2008 Audi A4 Exterior Review [ 2009 , 2007 ]

• Overall
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Specs
• Photo Gallery

Exterior - What the Auto Press Says

Reviewers enjoy the A4's good looks, but there are those who say the sedan's distinctive front grille is too garish for the car's upscale design, and the A4's exterior score places it outside the top-five for the class.

• "At first, we thought the Audi family's trapezoidal big-mouth grille looked less graceful on the A4 than when we first saw it on the larger A6 and A8. But, like its big brothers, the A4 seems to embrace its identity a little more warmly every time we see it." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "Under the guidance of northern Italian designer Walter de' Silva, Audi's products preserve the straight, clean lines that BMW and Mercedes abandoned in pursuit of Picasso-esque titillations. … It's proof positive that Audi understands understatement. … Except for the A4's chrome-lined Billy the Big Mouth Bass front grill." -- The Truth About Cars
• "Aside from the grille, the slightly wedge-shaped A4 sedan and wagon look good. … The A4 has a 'tight' look—as if the body is shrink-wrapped around the cockpit and mechanical components. Newly designed, larger bumpers are body colored and reach a long way down, seemingly yanking the A4 closer to the road." -- MSN
• "This is a relatively small car: considerably smaller than competitors like the Cadillac CTS or Infiniti G35, and very close in most measures to the compact Honda Civic." -- New Car Test Drive