Insurance Group: 36
MPG: 36.2
CO2: 180
0-62 Mph: 5.1 secs
BHP: 328 BHP
Range: 486 miles
PROS: The S4 Avant comes with plenty of space and a decent boot, while the 3.0 litre engine delivers impressive performance, and its desirability and practicality means that it holds its value well too.
CONS: The boot isn't as practical as some rivals as it doesn't fold flat, while some of the trim isn't quite as good as it should be, and this version is expensive to buy and to run.
The handling on the whole is quite balanced with excellent traction delivered channelling the power to the wheels, and the steering is also quite responsive and is light at slower speeds becoming heavier and more reliable at pace. Unfortunately, the ride isn't quite as comfortable as it should be with many of the bumps being felt in the cabin. The driving position is fine offering plenty of adjustment for the steering wheel and the driving seat, and the high level of visibility is also very good.
The engine performance is one of the highlights of the S4 Avant, with the 3.0 litre engine able to deliver well, with acceleration from 0-62mph occurring in a slick 5.1 seconds. The top speed is limited to 155mph, and it does make you think what the car could achieve without this limitation. Although S4 Avant has plenty of power and pace, refinement isn't perfect as there is a small amount of engine noise but wind noise is the main bugbear.
When it comes to attractive estate cars then the S4 Avant is certainly at the upper echelon of this category, with the large grille and air intake being an attractive feature at the front of the car. The lines are as sleek as the practicality of the car allows them to be, and the roof does slope slightly towards the rear doors, without sacrificing too much space. Inside the cabin it is spacious and comfortable, but the sheer number of buttons do make things seem cluttered, and the plastics don't feel as good as they should be.
The level of equipment included with this model is very good, and the inclusion of alloy wheels completes the look of the car well, while the leather seats are a luxury feature that is very welcome. Climate control and cruise control help to keep the car comfortable and stable on the motorway, but for such a hefty price tag many people would expect satellite navigation included as a part of the package.
One of the selling points of the S4 Avant is that it is a very practical car, with a spacious cabin that can accommodate five people and also benefits from a large boot that can carry plenty of luggage. The rear seats don't quite fold completely flat, but the load space is still quite large when these seats are down. Audi have also made this a very safe car, with plenty of airbags and driving aids included as standard.
Audi do have a very good reputation for making reliable cars, but the S4 doesn't do particularly well in reliability in terms of the driver surveys.
With versions of the A4 Avant available for under £25,000, the price tag of £39,865 means that people will have high expectations of this model, and most drivers won't see the benefit of the 3.0 litre engine.
This engine also makes the car fairly expensive to run, with this model achieving an average 33.6mpg. The insurance costs for this model are also significantly higher than the A4 Avant models, but one plus point is that the that holds its value quite well. The car is supplied with a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty and also comes with three years RAC membership.
The S4 Saloon is the sportier version of the A4 range, and has an engine that has plenty of power and delivers the kind of performance figures you would expect from such a vehicle. However, the ex...
The S4 Avant is the sportier and more powerful version of the A4 Avant, and although the performance is very good this does come at a cost in terms of buying and running the car. The cabin is very...
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