2023 Audi S4 Sedan

　　

2023 Audi S4 Review

byKristin ShawContributor

　　Kristin Shaw has worked in the automotive industry as a freelance writer since 2012. Her first review was about a Ferrari F430, which is a great place to start for a lifelong enthusiast. She has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the past decade, and some of her favorites include the C2 and C8 Corvette, Lamborghini Aventador S, BMW X5 and Toyota GR86. Her dream car is a restomod 1957 Chevy Bel Air in turquoise. She's competing in her first Rebelle Rally, an all-female off-roading competition, in the fall of 2022 in a lifted Hyundai Santa Cruz. Her work has also been seen in The Drive, AutoWise, GearJunkie, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Wheels, Today, The Washington Post and more.

　　, rating written byKristin ShawSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The nimble Audi S4 carries over into 2023 largely unchanged, save for a few cosmetic options including now-standard 19-inch wheels and two new paint finishes. S is for sporty; the S4 is the performance version of Audi's A4 sedan. Its 349-horsepower V6 engine makes it one of the quickest sedans in its class, blazing a zippy trail between 0 and 60 mph in 4.3 seconds in zzdcar' testing.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 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

　　$189/mo  for S4 Premium

　　S4 Premium

　　Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $52,800 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $56,800 MSRPPrestige 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $61,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Inside, the S4's cabin is the automotive equivalent of Zurich: efficient, clean, and replete with modern comfort and amenities. Stainless steel caps adorn the pedals, the no-nonsense tri-spoke steering wheel is suitably stylish, and the illuminated doorsills evoke an executive's expensive office chair. The S4's smooth ride and comfortable front seats build out the appeal of this dual-purpose sedan.

　　If the fairy-tale Baby Bear were to test the S4 against its rivals, it might find the BMW 3 Series too fussy, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class too expensive, and the S4 just right. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below for our full evaluation.

　　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

　　8.1

　　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 0.95 g 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

8.5/10

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below