The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Capable handling
- Turbo power
- High-tech cabin
- Not a bad buy
Dislikes
- Bland looks
- We’d like an RS4, please
- About to be canceled
Buying tip
features & specs
Though it’s in the end of its life, the 2025 Audi A4 remains an appealing overall choice.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Audi A4? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Audi A4 lineup includes a pair of compact luxury sedans and a high-riding wagon. Compare them to the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Genesis G70.
Is the 2025 Audi A4 a good car?
It’s a good overall choice, albeit the segment’s elder statesperson. It scores well for tech and performance, rating a 6.2 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Audi A4?
The A4 will be dropped after the 2025 model year; a four-door A5 will take its place as Audi plans to reserve even numbers for electric cars.
This review covers the A4 and S4 sedans and the A4 Allroad. All share the same trim and conservative styling, albeit with various detail tweaks. There’s nary a wasted line anywhere on these small cars, though the Allroad with its contrasting fender flares has a pleasantly chunky look.
The cabin is just as plain as the exterior, though nice materials and a fairly wide range of color options can elevate the mood.
Most A4s use a turbo-4 engine rated at either 201 hp (in the 40 TFSI) or 261 hp (in the 45 TFSI). We recommend the more powerful option; it has a limited hit on fuel economy and it provides much better acceleration. The S4 is quicker (and smoother) yet, though you won’t find knockout punch-style acceleration here. For M3-grade performance, you’ll have to look to the more stylish and more expensive Audi RS5.
The A4’s ride quality is a highlight. It’s supple, comfortable, and never harsh, even with the stiffest suspension setup and biggest wheels available in the S4. Light, accurate steering makes the A4 plenty fun to drive at speed, too.
A4s are estimated as high as 30 mpg combined in base sedan form; adding the S Line appearance package dents that to just 27 mpg combined, though. The A4 Allroad and S4 sedan use more fuel, too.
Inside, the A4 delights with standard leather and wood trim, even if its basic design is no thriller. Convenient controls and comfortable front seats with power adjustment and heating earn our favor. Rear-seat riders have adequate room for two. Note that the sedan’s trunk is small, but the A4 Allroad has a fairly large cargo area given its compact proportions.
How much does the 2025 Audi A4 cost?
The cheapest version of the A4 now costs $43,295, which is a pretty good value considering you get a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, leather seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Still, we’d spend up for the more powerful version that costs about $2,100 more.
Where is the 2025 Audi A4 made?
In Germany.2025 Audi A4 Styling
The 2025 Audi A5 won’t raise any eyebrows.
Is the Audi A4 a good-looking car?
It’s a conservative but handsome choice with lines that will likely continue to age quite well. The A4 is anything but daring, which is why we rate it at 5 out of 10.
The A4 and S4 sedan have a three-box profile that fits the sedan mold perfectly—so well, in fact, that the latest one doesn’t look that different than a 10-year-old one. The big shield-like grille up front is flanked by busy headlights. From the side, the low belt line does wonders for outward vision but little for style. At the rear, the taillights are pleasant, but won’t leave a lasting impression.
The A4 looks just like its bigger A6 sibling, not that either is particularly memorable.
The S4 is a bit spicier with its more aggressive bumpers and bigger wheels. Meanwhile, the Allroad noshes on granola with its wagon body and slightly higher stance. Painted fender flares are available if two-tone isn’t your jam.
The cabin features a touchscreen sprouting from the dash like an afterthought over a smattering of well-organized buttons and knobs. The A4 hasn’t jumped into the full-on touchscreen era, and it’s all the better for it.
2025 Audi A4 Performance
The 2025 Audi A4 offers a solid ride and handling balance.
Audi’s compact sedan and wagon are pleasant to drive, with good handling and a supple ride quality even in its sportiest form. The range scores a 7 overall.
Is the Audi A4 4WD?
Yes, these cars have standard all-wheel drive, which Audi calls Quattro.
A4 Allroad models have more ground clearance than the rest of the lineup, though that hardly marks them proper off-roaders.
How fast is the Audi A4?
Most A4s use a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that’s a close relative to the engine used in a host of Audi, Volkswagen, and Porsche models. The base 40 TFSI sedans push a modest 201 hp to the wheels, so we’d spend up for the A4 45 TFSI with its heartier 261 hp. The smooth-shifting 7-speed automatic transmission does a good job finding the right gear for the most part, though low-speed shift quality can be a bit gruff at times.
The S4 sedan uses a strong 349-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6, which comes with a smooth 8-speed automatic. It’s fast and refined, but far from over-the-top. If you’re after BMW M3-grade performance in a compact Audi, you’ll need to look to the shapely (and costly) RS5.
Even the S4 has a smooth, somewhat soft ride compared to more stiffly sprung competitors. Note that the widely available S Line trim package has a slightly firmer setup, but it’s still not too harsh.
Light but accurate steering helps these cars feel confident when cornering but still fairly nimble around town. The S4 has more heft and can be equipped with a sport-tuned rear differential that delivers snappier grip in hard cornering.
2025 Audi A4 Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Audi A4’s interior is a somber but comfortable affair.
While light on thrills, the 2025 Audi A4’s interior is well-organized and has comfy seats. It’s a 7 out of 10 here thanks to the power-adjustable and heated front seats as well as cut-above materials throughout.
The A4 bests most rivals with its standard leather upholstery and wood trim. S Line and S4 models have a bit more bolstering up front, but these seats do a good job accommodating a wide range of bodies.
In the rear seat, you’ll find just shy of 36 inches of legroom, which is fairly good by class standards. However, there’s a chunky driveline hump due in part to the standard all-wheel-drive system. That means three passengers will find six legs fighting for limited space.
The A4 sedan’s 13.0 cubic-foot trunk is on the small side. Pick the versatile A4 Allroad for its big cargo area that expands to 60.0 cubic feet with the second row seat backs folded down.
2025 Audi A4 Safety
The 2025 Audi A4 has a good overall safety record.
How safe is the Audi A4?
It’s done well enough in what crash tests have been performed. The NHTSA gives it five stars overall, which earns it a point above average. The IIHS peeled back its previous Top Safety Pick score simply because it hasn’t evaluated this sedan in its updated tests.
Ultimately, we land on a 7 for safety since the 2025 A4 comes with a good range of driver-assistance and crash-avoidance tech including automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, and adaptive cruise control. A surround-view camera is available, too. There’s no hands-off system here, however.
2025 Audi A4 Features
The 2025 Audi A4 can be a decent value so long as you don’t jump into the top trim levels.
The 2025 Audi A4 starts at $43,295, which undercuts many rivals. That money buys the base A4 40 TFSI in Premium trim, which comes nicely outfitted with leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a sunroof, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and safety features including adaptive cruise control.
That’s enough for a 7 here thanks to its good standard equipment and the large, crisp screen with decent on-screen menus.
The A4 is backed by a segment-typical 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, but scheduled maintenance is not included.
Which Audi A4 should I buy?
The A4 45 TFSI is worth the extra $2,100. Its main draw is a more powerful turbo-4, though it also includes the S Line package with a stiffer suspension and bigger wheels. We’d probably go for the A4 Allroad, though, for the extra space. It’s priced at $48,895 to start.
The step-up Premium Plus package costs around $5,000 more, depending on the body and engine, and it includes a digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, a surround-view camera system, and Bang & Olufsen audio.
The top Prestige package adds navigation, cooled front seats, and trick matrix LED headlights. It’s a $9,000-or-so upgrade over the base Premium.
How much is a fully loaded Audi A4?
The S4 starts at $56,195, but can crest $63,000 in Prestige trim. Add softer nappa leather, adaptive dampers, and a sport rear differential and it’ll cost more than $70,000.
2025 Audi A4 Fuel Economy
Driven gently, the 2025 A4 can be quite frugal.
Is the Audi A4 good on gas?
Sedans are estimated as high as 26 mpg city, 35 highway, 30 combined, or 34/32/27 mpg with the S Line trim level that has more power and includes beefier wheels. The most frugal versions score a 4 on the TCC scale. In our experience, a light-footed driver can coax closer to 40 mpg out of an A4 at highway speeds, too.
The higher A4 Allroad wagon is predictably thirstier, though it still bests most small SUVs at 23/30/26 mpg.
The S4 is the thirstiest of the bunch with its 24 mpg combined estimate.
Unlike some competitors, there’s no A4 hybrid.
