2021 Audi S4 Review

　　

2021 Audi S4 Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The 2021 Audi S4 is a high-performance version of Audi's small sedan, the A4. Powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, the S4 pumps out 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. That's 148 horsepower more than the standard A4 and 88 more than the optional engine in the A4's upgraded 45 TFSI trim.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi S4 Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) 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

　　$200/mo  for S4 Premium

　　S4 Premium

　　Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $49,900 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $53,500 MSRPPrestige 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $58,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　More than just an A4 with some extra juice, the S4 adds a stiffer sport suspension and some upgraded interior materials to seal the deal. The extra performance doesn't require much of a sacrifice; the S4 is still a comfortable, quiet and easy-to-drive luxury sedan. For a full breakdown of the S4, where we cover everything from comfort to convenience, read our Expert Rating below.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the S4 drive? Our test car rocketed from 0 to 60 mph (with the help of launch control) in just 4.3 seconds. More impressive is the speed through the quarter-mile: It blazed through at 107 mph. The engine makes plenty of power everywhere and it sounds great doing it. This is one of the quickest sedans in the class.

　　Handling is just as impressive. The S4 combines quick and accurate steering with standard all-wheel drive for excellent stability. We measured 0.95g on the skid pad, and we're sure the S4 will impress novice and experienced drivers alike.

　　The S4's brakes offer good stopping power and excellent smoothness around town. But the noisy antilock braking system will raise some eyebrows (and heart rates) in panic-stopping situations due to the loud buzzing and intense vibrations from the antilock hardware. This is really the only performance demerit for the S4.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the S4? The S4 is impressively comfortable. Driver fatigue, no matter the road, is minimal. The front seats are very supportive and comfortable, but we'd advise opting for seat ventilation because the nonventilated ones can get stifling on hot days.

　　The adaptive suspension is the way to go on the S4; it's only a bummer that it's optional. Comfort mode handles broken surface roads with ease, while Dynamic mode keeps the body in check even under the most spirited driving. The S4 is relatively silent at all speeds and well isolated from both road and wind noise. In fact, the S4 is so quiet and comfortable that you can forget you're driving a performance sedan.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Well designed from the start, the S4 continues to be one of the easier sedans to use. Switches and controls are clearly labeled and work with pleasing precision. The 10.1-inch touchscreen, with Audi's newest infotainment software, is clear and relatively straightforward. Unfortunately, because of the S4's older interior design, the screen isn't well integrated and looks tacked on.

　　Getting into the S4 is easy, though taller rear passengers might need to duck. The driver will enjoy one of the best seating positions in the class. The supportive seats allow for plenty of adjustment, as does the nearly perfect steering wheel, and visibility to all sides is very good.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Well-integrated technology has always been a highlight of any modern Audi. The S4 has Audi's newest touchscreen interface, and our test car was also equipped with the optional digital gauge cluster display known as Virtual Cockpit. While the touchscreen's graphics are sharp, the screen looks tacked on.

　　The optional Bang & Olufsen audio system's sound quality didn't blow us away, but the upgrade from the standard audio system is worth it. Wireless Apple CarPlay capability is standard.

　　We were less impressed by the S4's advanced driver aids. Many are not standard, a disappointment on a car at this price. On top of that, our test car's forward collision warning system was overly sensitive. On one occasion it made a rather eye-opening overreaction on an open highway with light traffic.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Though the S4's trunk isn't large, the load height is reasonable and the cargo area is free of any intrusions or irregularities. The rear seats fold reasonably flat to accommodate larger items, but they must be released from the rear seat area as there aren't any remote releases in the trunk. Interior storage isn't abundant, but there's enough room to keep your phone, sunglasses and parking card well organized and small drinks free and clear of your hands while driving.

　　Got kids? There are easily accessible child seat anchors hidden below inconspicuous plastic covers. The decent-sized door openings and respectable rear legroom make it relatively easy to install both front- and rear-facing safety seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates that the Audi S4 returns 23 mpg in combined driving. That number puts it square in the middle of the all-wheel-drive versions of the BMW M340i (25 mpg) and the Mercedes-AMG C 43's (21 mpg). We drove our test S4 on our 115-mile evaluation route and managed a credible 24.5 mpg using 91 octane fuel.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the S4 a good value? The S4 is built to the high standards that we've come to expect from Audi. Our test car's exterior trim and paint were flawless, and all interior components fit together well and operated with precision. We're less impressed with the cost of the S4: Our Prestige level test car stickered at more than $65,000. A base S4 starts around $50K but doesn't offer some desirable options, such as the S Sport package. In general, competitors are slightly better equipped for the money.

　　Warranties are pretty standard for the class with four years/50,000 miles for both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. BMW offers three years of free maintenance, which Audi does not, but you can prepay for future service visits when you purchase the S4.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　The S4 is capable of covering most challenging roads with surprising speed. It is a forgiving and capable partner no matter your skill level. As an added bonus, the S4 is a sleeper; its conservative styling barely hints at the car's potential. It's only when driven hard that the car shows its true capability. This is a highly adaptable car with impressive road manners and performance capability.

　　

Which S4 does zzdcar recommend?

In the past, we've recommended the S4's base trim, the Premium. It comes with a decent amount of standard equipment, and the other trim levels don't provide a performance upgrade. However, with some of the equipment changes for 2021, we'd recommend going with the midlevel Premium Plus. It gets a large suite of safety features as standard, along with Audi's excellent digital driver display, called Virtual Cockpit.

　　

2021 Audi S4 models

The 2021 Audi S4 is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. All three come with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (349 horsepower, 369 lb-ft) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.

　　Premium

　　This base trim is well appointed with feature highlights that include:

　　Upgraded sport suspension and brakes (compared to the standard A4) Sunroof Leather and simulated suede upholstery Heated front sport seats 10.1-inch touchscreen Tri-zone automatic climate control Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration (wireless functionality for CarPlay) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)Premium Plus

　　Stepping up to the Premium Plus trim adds:

　　Keyless entry Digital instrument panel Heated steering wheel Wireless charging pad with signal booster Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the S4 when parking) Surround-view camera system Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the S4 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker without use of the turn signal)The top-of-the-line Prestige trim comes with all of the above, plus:

　　Upgraded headlights with washers Navigation system Head-up display Heated rear seats Bang & Olufsen audio systemKey options for the S4 include:

　　Warm Weather package (ventilated front seats, rear window shades) S Sport package (adaptive suspension, sport rear differential, red brake calipers)

　　

2021 S4 Highlights

Trim: PremiumPremium PlusPrestigePremium

　　

Base MSRP	$49,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$200/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles