Audi A4 (2015-2025) Review

The Audi A4 Saloon has long been one of the default choices in the compact executive class, and this generation showed exactly why. It did not try to reinvent the recipe. Instead, it focused on the things Audi traditionally does well: clean design, excellent cabin quality, strong refinement and a calm, confidence-inspiring driving experience.

That might sound conservative, but it suited the A4 perfectly. This is a car that makes sense very quickly. The controls feel intuitively placed, the cabin looks and feels expensive, and the way it goes about everyday driving has a polish that many rivals still struggle to match.

Audi’s UK line-up has now moved on, with the new A5 Saloon effectively taking the old A4 Saloon’s place, but that only strengthens the used case for this outgoing model. It still feels modern enough inside, its mechanical package is well proven and there's a huge spread of used examples to choose from.

The key to the Audi A4’s appeal is that it never really had a glaring weakness. It might not be the most entertaining car in the class, and it doesn't push furthest on rear-seat space or practicality, but it gives very little away in any major area. That's a big reason why it continues to feel like such a complete used executive car.

For most used buyers, the sweet spot is the 35 TDI S tronic in Sport trim. It has enough power to make the Audi A4 feel relaxed and effortless, yet avoids the extra cost and complexity of the more powerful quattro diesels.

If your mileage is lower, the Audi A4 40 TFSI petrol also deserves a close look. It's smoother and quieter around town, and still brisk enough to suit the A4’s premium character very well.

Trim matters, too. Sport is often the smartest place to start, because it already brings the equipment most buyers actually want and usually rides more sweetly than the bigger-wheeled S line and Black Edition versions.

Used Audi A4 Saloon prices now start from around £10,500 for older, higher-mileage pre-facelift cars, while later facelifted examples with stronger engines and richer trims can sit well above £20,000.

That means there's a lot of choice in the market, which is no surprise given how popular the A4 was with company-car drivers and fleets. It also means you can be selective, which is worth doing, because specification makes a meaningful difference to how desirable the car feels.

Facelifted cars from 2019 onwards are generally the ones to aim for if your budget allows, because the updated infotainment and cleaner trim structure make them feel a little fresher and easier to justify.

The BMW 3 Series is the obvious alternative if you want a sharper, more entertaining executive saloon, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class makes a stronger case on comfort and showroom glamour.

The Volvo S60 is another strong alternative if design and comfort matter more than outright sportiness, while the Jaguar XE and Alfa Romeo Giulia are more left-field choices for drivers who want a bit more verve.

If value matters more than badge appeal, the Skoda Superb is also worth serious consideration because it offers much of the Audi’s substance, and more space, for less money.

The Audi A4 Saloon is not the most practical car in its class, but it's useful enough for most buyers. Up front there's plenty of room, a good driving position and the sort of small-cubby storage that helps day-to-day life.

Rear-seat space is respectable rather than outstanding. Two adults can sit comfortably enough in the back, and there's more room than in some rivals, but the centre seat is narrow and best treated as occasional-use space.

The boot is neatly shaped and usefully designed. At 460 litres, it's competitive enough for the class, and the square opening, relatively low lip and folding rear seats make it more versatile than some more style-led saloon alternatives. Still, if you regularly need to carry bulky items, the A4 Avant is the one to look at.

For family life, the A4 does the basics well enough, including child-seat fitment, but it's ultimately an executive saloon first and a do-everything family workhorse second.

The Audi A4 Saloon measures 4762mm long, 2022mm wide and 1428mm high. That puts it neatly in the heart of the executive saloon class.

It feels substantial enough to justify its premium billing, but not so large that it becomes awkward on narrower UK roads or in tighter parking spaces.

Tech is one of the Audi A4’s strong suits, particularly in facelifted cars. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display remains one of the best systems of its type, and the wider infotainment update from 2019 onwards helps the cabin still feel quite modern.

The interface is clear, the graphics are sharp and the overall experience feels properly integrated. Smartphone connectivity is standard on later cars and the navigation, media and phone functions are all easy enough to get along with.

Earlier cars with the smaller central screen are still perfectly usable, but the facelifted setup is the one that really lifts the sense of modernity.

Material quality is exactly where you would hope it would be in an Audi. The upper dashboard, steering wheel, switchgear and trim all feel beautifully judged, and even now the Audi A4 still comes across as one of the most solidly finished cars in its class.

There are rival cabins with more visual drama, but few feel more crisply assembled. That solidity is a big part of why the A4 has worn its years so well.

Used buyers will mainly be choosing between 35 TFSI and 40 TFSI petrols, plus 35 TDI and 40 TDI diesels. Older examples broaden that range further, but the 35 TDI and 40 TFSI are the two most convincing engines for most buyers.

The 35 TDI has the easy, muscular mid-range that suits the Audi A4’s long-distance brief perfectly, while the 40 TFSI gives the car a smoother, more refined character if your mileage is lower.

The more powerful 40 TDI quattro does add extra traction and a little more urge, but for many buyers it's harder to justify once the fuel, tax and insurance penalties are taken into account.

The Audi A4 is at its best when covering ground smoothly and effortlessly. Around town it feels neat enough, the controls are light enough and visibility is decent for a car of this type.

Once out on a motorway or A-road, the Audi’s strengths become much more obvious. It settles into a cruise with very little wind or road noise, the suspension smothers most surface imperfections and the whole car feels impressively grown up.

Sport trim cars on more modest wheels are the ones to seek out if comfort matters most. S line and Black Edition versions can look sharper, but their larger alloys and firmer setups take the edge off the A4’s natural refinement.

Handling is tidy and secure rather than thrilling. The steering is accurate enough and body control is well judged, but the Audi A4 is happier being fluent than playful. That suits its character, because this is a car bought more for the way it makes long journeys feel easy than for any claim to sports saloon excitement.

The A4 scored a maximum five-star rating from independent safety organisation Euro NCAP in 2015, although that rating expired in 2022 because standards have moved on. Still, for the time the A4 came with a strong core safety package, including autonomous emergency braking and a broad spread of passive safety equipment.

Later cars and better-specced examples can also bring extra assistance features, so it's still worth checking the exact specification of the used example you are considering.

Fuel economy is one of the Audi A4’s strengths, particularly if you go for one of the four-cylinder diesels. The 35 TDI remains the most convincing long-distance choice, while the petrols are respectable enough for lower-mileage buyers.

The gap between official figures and real-world use is not as dramatic as it once was, but as always, bigger wheels, quattro and more powerful engines all have a noticeable effect.

Any remaining manufacturer warranty will depend on the age of the car, but Audi Approved Used examples remain the most reassuring place to start.

Audi Approved Used currently includes a minimum of a one-year Audi Warranty, one year of roadside assistance and a 30-day exchange plan, which adds welcome reassurance on a used premium saloon.

Audi servicing is generally straightforward, but on used examples it's still worth checking the history carefully, especially on cars with the S tronic gearbox.

Insurance varies by engine and trim, but the Audi A4 sits where you would expect for a premium executive car rather than offering any bargain-basement surprises.

The entry petrols and diesels are the easiest to justify, while quattro and higher-powered cars climb quickly. As ever, it's worth checking quotes before you buy.

For most Audi A4s registered on or after 1 April 2017, the standard annual Vehicle Excise Duty rate is now £200. If the car’s original list price was over £40,000, it also pays the Expensive Car Supplement for five years from year two. That takes the annual bill to £640. That's particularly relevant here because a large proportion of Audi A4s crossed that threshold once options were added.

If the car you’re looking at was registered before April 2017, the cost can vary from just £20 a year for particularly efficient diesel models through to £200 for more polluting petrol models.