Audi A4 Used Car Review

Audi A4 (08 - 15) Used Car Review

Audi is one of the most popular premium car brands in Ireland and the A4 is a very popular model within the range. This executive saloon is very spacious, comfortably fitting up to five. The storage space in the boot is more than adequate, in fact quite spacious and easy to load. The standard equipment levels are high and this is also reflected in the cabin.

Each generation of the A4 has improved the driving dynamics of the car to make it better on the road. With pin-point, sharp steering the Audi A4 has great road handling as well as some innovative electronic driving aids. The A4 is also available in an estate (Avant) version.

MPG, running costs & CO2

You may pay a bit more for a second-hand A4 than some mainstream models like a Ford Mondeo but it will have a better resale value whenever you decide to part with it as the Audi holds its value well. Diesel engines may deliver the best economy but with all the negative talk about the environmental dangers of diesel engines recently you may want to take this into consideration. The 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI turbo petrol engines will provide great performance and without the heavy running costs.

Engines, drive & performance

The Audi A4 is comfortable and simple to drive especially if you can find one with the automatic seven-speed gearbox. Experts say that the front-wheel-drive Audi’s are just as competent as Quattro four-wheel-drive cars. Having the Quattro system is not always necessary and may only really be worth it if you are planning on towing or driving on slippery roads. Tyre, wind and engine noise are all well suppressed as you can imagine from a premium car brand, particularly when driving on the motorway.

Interior & comfort

The A4 has a spacious high-quality interior with plenty of comfort for a car in its class and you will have no discomfort when sitting in the seats for long periods of time. The only thing that could be said about the comfort level, the suspension may be quite firm and so may not ride over bumps in the road as well as the BMW 3-Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Practicality & boot space

Passenger room in the back of the A4 is very good with the cabin having plenty of headroom, which means it’s a brilliant choice for carrying adults in the back. There is also plenty of space for those who will appreciate the generous legroom. The boot is huge and can be easily accessed via the remote-opening boot lid, while a split-fold rear bench is standard on all models and a ski-hatch is available on the options list.

Reliability & safety

The Audi A4 scored 91.07% for build quality in the 2010 Driver Power satisfaction survey, which is very respectable. What’s more, the new A4’s overall position in the Driver Power top 100 at 39 is a significant improvement on its predecessor, which found itself in 78th place.

Price, value for money & options

The Audi A4 tends to be somewhat better value when it comes to price than its premium rivals such as the BMW 3 Series. The standard version Audi A4 even comes with alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel and air-conditioning. Spend a little extra on SE specification, and the equipment list comes up to the level we’d expect on an executive car.

Things to look out for

Make sure the steering is aligned properly; poor parking can throw it off

Pros:

Great handling and smooth steering
Comes with a really good level of standard equipment
Refined and comfortable cabin
Legroom in rear of cabin no longer an issue
Wide range of engines
Spacious cabin
Economical

Cons:

Noise can be a problem with smaller engines when overworked

Not as fun to drive as a BMW 3 Series
Suspension may be a bit firm for Irish roads
LED driving lights not to all tastes

Author

Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader in automotive intelligence and vehicle data supply to the entire motor industry. He has almost 20 years experience in building systems from the ground up. As the Managing Director of Vehicle Management System, he understands the need and importance of trustworthy and reliable vehicle history and advice to both the trade and the public.
Follow me on LinkedIn