The bulk of these are likely to be 2.0 TDI and TDI Ultra models in SE spec. As a result of their high numbers, you're more likely to get a good deal on these cars.

Indeed, two-year-old cars are now on the used market offering good deals: 1.4 TFSI Sport models are available on BuyaCar for 46% less than a new model, suggesting that buyers can find cars at significantly reduced prices.

Even nearly new cars with just a few thousand miles on the clock can be picked up with hefty discounts: we found a 2.0 TDI Ultra 190 in S line trim on BuyaCar with over £9,000 off list price.