Probably the S4's closest competitor is BMW's 3-Series. At $46,725, the entry-level S4 Premium is roughly $3,000 more than the 335i xDrive. For that extra dough the S4 has more horsepower and torque, better fuel economy, and a few more standard features such as leather seating with Alcantara (a suede-like material) inserts, heated front seats and a split-folding rear seat. Both sedans are all-wheel drive.
Although on its Web site Audi lists the $52,825 S4 Prestige as a second trim level, it showed up on the window sticker of my test S4 as a $6,100 option package on the Premium. No matter, really. The bottom line is the same. In addition to upgrading the already notable 10-speaker audio system with its CD player and auxiliary input jack with a Bang & Olufsen-tweaked 14 speaker setup, the Prestige group includes 19-inch alloy wheels in place of the 18-inch ones, keyless entry/start, Audi MMI Navigation Plus with voice control, auto-dimming rearview and outboard mirrors, and driver's seat memory.
Having taken a sabbatical for 2009, the S4 returned this year sporting the updated lines the A4 received in its redesign last year. Perhaps the most glaring change from the 2008 S4 to the current model is under the hood. Previously a 340-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 supplied the S4 its go. A 333-horsepower 3-liter supercharged V6 now does the work. The few missing ponies were sacrificed for a good cause. Torque is up from 302 pound feet to 325 pound feet.
Additionally, fuel economy has taken a significant bounce. The V8-powered S4 delivered an EPA-estimated 13 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. With the supercharged V6 those numbers improve to 18 mpg city and an impressive 28 mpg on the highway. That's pretty good for a nearly 4,000 pound AWD sedan that Audi says can zoom from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in under seven seconds (6.4 seconds with the six speed manual transmission).
A $1,400 option, the seven-speed S-tronic transmission hustles engine production to all four wheels. Audi calls its AWD system, Quattro and S-tronic is Audi speak for a dual-clutch driver-shiftable automatic. Dropping the extra cash for the seven-speed also adds steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. Under normal road conditions sixty percent of power goes to the rear wheels and forty percent to the front. In slippery conditions the bulk of the power is automatically transferred to the axle of the wheels with the most traction.
My test S4 had the S-tronic. When in automatic mode, the shifts were timely and smooth. Transitioning to manual mode kicked the driving experience up a notch, particularly when tracking the twisties in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to its AWD, the S4's dogged road-hugging capability is enhanced by its fully independent four-wheel suspension featuring a multi-link arrangement both front and rear.
Adding $3,950 to the total, Audi's Drive Select includes active suspension damping and a Sports rear differential that splits torque between the rear wheels.
Four-wheel antilock disc brakes are standard. Related safety features include stability control, traction control, emergency braking assist and electronic brakeforce distribution.
Also in line with key competitors like the 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the S4's interior dimensions are sufficient to accommodate four adults comfortably and five if absolutely necessary. At 35.2 inches, rear-seat legroom in the S4 exceeds that in both the 3 Series and C-Class. Front-seat legroom is virtually the same at 41.3 inches. Likewise the S4's trunk space is the same as the 3-Series with 12 cubic feet. Folding the rear seat boosts cargo capacity to 34 cubic feet.
Audi excels in maximizing the passenger experience. The quality of the materials and the care with which they are assembled translate into sumptuous living spaces. Providing outstanding lateral support, the eight-way power-adjustable front sport seats are firm and comfortable. Front and rear seats are heated. You can upgrade to full leather seats for $1,000. Alloy accents compliment yards of leather. Key gauges are large and round. Audi replaced the A4's four-spoke steering wheel with a three-spoke one that features redundant audio controls.
Audi's MMI multimedia interface system uses a control knob located on the center console just aft of the gear shift lever to control certain systems like navigation and audio. A seven-inch LED color display keeps the driver up to date on system information. It has voice-activation capability.
All S4s come with a power sunroof, automatic wipers, full power accessories, automatic xenon headlights and three-zone automatic climate control. Six airbags are standard with rear-seat side airbags offered as a $350 option.
Qualifying for the S4 driving experience does require a sizable financial commitment; but if your idea of getting from place to place includes both luxury and a certain amount of sportiness, this Audi easily meets those demands. Exhilarating to drive, easy to look at and exceedingly comfortable, the S4 manages to deliver what most enthusiasts traditionally expect in a sports sedan plus an unexpected extra: decent fuel economy.
