2018 Audi S4 Road Test and Review

2018 Audi S4 Hero ・ Photo by Audi

The 2018 Audi S4 sedan and S5 coupe are the newest and fastest (so far) variations of the new generation of the A4 platform, which made its debut for the 2017 model year. This is Audi’s premium compact contender, a rival for cars like the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Now Audi has put it through the S process, adding more power, a sportier suspension, stronger brakes, and lots of standard equipment. With anything luxurious and German, our list moves above mainstream vehicles, but there are so many little touches and attention to detail — as well as the sheer driving thrills — to remind an owner that here is money well spent. This combination of style, speed, agility, and gadgetry is something Audi does so well.

Wide Range of Pricing

The 2018 Audi S4 starts at $51,875 for Premium Plus trim. The top Prestige trim is priced from $56,775. The 2018 Audi S5 starts at $55,575 in Premium Plus form, or $59,975 as a Prestige model. For most people, these prices are substantial. But they’re on a par with others in the category. A 2017 BMW 340i xDrive, for example, starts at $50,595 and is less powerful. It can, however, be purchased in slightly cheaper rear-drive form and with a manual transmission, if anyone wanted to be a purist. The 2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 sedan starts at $52,000 and has a little more power. The smart move would be to test-drive all three, just for the fun of it.

Photo by Audi

Equipment

In Premium Plus trims, standard equipment includes a panoramic sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, quad exhaust pipes, ambient LED cabin lighting, 7-inch display, leather/Alcantara (simulated suede) upholstery, heated front seats that also have pneumatic side supports and a massage feature, paddle shifters, hands-free trunk lid opening, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system. In the center console is the rotary dial for the infotainment system, the top of which acts as a touchpad and can recognize handwritten inputs. The navigation system uses Google Street View, which is not new but to see the surroundings rendered in high definition is still really cool. An optional sport rear differential enhances cornering abilities to an even greater degree.

Engine and Fuel Economy

Both the S4 and S5 have a 3.0-liter V6 that’s turbocharged to produce a potent 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It’s linked to a new and sweetly efficient 8-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive as standard. Under normal conditions, the power split is 60 percent going to the rear, 40 percent to the front. But the intelligent system can “mix and match” within milliseconds as the situation demands. The engine is all-aluminum and uses graphite cylinder liners to keep friction at an absolute minimum. There were no fuel consumption estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the time of writing this review, but that 8-speed automatic transmission should have a positive impact.

Photo by Audi

The S Approach

Whenever Audi makes an S car, it’s not always the most powerful variant (the company has an RS program for that, comparable to BMW’s M division and AMG cars from Mercedes-Benz). But S models come with plenty of equipment along with a healthy and well-chosen amount of muscle that’s far more of a pleasure than it is a liability. It also means upgraded brakes. The S4 and S5 have 6-piston front calipers that bite the disc with a reassuring (but not grabby) strength. Plus an aerodynamic package and an adaptive suspension that includes Comfort and Dynamic settings. S might easily stand for “sharp” but also for “smooth” since the cars’ responses to driver inputs are immediate without being abrupt.

Interior Design

Quality, technology, ergonomics, elegance and class are all at high levels. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit (standard in Prestige trim) is a 12.3-inch configurable instrument display that replaces the traditional speedometer and rev counter with an LED screen. It looks great and is easy to use. By bringing a lot of functionality and information right in front of the driver, it allows the dashboard to be clean and tidy, with buttons and switches kept to a minimum. There’s a sporty air about the cabin, with a black fabric headliner as well as accents of brushed aluminum and carbon fiber (or, at least, stuff that looks like carbon fiber). While many visual elements are pleasing, there’s also a tactile dimension, such as how the gearshift fits into the driver’s palm.

Photo by Audi

Exterior Design

While other marques are perhaps too ornate, Audi design emphasizes the elegant and the subtle. Some aspects might only be noticed on a bright day when the sun is high, like the character line that starts out as the edge of the S5’s clamshell hood, arcs ever so gently over the front wheel, scores a little deeper into the flank and softly curves once again over the rear wheel. There’s something similar on the S4 as well. As graceful as the S4 is, inheriting much of its looks from the regular A4, the S5 arguably has the most interest. Its headlights are set higher, the hood has understated creases to imply the plentiful power beneath, and the rear “haunches” suggest athleticism.

Comfort and Cargo

Because of their sporty natures, both the S4 and S5 have front seats with plenty of support, even up to the tops of the shoulder blades. Occupants are held secure going through fast corners -- which is an S specialty. The leather upholstery also has diamond-patterned stitching to remind us that these are also luxury cars. Rear passenger space is as good for these S cars as their A counterparts, meaning plenty of room in the sedan. And decent accommodations in the coupe as well. The S4’s trunk space is 13 cubic feet, around average for the class and perfectly capable of holding three sets of golf clubs. The S5’s trunk holds a useful 11.6 cubic feet.

Safety

Although neither the S4 nor the S5 has been subjected to their own crash tests in North America, the 2017 A4 (on which these cars are based) was awarded the accolade of Top Safety Pick Plus by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And it scored the maximum five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars each for front and side impact protection. Safety technology is abundant, including rain-sensing wipers, full LED lighting, parking sensors at both ends, blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. A head-up display comes with the Virtual Cockpit in the Prestige model.

Photo by Audi

Performance

Top speed is limited electronically to 155 mph, which is a common convention for German car makers. The S4 and S5 can each sprint from standstill-to-60 mph in a rapid 4.4 seconds. The great thing about both cars though, is the way their power is delivered — linearly, but not slowly; precisely, yet still fluidly. At higher revs, a subtle exhaust note adds an audible thrill to an otherwise tranquil cabin. Each S-machine can accomplish seemingly contradictory aims. They will change direction from left to right to left with an easy eagerness, but they still feel utterly stable and grippy. And their suspensions are set up to stay absolutely flat through the curves.

Final Thoughts

The 2018 Audi S4 and 2018 Audi S5 are on sale now. Deciding between the sedan and the coupe comes down to passenger space, convenience and practicality. Although the S5 has a slightly wider track, which should improve the stability factor, both cars feel virtually identical from the driver’s seat. An S5 Sportback (an all-new body style for the United States — think A7, but one size down) is also in the works, plus an S5 Cabriolet (4-seater convertible). Assuming money is not a major issue, go for the Prestige trim level to have all the good stuff like the Virtual Cockpit, and take the optional sport differential as well.