2019 Audi A4 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

The efficient Ultra trim is gone, but its engine is now standard on all trimsThe manual transmission is no longer availableRevised trim level namesMinor adjustments to feature availabilityPart of the fifth A4 generation introduced for 2017

　　Since its full redesign two years ago, the Audi A4 has led the small luxury sedan class with its tech-forward personality, strong performance and high levels of refinement. In that class, those are the most important factors for people looking to buy into the luxury market.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 4/19 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$157/mo  for A4 2.0 TFSI Premium

　　A4 2.0 TFSI Premium

　　2.0 TFSI Premium 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 4/19 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $37,400 MSRP2.0 TFSI Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $39,200 MSRP2.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $42,000 MSRP2.0 TFSI Premium Plus 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $42,900 MSRP2.0 TFSI Prestige 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $46,200 MSRP2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) (Most Popular) - $47,500 MSRP2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $50,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The 2019 Audi A4 doesn't change much and remains at the top of its game. But in typical fashion, there's a challenger on the horizon, and it's a familiar foe: the BMW 3 Series, which gets a thorough overhaul this year.

　　Initial reports are promising, and the BMW certainly has the potential to knock the Audi off the top step. Judging by how good the A4 is, though, we don't think it'll be a decisive victory in favor of BMW. Rather, it'll likely be a close battle ultimately decided by your personal preferences. The older Mercedes-Benz C-Class follows the same progression. It's another two years older than the A4 but maintains desirability with its classic interpretation of luxury.

　　The good news is there's not a bad choice in this bunch. With BMW's bias toward performance and Mercedes' focus on old-school refinement, the Audi A4 finds a sweet spot between them. For that reason, we heartily endorse it as an optimal middle ground.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Audi A4 as one of zzdcar' Best AWD Sedans for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.2 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Audi A4 2.0T Prestige Quattro Sedan (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current A4 has received only minor feature revisions. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Prestige 45 TFSI model.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.2 / 10
Driving	8.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.5
Utility	8.0
Technology	9.0

　　

Driving

8.5

　　The Audi A4 Prestige 45 TFSI's smooth and powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces excellent acceleration. Strong brakes and sharp handling also help make the A4 enjoyable to drive. But the A4's steering limits driver engagement.

　　

Acceleration

9.0

　　This is an impressively quick and smooth car. The A4 45 TFSI's engine is quieter than other turbo four-cylinder engines, too. In zzdcar testing, we achieved a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.

　　

Braking

9.5

　　The moderately firm pedal feel and travel length offer easy modulation in all instances. In our panic-stop test, the A4 stopped from 60 mph in an impressive 99 feet. The sticky, zero-cost optional summer tires clearly had a lot to do with that, but it's still a remarkable result.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　Steering is the A4's dynamic weak point. There is a numbness to it regardless of the three available settings (Comfort, Auto and Dynamic), and it does not engage the driver as well as the best competitors do. It's linear and well-weighted, but feedback is lacking.

　　

Handling

8.5

　　The A4 might not engage with the driver quite like a Cadillac ATS, but there is no denying its impressive traction — thanks to the Quattro all-wheel drive and sticky summer tires — flat cornering and stability in emergency situations.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　There's some initial delay from the automatic transmission as soon as you step on the gas, and that may irritate some drivers in traffic. The engine stop-start system is also noticeable and can further delay acceleration.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　Like many sedans in the class, the A4 has a bias toward sport over luxury. The seats and ride are on the firm side, but they also encourage support and control, respectively. The A4 is also quieter than before, with the engine emitting less of an uncouth growl as its predecessor and many rival engines.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The optional sport seats are our favorite for the adjustable thigh support, but the standard seats are praiseworthy in their own right. Both are firmly padded and well-shaped for hours of comfortable touring.

　　

Ride comfort

8.0

　　The standard suspension is firm with controlled body motions and no impact harshness — typical of German sedans. The optional adaptive suspension is overly stiff in Dynamic mode, and the modest gains in handling don't justify the cost.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　The new engine is smoother and quieter than the one in the previous-generation A4, as well as the engines of many rivals. The interior is as quiet as those of competing sedans, with a somewhat elevated tire noise due to our test car's optional summer tires.

　　

Interior

8.5

　　The stylish, functional and well-built cabin puts an emphasis on technology. The optional Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster gets most of the attention, re-creating analog gauges while also displaying navigation and entertainment information.

　　

Ease of use

8.5

　　Audi's elegantly simple design translates to an easy-to-use cockpit with logically placed controls. The virtual gauge cluster takes some getting used to, but it becomes second nature in no time.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　The doors are large, and the roof is not aggressively raked, reducing the chances of bonking your head. Likewise, the front seats' side bolsters aren't prominent enough to impede access.

　　

Roominess

9.0

　　Long gone are the days when the A4 was a compact car. Take a seat inside and you might think you're in a midsize sedan, with sufficient legroom for four amply sized adults aboard. And even 6-footers will find enough headroom in back.

　　

Visibility

8.5

　　Visibility is good all around thanks to narrow roof pillars, augmented by the standard rearview camera and collision warning system. Besides looking cool, the Virtual Cockpit instruments and head-up display also help keep the driver's eyes on the road.

　　

Quality

9.0

　　Audi keeps setting new quality benchmarks for cabin materials and construction. The Mercedes C-Class might appear more luxurious, but a closer look gives the A4's better-made cabin an advantage.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　In terms of size, the A4's cargo and storage are typical for the class, but the A4 gets additional consideration for the 40/20/40-split folding rear seats that allow for greater flexibility when transporting passengers and larger objects.

　　

Small-item storage

8.0

　　The A4 has plenty of storage for your personal items.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　Cargo capacity, at 13 cubic feet, is about average for the class. The trunk's opening is sufficiently wide, and cutouts on each side provide extra width for golf clubs or netted storage areas.

　　

Technology

9.0

　　The revised MMI controller is now better positioned for drivers of varying size. There's a bit of a learning curve to the MMI system, but with some familiarization, it becomes easier to operate. On the bright side, the adaptive cruise control is one of the more refined systems out there.

　　

Audio & navigation

9.0

　　The high-mounted infotainment screen and redundant instrument panel display keep your eyes up, reducing distraction. Sharp-looking graphics and legible text make the system even more user-friendly.

　　

Smartphone integration

9.0

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all A4s, giving users a familiar interface and the ability to receive and send texts with minimal distraction.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Voice recognition is accurate, and in many cases it can be operated using plain English.

　　

Which A4 does zzdcar recommend?

　　The Premium Plus trim gets our recommendation for its added tech features that include a virtual instrument panel, upgraded infotainment with navigation, internet integration and advanced safety features. On top of that, we'd spring for the Quattro all-wheel-drive option that comes standard with the 45 TFSI engine. It adds not only the expected surefootedness but also better performance with the more powerful engine.

　　

2019 Audi A4 models

　　The 2019 Audi A4 is a small entry-level luxury sedan available in three trims: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Each of these is applied to the front-wheel-drive A4 40 TFSI and the Quattro all-wheel-drive A4 45 TFSI. Front-drive 40 TFSI models are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (188 horsepower, 236 pound-feet of torque) while the all-wheel-drive 45 TFSI receives a power upgrade (248 hp, 273 lb-ft). A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is the only available transmission.

　　Standard feature highlights for the A4 Premium include 17-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlights, rain-sensing wipers, heated mirrors, forward collision warning and mitigation, adjustable drive settings (Audi's Drive Select), keyless ignition, a sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, heated power front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and 40/20/40-split folding rear seatbacks.

　　Standard technology features include a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, Audi's MMI infotainment system with a 7-inch central display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a CD player, two USB ports and a 10-speaker sound system.

　　The optional Convenience package adds heated and auto-dimming side mirrors, keyless entry, a larger color driver information display, driver-seat memory functions and satellite radio.

　　The Premium Plus includes the Convenience package along with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a virtual instrument panel, a wireless charging pad, a navigation system, handwriting-recognition input, a larger 8.3-inch infotainment display, Audi Connect telematics and Wi-Fi service, and two USB ports for the rear passengers. Audi's blind-spot and rear-facing crash mitigation systems, Side Assist and Pre Sense Rear, are also standard.

　　Finally, there's the top-of-the-line A4 Prestige. It comes with all of the above as standard plus dual-pane acoustic front windows, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, interior ambient lighting, a surround-view camera system, lane departure warning and intervention, a traffic sign reader, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround-sound audio system.

　　Notable options include 19-inch wheels, ventilated seats, the Sport package with a performance-tuned suspension, and the Cold Weather package with a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.

　　

2019 A4 Highlights

Trim: 2.0 TFSI Premium2.0 TFSI Titanium2.0 TFSI Premium quattro2.0 TFSI Premium Plus2.0 TFSI Prestige2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro2.0 TFSI Premium

　　

Base MSRP	$37,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$157/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles