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Audi A4 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Audi A4 ranks 5 out of 17 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 17 published reviews and test drives of the Audi A4, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

Redesigned just last year, the Audi A4 is a viable alternative to the BMW 3-Series.  Buyers looking for a sporty entry-level luxury sedan should test drive an all-wheel-drive A4 before making their decision.

The Audi A4, redesigned from the wheels up for 2009, enters the 2010 model year with no significant changes.  It remains a fun car to drive, with sharp handling and a firm stance courtesy of its Quattro all-wheel-drive system (optional, but Audi says more than 80 percent of buyers opt for it). Audi's adjustable suspension, which allows the driver to electronically change the car's tuning for aggressive cornering or quiet commuting, is particularly well-reviewed. The combination, Consumer Guide says, means the A4 "adeptly balances around-town maneuverability with sporty road manners."

Shoppers should note that the A4 is the largest sedan in the midsize class - which means it's an opportunity for some buyers of more expensive luxury sedans (like the Lexus GS) to downsize and save some money. However, the A4's price can climb north of $40K with all of the options -- and you'll want most of them.

Audi is known for some of the best interiors in the automotive businesses, and the A4 offers an excellent example of why.  Still, those looking for an athletic sport sedan would do well to compare the A4 to the BMW 3-Series, which some say out-hustles and out-handles Audi's car -- although it isn't available with all-wheel-drive. 

The 2010 A4 comes as a sedan, an Avant wagon, or the more off-road-oriented Allroad wagon, in 2.0 or 3.2 trim. We review the wagons separately. Buyers should note that the A4 Cabriolet convertible has been dropped from the lineup, with a sportier 2010 A5 Cabriolet taking its place.

• "It delivers on all of the promises an entry-level luxury car should. It's opulent inside. It's quick and comes with scads of new technology."-- Detroit News
• "Deliberations are over and we're prepared to deem the 2009 Audi A4 one of the best sports sedans on the market." -- Autoblog
• "The A4 feels like an A8 luxury cruiser that has fallen into a shrinking ray. It's not like the franchise was in danger, but the A4 saves it anyway." -- Los Angeles Times
• "It can't match the raw speed of most of its rivals, but it has a classy interior, excellent handling, and plenty of pep for most owners. It also has better fuel economy (the base model gets 30 miles to the gallon on the highway and 23 mpg in the city) because it's one of the few compact luxury cars offered with a four-cylinder engine. And you can always pay more and get the A4 with all-wheel drive and a powerful six-cylinder engine." -- BusinessWeek
• "At its core, the A4 is still the sport sedan that many enthusiasts love, and the new larger, more mature sedan is now even better prepared to take on its Mercedes-Benz and BMW rivals." -- Motor Trend
• "It's a passionately pragmatic and stylish choice for those clients who find the 3-series too cramped and boisterous and the C-class too conservative in appearance and ability." -- Automobile Magazine
• "I used to drive an A4 from the late '90s, and loved it. But this fourth-generation car is like the college rule-breaker that you run into a few years later: he's climbing the ladder at his law firm, wearing suspenders and drinking single-malt Scotch. If you hang with him now, you'd better reach for your wallet. For the A4, a car that was distinctive and special in the low $30,000 range becomes a trickier proposition as the price soars past $40,000. Buyers had better believe Audi's pitch about the A4 being in Mercedes's league, because the prices certainly are." -- New York Times

A4 Performance - 8.6 (Very Good)

Reviewers are impressed with the 2010 A4's Audi Drive Select system. It allows the driver to select from three performance profiles, changing the car from a quiet commuter to an aggressive sport sedan to a solid wet-weather gripper. Some writers note, however, that the base engine in the A4 is less powerful, and perhaps less refined, than some competitors. Read More

A4 Exterior - 8.4 (Very Good)

Redesigned just last year, the A4 remains a sharp-looking car. "Its clean, elegant lines are aristocratic," says the Detroit News, adding that "you almost want to sit in the back seat and let the driver take you to the grocery store." Little touches like the row of LED lights above the headlights move the A4 into a more upscale class. Read More

A4 Interior - 8.6 (Very Good)

Audi has a reputation for some of the most elegant passenger cabins on the market, and as the company's fastest-selling model, the A4 carries that banner well. Edmunds  raves, "Few interiors (including the 3 Series and C-Class) seem as well conceived and constructed." Read More

A4 Safety - 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2010 Audi A4 receives a top score of five stars in every government safety test. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn't tested the car, but gave the mechanically-similar 2009 model its "Top Safety Pick" award. Read More

A4 Reliability - 7.0 (Good)

The 2010 Audi A4 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). The 2010 A4 is covered by a four-year/50-000 mile warranty. Roadside assistance is included for the warranty period. Read More