Used 2018 Audi S4 for sale 

The Audi S4 sits on top of the A4 lineup and is offered in the S4 premium Plus and S4 Prestige trims. The 2018 S4 comes with one engine option, a 3.0 L Turbocharged V6 which is coupled with an 8-speed Tiptronic Automatic Transmission. Audi's Quattro All-wheel drive meanwhile comes standard. Other than that, the Audi S4 comes with leather seats, heated front seats with 12-way power adjustments, tri-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, and a sunroof as standard.

Other than the features mentioned above, you can opt for a plethora of additional features and packages based on your requirement. Some of the additional options that you can opt for are a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, hands-free power trunk lid, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, to name a few. These optional features also depend on the trim that you opt for. Coming to the optional packages, you can opt for a Carbon Fiber package that adds carbon fiber bits to the exterior and interior of the vehicle, the Fine Nappa Leather Interior package, a Cold-Weather Package, a Warm-Weather Package, and an S-Sport package, to name a few. 

Engine and Transmission

The 2018 Audi S4 is powered by a 3.0 L twin-scroll Turbocharged V-6 gasoline engine that churns out 354 hp and 369-lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to an 8-speed Automatic transmission and sends the power to all the four wheels thanks to Audi's signature Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system sends 60% percent of the power to the rear wheels while 40% of the power is sent to the front. Most of the torque is available as low as 1,370 rpm which gives the necessary punch almost instantly. There is a bit of turbo-lag which is very much expected from any turbocharger setup. But other than that, the Audi A5 is peppy and has a linear power output with adequately fast gear shifts, though It would have been better if the S4 received the A4's dual-clutch transmission that would have improved the gear shifts a lot better. The vehicle feels planted even at high speeds making it a lot more confidence-inspiring. By opting for the S Sport package, the vehicle receives a few performance goodies that improve the drive quality a lot more with adaptive dampers and a sports rear differential that drastically improves the overall driving experience. Even though the previous model's supercharged V-6 engine was a lot more dramatic thanks to its supercharger growl, the turbocharged V-6 engine offered in the current model is a lot more refined. But if there is something we can point out, it is lackluster in the steering wheel response. But you can slightly improve that aspect by opting for the Variable-Ratio Dynamic Steering System. 

Based on the horsepower figures, the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 sits at the top with 400 horsepower, followed by the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 4Matic that has 362 horsepower. The Audi S4 produces 354 horsepower taking the third position, leaving the BMW 340i xDrive at the bottom of the table. On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 4Matic has the highest torque output of 384 foot-pounds of torque, followed by the Audi S4 that has 369 foot-pounds of torque output. 

Acceleration

The 2018 Audi S4 weighs 89 pounds lesser than the S5 Sportback. This coupled with the potent  3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 engine helps the Audi S4 to achieve a 0 - 60 MPH time of 4.4 seconds! We are talking about mid-level sports car territory performance time here The 2018 Audi S4 accelerates fastest among its competitors. The Audi S4 manages to achieve a quarter-mile time of 13.2 seconds. In this case, the S4 fails to outperform its rivals. But this does not have to be a concern as the S4 is meant to be a performance-oriented luxury sedan and not a full-blown performance sports vehicle.

The Audi S4 dominates the 0 - 60 MPH with the fastest time of 4.4 seconds, followed by the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 that has a 4.5 second 0 - 60 MPH time. The BMW 340i xDrive and the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 4Matic tie to take the third position with 4.6 seconds 0 - 60 MPH time. The story changes in the quarter-mile time where the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 4Matic is the fastest with a 12.7 seconds time, followed by the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 that crosses the quarter-mile mark in 12.8 seconds. 

Handling and Steering

The Audi S4 is a calm cat on the road and does not purr as much as you would expect it to. The S4 is confident on the twisties thanks to the Quattro-all-wheel-drive system couple with the five-link suspension setup that improves the vehicle's stability. The theatrics is not as awe-inspiring as what you would be able to pull off in a BMW 340i. But that is what Audi aims to achieve, and that is drama-free driving dynamics. The driving modes(Comfort, Auto, Individual, and Dynamic) change the power output and steering response of the vehicle accordingly and gives you much-needed flexibility. By opting for the S Sport Package, you get a rear Sports Differential and adaptive dampers that further improve the handling of the vehicle. The only let down is the twitchy steering response that is not as involved as we would expect it to be. But other than that, thee S4 drives elegantly without throwing any tantrums.

Braking

The Audi S4 has a good brake setup, to say the least. To begin with, the S4 comes with 4-wheel disc brakes with an anti-lock braking system(ABS). The front brakes are 13.8-inch vented discs with 6-piston calipers while the rear brakes are 13-inch vented discs with 4-piston calipers. This braking setup helps the Audi S4 come to a standstill from 60 MPH in about 117 feet which is considerable but not the best in its segment. Most of the competitors offer better-stopping power than the S4. The brake pedal meanwhile feels firm but it is easy to modulate in normal driving conditions.

The Audi lags behind significantly when compared to the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 that stops from 60 MPH to a standstill in just 102 feet, 15 feet lesser than the S4. The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 has the second-best stopping 60 - 0 MPH stopping distance of 105 feet, while the BMW 340i xDrive takes the third position in braking performance with a 60 - 0 MPH stopping distance of 116 feet, just 1 foot lesser than the Audi S4. Talking about the brake setup, the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport has the biggest brake setup with 14-inch discs in the front and 13.8-inch discs in the rear, followed by the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 that has 14.2-inch discs in the front and 12.6-inch discs in the rear.

Fuel Economy

The added performance does eat into fuel economy and so is the case with all of the Audi S4's competition. The 2018 Audi S4 manages to offer 21 miles city MPG, 30 miles of highway MPG, and 24 miles of combined MPG. But due to its low fuel capacity, the Audi S4 fails to offer a decent range. This also translates to frequent gas station visits when going on long drives. The only savior, in this case, is the multiple drive modes availability. When driving casually, you can pop the drive mode into Comfort which in-turn will increase the fuel efficiency by a small amount.

The BMW 340i xDrive has the best combined-MPG of 25 miles, followed by the Audi S4 that has 24 miles of combined MPG. The Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 might have the least combined MPG of 22 miles but it compensates with the highest fuel capacity of 20 gallons, helping it to achieve a combined range of 443 miles. The BMW 340i manages to offer 403 miles of total range even with its small 15.8-gallon fuel tank. The Mercedes-Benz has the second-highest fuel capacity of 17.4-gallons and manages to offer a combined range of 402 miles, leaving the Audi S4 at the bottom of the table with a combined range of just 383 miles. 

How comfortable is the 2018 Audi S4's interior?

Staying true to the minimalistic approach of the brand, the Audi S4 has an exquisite and elegant cabin dressed with lots of premium materials. Both the first and second-row seats are draped with leather upholstery along with some leather inserts on other panels of the vehicle, the door panel armrests being one of them. The Audi S4 has 12-way power-adjustable front seats that include 4-way lumbar support that is heated as well. The front-row is adequately spaced with ample headroom and legroom, even for tall people. The front seats are well-bolstered with the proper amount of grip offered to keep you secure. The rear seats also have an ample amount of space to accommodate adults, considering they are not tall.  Getting in and out of the car is easy but taller rear-seat passengers might have to duck their head in order to avoid the roofline. Drivers get a good view of the road as there are not many blind spots. 

The BMW 340i seems to have the most amount of overall passenger space in both the front and second-row seating areas, followed by the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 The Audi S4 has the least amount of space when compared to its competitors but sure does offer a decent amount of space, enough to get the job done. On the plus side, seats in the S4 are comfortable.

Standard Interior features on the S4 include:

• Bucket seats
• Contrast Stitching
• Heated seats
• Adjustable steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2018 Audi S4's infotainment unit?

The S4 comes with a standard 7-inch Driver information screen and a 7 -inch Infotainment display with Audi’s MMI interface. The upgraded Technology package gives you a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit driver information display an 8.3-inch infotainment screen. Audi’s MMI interface is easy to use and navigate. The graphics and crisp and clean, even on the heads up display. The infotainment display placed on the dashboard can be controlled with a rotary knob placed on the lower center console that has an integrated handwriting recognition technology.  All climate control functions/buttons are well distributed and are easy to use. The steering wheel controls are also easy to grasp and can be used to control the driver's display as well as the infotainment unit.  The infotainment unit comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, and tri-zone climate control, to name a few. Other than that, these are some of the other infotainment features:

• Apple Carplay Compatibility
• Android Auto Compatibility
• Optional Virtual Cockpit
• In-built Navigation
• Heads up display
• Bluetooth streaming audio for compatible devices
• Bluetooth wireless technology preparation for compatible mobile phones
• SiriusXM All Access w/3-month trial subscription
• Audi music interface w/2 USB ports for data and charging
• Single CD player with MP3 playback capability
• HD Radio technology
• NRIX XD Traffic
• Dual SD card slots with 64 GB operating capacity
• Speed Compensated Volume Control
• Aux Audio Input Jack
• 19 Bang & Olufsen Speakers (Optional)
• Automatic Equalizer
• 3 12V DC Power Outlets

Cargo

The Audi S4 suffers from a decent cargo capacity as the vehicle has 13 cubic feet of cargo volume available. Even though it is very much in line with the segment, it does fall short. On the plus side, the 60-40 split capable rear bench seat can help you increase your cargo volume. You also get a few tie-down points and hooks in the cargo area to make carrying cargo a lot easier. Coming to the storage spaces in the cabin, you get decent-sized bottle holders in the door panels, cupholders in the front and second row, a small glovebox, and a considerable amount of space under the armrest.

The redesigned S4 is a lot more Audi-ish with minimalistic lines all around and a sleek looking front fascia. The lines on the S4 are to-the-point with the least amount of distractions to the eye. The new eye-slit LED headlights serve well to the futuristic design while the signature Audi grille differentiates it from other vehicles on the road. The only noticeable difference you can quickly make out when looking at the S4 is the signature 'S4' badge in the front and rear, the quad tailpipes, and 18-inch 5 double-spoke wheels specifically designed for the S4 version. Other than that, the S4 is pretty much the same as the A4. Audi offers a bunch of appearance packages for the S4 to make it look a lot sportier. You can opt for a 'Black Optic Package' that adds 19-inch 5 V-spoke wheels, Titanium Black exterior trim, Titanium Black single-frame grille with Titanium Black surround, and body-colored exterior mirror housings, to name a few. You can also opt for the Carbon Fiber package that adds Carbon Fiber mirror caps and a Carbon Fiber spoiler. 

As far as weight is concerned, the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 is the heaviest with a curb weight of 4,023 pounds, followed by the BMW 340i xDrive that is the second heaviest with a curb weight of 3,820 pounds. This puts the Audi S4 in the third position. The BMW 340i has the most ground clearance of 5.7-inches followed by the Audi S4 that has 5.0-inches of ground clearance. The Audi S4 is also one of the longest vehicles in the segment with a length of 186.8-inches, just falling a few inches short of the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 that has a length of 189.6-inches.

The 2018 Audi S4 has not undergone the complete list of tests by the NHTSA to come up with its crashworthiness. However, it was tested on the Rollover aspect in which it received a 5-star rating. While the Audi S4 has not been specifically crash-tested by the IIHS, the regular A4 was tested and received a 'Good' score in all the aspects of the test. Hence, we can expect the same amount of safety from the Audi S4 as well. Moreover, the S4 comes with a good amount of safety features such as the Audi Pre Sense Basic, Audi Pre Sense City, front and rear parking sensors, and Audi Connect CARE Emergency SOS as standard, to name a few. Other than that, these are some of the other safety features offered in the 2018 Audi S4:

• Driver-adaptive and front-passenger dual-stage airbags
• Driver and front passenger thorax side airbags
• Driver and front-passenger knee airbags
• Sideguard head curtain airbags
• Front passenger occupant detection for airbags
• Power central locking system with safety unlock feature if airbags deploy
• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and brake assist
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with secondary collision brake assist and traction control (ASR)
• Side Impact Beams
• Audi connect CARE Emergency Sos
• Parking System Plus Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Audi Side Assist Blind Spot
• Audi Pre Sense Basic
• Audi Pre Sense City
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• Driver Assistance Package (Optional)

2018 Audi S4 Vs. 2018 BMW 340i xDrive

The BMW 340i is a bit cheaper than the S4 and has decent performance numbers thanks to its inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 320 hp. These numbers are lesser than the Audi S4. The BMW 340i is also slower than the Audi to do 0-60 MPH and even loses in the quarter-mile race.  On the other hand, the BMW 340i has a more aggressive design and is a lot more sculpted than the Audi S4 with its large intake bumpers and aggressive face. Not to forget the full-blown M3 which is an extension of the 3-series that has better performance figures than S4 but costs more as well. If you like to flex, go for the BMW 340i. But if you want an under-the-radar small sports sedan with simple styling and intuitive tech features, the Audi S4 is the better pick,

2018 Audi S4 Vs. 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 4MATIC

The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 is a bit more expensive than the Audi S4. AMG C 43 has the most impressive looking interior cabin in the segment with a bunch of tech features. While the Audi S4 does not match the flashiness that the AMG C 43 offers, it is just as comfortable and tech-loaded. On the outside, both vehicles have a simple design with the AMG C43 achieving a more youthful look. The C 43 is also offered as a coupe and a convertible, something that is not offered for the S4. It is also more powerful than the S4 with higher power and performance figures. That said, the Audi S4 is lighter on your pocket with relatively lesser maintenance costs. If standing out is your goal, go for the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43. But if you want luxury at a relatively lower cost of maintenance, the Audi S4 ticks all the boxes.

2018 Audi S4 Vs. 2018 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400

Infiniti Q50 is a lot more expensive in comparison to the Audi S4. The Q50 Red Sport 400 is more powerful with 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. As a Japanese product, the Q50 Red Sport offers better reliability. But when taking the segment's purpose into consideration, the Q50 does not achieve the premium-ness that Audi is synonymous with. Also, the interiors try too hard to impress but do not do a good job at it. Hence, the Audi S4 is a better option.

The 2018 Audi S4 is a sporty, comfortable, and stylish small sports sedan. The Turbocharged V6 along with the sporty driving dynamics will never fail to impress you. It gets a plethora of premium features as standard while its cabin is one of the best in the segment. The S4 is not as ostentatious as something like a Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43. But its simple and minimal design has a charm of its own. If you are looking for a casual driving small executive sedan, the A4 gets the job done as it is equipped with all the tech features that you would get in an S4 at a cheaper price. But, if that added performance excites you, the S4 is a better choice. Its rivals might have more power and better space offerings, but the Audi S4 is a special vehicle with a charm of its own.