Used 2013 Audi S4

Four years after its last major redesign, the Audi A4 gets a mild freshening for 2013. And that’s plenty to keep it competitive in the tough entry-luxury sports-sedan class. With tasteful styling inside and out, efficient and powerful engines and generous interior space, the A4 Sedan and its high-sport cousin, the S4, offer buyers refinement, comfort and performance at a realistic price. The A4 comes in three trim levels – Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige – with three driveline choices: CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with front-wheel drive (FWD), 6-speed manual with quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) and 8-speed Tiptronic automatic with quattro. Though the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Cadillac CTS and Infiniti G37 have steadily improved, the Audi A4 more than holds its own.

The 2013 Audi A4 prioritizes precision over outright comfort on the road, though you won’t hear us complain. The suspension finds a pleasing middle ground between the ride philosophies of Mercedes-Benz (typically a bit soft) and BMW (more stiff). Thus, the A4 is slightly sharper-handling than a C-Class if not quite as crisp as a 3 Series. The new-for-2013 electric power steering imparts notably better road feel than we usually find in such systems. With its responsive 211-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the A4 has more than enough horsepower and readily available torque. The CVT (continuously variable transmission) with front drive works okay, but doesn’t feel nearly as competent as either the 6-speed manual or 8-speed Tiptronic (both with quattro all-wheel drive). If you must have more, the performance-focused S4 offers 333 horsepower from a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and a considerably sharper chassis.

Audi has a reputation for crafting superb interiors, and the 2013 A4 shows why. Design, layout, materials and assembly are all first-rate, and the environment feels both upscale and businesslike. Standard equipment includes a handsome 4-spoke multifunction steering wheel, and a sportier 3-spoke design is optional. The broad range of interior-trim treatments includes aluminum or wood inlays and attractive red LED accent lighting in the headliner to illuminate the center console. Leather seating surfaces are standard and Alcantara inserts available, as are special sport seats with deeper body-hugging bolsters.

Anyone who has seen an Audi lately will recognize the company’s signature oversize single-frame grille and stylized LED accent lighting in the front of the 2013 A4. The body lines are clean and conservative but tastefully detailed, and the design still looks good after four years on the market. A variety of wheel options allows individualizing the appearance. The S4 has more aggressive body treatments befitting its sporting nature.

TURBOCHARGED ENGINE
In a class dominated by 6-cylinder engines, the 2013 Audi A4 stands apart with a boosted 4-cylinder that delivers smooth and strong thrust as well as satisfying fuel economy.

S LINE PACKAGE
For buyers who want to maximize the 2013 Audi A4’s sportiness without climbing into S4 territory, the S line Package includes 19-inch alloy wheels and performance tires, more aggressive suspension tuning, subtle exterior enhancements, upgraded upholstery, genuine brushed-aluminum trim and a racy 3-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel.

The 2013 Audi A4 line is available in three trim levels. Base is called Premium, and there’s very little basic about its standard-equipment lineup: 17-inch alloy wheels, power front seats, leather seating surfaces and Sirius satellite radio, as well as numerous other creature comforts. The Premium Plus designation adds Bluetooth connectivity, LED daytime running lights and many other worthwhile features. Finally, the Prestige trim adds navigation and an HD Radio paired with an impressive Bang & Olufsen stereo system.

The A4 Prestige package offers the further option of the S line group, which includes sport suspension, 19-inch wheels, different front and rear fascias, side skirts, unique doorsills and badging. A4 Prestige models also offer a Driver Assist package, consisting of adaptive cruise control (automatically maintains a distance from a vehicle in front) and adjustment of control dynamics, including steering effort, throttle response and transmission-shift characteristics.

The 2013 Audi A4 is powered by an efficient 2.0-liter, direct-injected, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 211 horsepower and delivers impressive fuel economy. FWD versions of the A4 feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while those with Audi’s quattro AWD system offer the choice of a 6-speed manual or the 8-speed Tiptronic automatic. Regardless of drivetrain, the A4 continues to be one of the most fuel-efficient luxury-branded sedans on the market, beating both the more powerful Mercedes-Benz C350 and the slower C250. The sportier S4, meanwhile, boasts a powerful 3.0-liter supercharged, direct-injection V6 engine that offers V8 performance and still-impressive fuel economy.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
211 horsepower @ 4,300-6,000 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/31 mpg (FWD, CVT), 22/32 mpg (AWD, manual), 20/30 mpg (AWD, automatic)

3.0-liter supercharged V6
333 horsepower @ 5,500-7,000 rpm
325 lb-ft of torque 2,900-3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/28 mpg (automatic), 17/26 mpg (manual)

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.