Audi S4 Saloon Road Test Report

Performance

Switch on the engine and the first thing you notice is that the whumping V8 sound from the previous S4 has been replaced by the quieter, but still sweet-sounding 3.0-litre V6 TFSI. Also available in the A6, the engine has been tweaked in the S4 to give 328bhp and 324lb-ft of torque. But despite having less power than the V8, this new unit enables the car to hit 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds, half a second faster than the previous S4. It feels as quick as the figures suggest, too: there's a wonderfully linear power delivery and although the peak torque doesn't kick in until 2,900rpm, it's sustained until 5,300rpm. There are two transmission options. The manual system offers precise shifts with short throws, but spending a bit more gets you the wonderful dual-clutch S-tronic automatic that shifts almost imperceptibly in both the standard auto mode or when using the paddleshifts.

Ride & Handling

Audi has thrown in some pretty special technical developments to help the driver harness all the car's power in a meaningful way on the road. The company’s Quattro four-wheel-drive system has been augmented by a new sport differential, which means that the torque distributed between the rear wheels varies constantly, keeping the understeer found in some Audis in check. It even allows you, in the right circumstances, to get the tail out and have some fun. In tandem with this system, the addition of electronic dampers, as part of the Drive Select package, allows you to switch between three settings - Comfort, Auto and Dynamic - which, in addition to adjusting the ride quality, also changes how the sport differential reacts. All in all, it's a very impressive system, which makes the S4 not only a great car to drive but also a very safe one.

Build Quality & Reliability

Audi has built a strong reputation for manufacturing high-quality cars and the new S4 maintains the company's standards. It's beautifully made, using materials that feel expensive to touch and are a pleasure to use. Audi has had some reliability hiccups in recent years, generally caused by electrical components, but the company is confident that this S4 will prove to be as dependable as it is stylish. Indeed, everything about the S4 exudes quality. It’s clearly a premium car, with an exterior that looks solid, helped in part by good shutlines and consistent panel gaps all around the car. Inside the cabin there's leather and Alcantara as standard for the seats, brushed aluminium and the option of carbon, birch or stainless steel mesh for trims. The switchgear is also sturdy and easy to use, with consistently good movement in the operation of all the dials and buttons.

Safety & Security

In independent crash tests, the new Audi A4, on which the S4 is based, has achieved the full five stars for adult occupant protection, four stars for child protection and two stars for pedestrian impact protection. The new testing regime introduced at the beginning of 2009 at Euro NCAP has also given the A4 a 93% score for adult safety, 84% for child, 39% for pedestrian and 71% for safety assist, figures that the S4 would share if it were built in sufficient numbers to be tested. There are also a number of features that contribute to the S4's safety, including Quattro all-wheel-drive, LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights, side assist (which monitors blind spots during lane changes), plus the usual array of electronic active safety measures such as ESP and ABS with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution). There are also the usual airbags, Isofix and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

Space & Practicality

The Audi S4 is a wonderfully spacious, practical and comfortable place to be, thanks to the high equipment levels. Cosseting sports seats and a steering wheel that adjusts for both reach and rake mean that a comfortable driving position is easy to achieve. There’s also plenty of interior space: rear passengers get most of the benefit, with plenty of head and shoulder room, although sitting behind a tall driver will remain a squeeze. Boot space is also very good, with more than 480 litres available (the Avant has 490-1,430 litres). The S4 also comes well-specced with plenty of kit, including air con, leather steering wheel, electric sports seats in Alcantara and leather with lumbar support, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, tyre pressure monitor and Audi's MMI telematics system, a practical system that’s easy to use by both driver and passengers, which includes sat nav, Bluetooth and iPod connection.

Ownership & Value

The S4 is not going to be a cheap car to run, despite Audi managing to improve fuel consumption by 37% and reduce emissions by 30% in comparison with the previous S4. These are certainly laudable improvements - especially in the current economic and environmentally aware climate - but the new figures are still an official 29.1mpg, which you'd do well to match in the real world, and 225g/km. The emissions figure means it just avoids being included in the highest road tax band (by 1g/km), but it still falls into Band F, meaning an annual cost of £210 per year. The S4 does well come resale time, with used car experts CAP quoting residual values for the previous S4 of 51% of its value at 60,000 miles. With improved emissions and fuel efficiency, we expect at least a similar figure for the latest version.