2008 Audi S4
Not Yet Ranked
Audi S4
Overall Score - 8.6 (Very Good)
The 2008 Audi S4 sedan impresses reviewers with its combination of good looks and sophisticated performance. Still, auto writers criticize its backseat for only being suitable for children. If you're in the market for a luxury sport car, consider the BMW M3.
The majority of auto writers find the S4 sedan to be an exquisite vehicle. "The 2008 Audi S4 takes everything good about the A4 Sedan (comfortable interior, reasonable dimensions and razor-sharp handling) and ratchets it up a few notches by adding a potent V8 engine, standard quattro all-wheel-drive and race-inspired suspension," says Kelley Blue Book. Edmunds agrees, adding that it's "one of the best high-performance small luxury sedans around, while having the added bonus of wagon and convertible body styles."
Even so, when compared to other vehicles in its class reviewers assert that the S4 is quickly losing ground. "[I]n this cold horsepower war, any sort of dominance the S4 enjoyed has quickly been eroded by Audi's dual nemeses from Munich and Stuttgart. Never mind that a regular BMW 335i is now quicker than the S4, but the upcoming M3 will be powered by a 420-hp V8, which will thoroughly smoke the S4 in a 0-60-mph sprint," says Edmunds.
Although IntelliChoice has yet to rate the 2008 S4 sedan, it does give the highly-similar 2007 Audi S4 sedan a rating of "average" for its predicted five-year total cost of ownership compared to other vehicles in its class. "You won't like this car if you have to stick to a budget. It's not inexpensive to purchase, or to insure, or to keep the gas tank full. It's terrific, but it's not for everybody," asserts Kelley Blue Book.
S4 Performance - 8.9 (Very Good)
Most reviewers agree that the S4's performance dynamics are superb. "The 2008 Audi S4's levels of acceleration, handling and braking are simply far beyond most drivers' previous automotive experiences. Even those with considerable time in very high-performance cars will likely be seriously impressed," says Kelley Blue Book. continue
S4 Exterior - 7.8 (Good)
Critics, on balance, believe that the 2008 S4 possesses an attractive body-style. "Though it is clearly a four-door sedan, the slick shape and blacked-out B-pillars make it easy to mistake it for a high-performance coupe," says Kelley Blue Book. Still, auto writers disagree on whether or not it's attention-grabbing. continue
S4 Interior - 7.9 (Good)
Although auto writers complain that the S4's backseat is unfit for adults, most praise its interior cabin for being attractive, refined, and otherwise comfortable. "Like the A4, the S4 maintains the good looks and excellent interior quality that have become two of the model line's best selling points," says Edmunds. continue
S4 Safety - NA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has yet to conduct government crash tests on the 2008 S4 sedan. Still, the highly-similar 2007 model receives four out of five stars in frontal crashes. In side impacts the 2007 model scored five out of five stars in the front and four out of five in the rear. According to the Boston Globe, "As impressive as the S4's power and handling are its safety features." continue
S4 Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)
The 2008 Audi S4 reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). We are still compiling data for the predicted reliability of the 2008 S4 sedan. Audi offers coverage on all of its cars, including a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty. continue
